Marauder Fails Me Night Before Vacation

[jonroe]

I am sooo POed I could scream. I was prepping my MM for the last 2 weeks in the garage for my summer vacation tomorrow. I had cleaned everything, changed the oil, waxed, vacuumed, set the tire pressures, checked everything under the hood, etc.

So, I back the car into the driveway pop open the trunk to squeeze all the beach crap in and.....no effing headlights! The headlights would not work. I went through the fuse box and the power block under the hood - nothing. I have total headlight failure, no low beams, no high beams, and no high beam indicator on the dash. All other lights work fine. I guess its the switch but I didn't have time to fart around with that. We switched cars at the last second and dump gear to squeeze into a smaller trunk. What a pain in the butt. I am so honked off. I guess it could be worse - failing on vacation.

Is it likely the headlight switch? Have people had this problem?

Yours truly, squeezed into an Acura for vacation, Jon

[finster101]

Naw. It's a timer that goes off when the car sits too long.:rolleyes:

[jonroe]

That's EXACTLY what my wife said! She said, "that's what you get for not driving it for 2 weeks!

Jon

[Bradley G]

mine went bad a couple weeks ago. There is a thread about solidering a relay, into the LCM.

[ts-pa]

Jon,

I'll take that troublesome car off of your hands for $5,000 ;)

[Thomas C Potter]

Is that dreaded harness rub on brake booster bracket or cylinder head part of this??

[jonroe]

mine went bad a couple weeks ago. There is a thread about solidering a relay, into the LCM.

Did you have the same symptoms? What is the problem, the switch going bad? I'll have to search for the thread.

[jonroe]

Well, I just got back from vacation tonight. It sure was tighter and more uncomfortable to travel without the Merc.

Any more leads before I try to get this fixed this week? I have to get it done in the next few days as the MM is my daily driver.

Jon

(and, no $5K won't get it!.......yet)

[jonroe]

I reviewed most of the LCM threads. It sounds like this is the problem? It must be a pretty lousy part design or manufacture. That's an unacceptable common failure. The only difference for me is that the headlights are pretty much totally dead - they have only come on once briefly while fiddling with the headlight switch. I have not had any flickering on and off. All other lights seem fine. I guess I call the dealer since I have the Ford extended warranty.

Jon

[jonroe]

I took the MM into the dealer for the very first time ever tonight. It has not been near a dealer since the day I drove it off the lot new just because there has been nothing to do other than the routine maintenance that I do. I hope all goes well in fixing the dreaded dead headlights. I'm also getting the heated seats light switches fixed. The guys at the dealer were all gaga over the car and could not believe it looked so good at 3 years old and 39K miles. A DTR Marauder generates a lot of attention at a Ford dealer. I hope the dealer service department experience doesn't cause my blood to boil. I really don't know these guys.

[jonroe]

Just got word from the Ford dealer. It took them all yesterday afternoon to figure out it was a bad LCM. They "claim" that caused the problem with the heated seats switch lights too! I find that a little hard to believe. Anyway, new LCM and headlights should be fixed (for now) as well as the heated seats switch lights for $100 deductible on the Ford ESP. While there I had them put in a new fuel filter to give them some business and I hadn't gotten to that yet at 39000 miles.

[jonroe]

Got the MM back today. They replaced the LCM and both heated seats switches under Ford ESP. We'll see how long these repairs last. I missed two vacation drives for this - one to the beach last week and one to the mountains this week. Well, I saved a few miles on the odometer!

Jon

[GordonB]

Jon,
I have the real answer to your troubles. Get another MM!!!!! That way if one has a problem, you still have another one -- just remember to equip BOTH the exact same way!!! Gets expensive, but the alternative is not good!
Glad you go your problems fixed. BTW, do check for wiring harness rub up near the firewall just towards the center beyond the vacuum brake booster. A split piece of rubber hose should prevent wiring harness chafing.
GordonB

[jonroe]

Thanks, Gordon. I'll take a look at the wires. I certainly have thought about having 2 MMs. Wouldn't a blue one look good next to a red one?!

By the way, how do I identify the dreaded LCM under the dash? What does it look like?

Jon