1994 FORD PROBE Electrical System Problems

DT: THE DISTRIBUTER WENT OUT ON THE CONTACTS VEHICLE AND WHEN IT DID THE VEHICLE STOPPED CAUSING THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO GO OUT ALSO. IN RESULT THIS CAUSED A CRASH AND HER SON HIS LICENSE FOR A YEAR. NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS THREE LETTERS FROM THREE DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS STATING THAT IF THE DISTRIBUTER WENT OUT HE WOULD HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS DID RESULT IN A AN ACCIDENT THE CONTACTS SON HIT A OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER. THE VECHILE HAS BEEN FIXED A NEW DISTRUBTER WAS PUT BACK ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT A GARAGE SINCE AUG. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD RUN FOR A WHILE AND THEN JUST SHUT OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE CAR COULD BE STARTED AGAIN, AND WOULD RUN FOR A WHILE A SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO THE DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. A WEEK LATER I SAY AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT A FORD SETTLEMENT INVOLVING FAULTY IGNITIONS AND/OR DISTRIBUTOR THAT CAUSES ENGINE STALLS. AS FAR AS MY BRAKES GO, I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CALIPERS NOT RELEASING. I PAID TO HAVE THEM FIXED, AND THEY FAILED AGAIN. I PAID TO HAVE THEM FIXED, AND THEY FAILED AGAIN. FINALLY I HAD THEM COMPLETELY REPLACED, IN TOTAL COSTING NEARLY 1500 DOLLARS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AT 75000 MILES THE 2.5L V6 ENGINE HAD STALLED INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND ON THE INTERNET WHERE 1993 AND 1994 2.5L ENGINES EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO TRANSISTOR DEGRADES BECAUSE OF HEAT, CAUSING THE DISTRIBUTOR MODULE TO FAIL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE PART AND 8000 MILES LATER FAILED AGAIN. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AFTER A SHORT TIME CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND EVENTUALLY GOT VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILING PART WITHIN THE DISTRIBUTOR.*JB

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AFTER A SHORT TIME CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND EVENTUALLY GOT VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILING PART WITHIN THE DISTRIBUTOR.*JB

THE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN IT WAS HOT, WHEN IT COOLED DOWN THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. NLM

THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR: IGNITION CUT-OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO HEAT. THE IGNITOR OVERHEATS, CAUSING SUDDEN STOP OF THE ENGINE IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE STOPPED ENGINE ALSO CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY A RECALL. 1995 AND LATER PROBES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A REDESIGNED DISTRIBUTOR THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

AT STOP LIGHT VEHICLE WAS HIT BY DRUNK DRIVER IN RIGHT REAR & FRONT. THIS CAUSED LIGHTS INSIDE THE PANEL TO FLASH ON/OFF. INSURANCE CO. INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE & NOTICED THAT IT WAS INVOLVED IN PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. HAD NO PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE OR WIRES. VEHICLE WAS POORLY RECONSTRUCTED, WIRES WERE ALL CUT.*AK

AT STOP LIGHT VEHICLE WAS HIT BY DRUNK DRIVER IN RIGHT REAR & FRONT. THIS CAUSED LIGHTS INSIDE THE PANEL TO FLASH ON/OFF. INSURANCE CO. INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE & NOTICED THAT IT WAS INVOLVED IN PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. HAD NO PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE OR WIRES. VEHICLE WAS POORLY RECONSTRUCTED, WIRES WERE ALL CUT.*AK

IGNITION COIL IN DISTRIBUTOR DETERIORATES ON 93 & 94 FORD PROBE V-6 MODELS. FORD HAS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE DIES, AS IF SOMEONE REACHED OVER & TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF. IT HAPPENED TO US ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE YEARS 93 & 94 AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE ENGINE IS THE WELLS THE SPARK PLUGS SIT IN FILL UP WITH OIL AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE GASKETS (VALVE COVER OR SPARK PLUG GROMMETS). AGAIN FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS BUT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER FIX A DESIGN PROBLEM. IT SHORTS OUT THE ENGINE AND THE PLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR, ROTOR AND ENGINE ALL HAVE TO BE FIXED. VERY EXPENSIVE (OVER $600 FOR THIS AND OVER $700 FOR THE DISBRIBUTOR PROBLEM.

IGNITION COIL IN DISTRIBUTOR DETERIORATES ON 93 & 94 FORD PROBE V-6 MODELS. FORD HAS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE DIES, AS IF SOMEONE REACHED OVER & TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF. IT HAPPENED TO US ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE YEARS 93 & 94 AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE ENGINE IS THE WELLS THE SPARK PLUGS SIT IN FILL UP WITH OIL AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE GASKETS (VALVE COVER OR SPARK PLUG GROMMETS). AGAIN FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS BUT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER FIX A DESIGN PROBLEM. IT SHORTS OUT THE ENGINE AND THE PLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR, ROTOR AND ENGINE ALL HAVE TO BE FIXED. VERY EXPENSIVE (OVER $600 FOR THIS AND OVER $700 FOR THE DISBRIBUTOR PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR LOST POWER. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED OVER TO SIDE AND ENGINE AREA WAS ON FIRE. CAR DESTROYED. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

1ST INS- HORN STARTED WOULD NOT GO OFF ,SMOKE CAME OUT OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. HORN STILL WENT OFF AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF. HAD TO PULL FUSE. FORD SAID CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND CRUSED CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN WIRES AND THE SHORT BLEW OUT THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST MORE THEN THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. HAD TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WITH USED ITEMS BECAUSE OF PRICE. SO THE MILLAGE IS ABOUT TEN THOUSAND MORE THEN ON THE ORIGANAL. . 2ND. AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE WE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. TOOK IT IN TWICE TO FORD. THEY SAY THEY CANT FIX IT BECAUSE THE LIGHT DOESNT STAY ON ALL THE TIME. WE ARE SCARED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL GO OFF WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. THEY SAID THEY DONT KNOW WHAT TO TELL US

1ST INS- HORN STARTED WOULD NOT GO OFF ,SMOKE CAME OUT OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. HORN STILL WENT OFF AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF. HAD TO PULL FUSE. FORD SAID CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND CRUSED CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN WIRES AND THE SHORT BLEW OUT THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST MORE THEN THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. HAD TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WITH USED ITEMS BECAUSE OF PRICE. SO THE MILLAGE IS ABOUT TEN THOUSAND MORE THEN ON THE ORIGANAL. . 2ND. AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE WE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. TOOK IT IN TWICE TO FORD. THEY SAY THEY CANT FIX IT BECAUSE THE LIGHT DOESNT STAY ON ALL THE TIME. WE ARE SCARED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL GO OFF WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. THEY SAID THEY DONT KNOW WHAT TO TELL US

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WON'T RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTERWARDS. SEE FORD TSB#97-13-7. OWNER BELIEVES THE TSB SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.

BATTERY LOSING CHARGE FREQUENTLY. VEHICLE IDLED 15 MINUTES BEFORE JUMPERS WERE PLACED ON IT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM FUSE BOX UNDERNEATH. FLAMES SHOT OUT QUICKLY. PUT IT OUT W/FIRE EXTINQUISHER. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. *AK

COMPUTER IGNITION MODULE FAILURE.

DISTRIBUTOR / TFI FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP.

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO REASON.OWNER NOTES POSSIBLE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. ALSO, VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. *AK

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED.

WIRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR BURNED OUT. MECHANICS STATED THAT THERE IS A SHORT CIRCUIT SOMEWHERE IN THE MAIN WIRING. THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACING. VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEARLERSHIP. *AK

"GREEN KNOB" FAILED.

AS A RESULT OF A BURNED COIL TOWER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE AND CHARGE. ALSO A LOSS OF ACCELERATION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR STALLS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

SPARK PLUG WIRES MELTED.

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DASH. TT