1988 FORD TEMPO Electrical System Problems

ACK UP.NMENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES. STARTS RIGHT.

Mileage: 49,000

SMELLED HOT WIRE SMELL WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. NOTICED 1 INCH FLAME IN LEFT AIRVENT WHICH GREW TO 5 INCHES WHEN STOPPED CAR. UNHOOKED BATTERY, POURED LIQUID OVER DASHBOARD WHICH WAS ON FIRE, CLOSED DOOR, WAITED FOR FIRETRUCK. I THINK IT STARTED IN HEADLIGHT SWITCH. CAR TOTALED, MOST OF DASH BURNT AWAY.*AK

NHTSA RECALL96V 071000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 CONCERNING IGNITION FAI;URE. CONSUMER NOTICED FROM OUTSIDE WINDOW THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING I DRIVEWAY FOR 30-45 MINUTES AFTER BEING DRIVEN HOME. VEHICLE HAD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER WAS CONFIRMING RECALL TO BE SERVICED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIME IT WILL RESTART JUST TO STALL AGAIN AFTER A FEW MILES. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACE TWICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING/MODULE THAT REGULATES THE ELECTRICAL PULSES THAT FIRE THE PLUGS. I WILL ASK THE DEALER TO RESEARCH. UNFORTUANTELY, THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON FORD TEMPO'S BUT NONE OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ADDRESS IT. *AK

IGNITION COIL AND MODULE FAILED. NLM

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE IN MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OR IN SOME CASES IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED PARTS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE WILL QUIT SUDDENLY AND USUALLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED BECAUSE A TRUCK WAS RIGHT BEHND ME. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES QUICK ENOUGH TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE FAILURE HAS OCCURED ABOUT 8 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE I.E. FROM EITHER IGNITION FAILURE OR FROM FUEL STARVATION FROM AN UNKNOWN CAUSE. IN EACH CASE, THE CAR WOULD RESTART AFTER A HALF HOUR WAIT. THIS REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY FROM A REAR END COLLISSION HAZARD.*AK

I LOST MY 4-YEAR OLD SON IN MY CAR. IT WAS PARKED, I DON'T KNOW WHY HE GOT IN THE CAR. WE HAD JUST ARRIVED AT MY MOTHERS. NO ONE CAN PROVE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE DASH IS SO BURNT AND THE STERINGWHEEL WAS IN THE FLOOR. ALTHOUGH THEY FOUND NO TRACES OF ANYTHING THAT COULD OF STARTED IT OTHER THAN FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR STILL SITS AND THEY WANT ME TO FORGET ABOUT IT. LAWYERS KEEP BACKING OUT AFTER SO FAR. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH AND GET WHAT I DESERVE. NO ONE CAN PUT A PRICE ON A LOST CHILD.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

MOTIONLESS FORD IN GARAGE FAILED TO START 8-21-00, REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED FORD MODULE, SAYING THAT WAS CHIEF PROBEM. THE TROUBLE REMAINED; ENGINE STALLED AND THROBBED INDICATING FAULTY IGNITION. A SECOND REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED A "COIL" BUT TROUBLE (THROBBING AND STALLING) REMAINS. $800 IN REPAIRS AND THE ORIGINAL TROUBLE REMAINS. CO-OWNER IS WIFE PAULINE AND REPAIR BILLS ARE IN HER NAME.*AK

WHEN TURNING IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND TURNING IT TOO FAR, WHEN COME BACK TO THE CAR, BATTERY IS DEAD.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNDER THE HOOD FIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 60 MPH. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. PULLED VEHICLE OVER, AND NOTICED FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

A FAULTY ALTERNATOR CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. THE ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO OVERHEATING WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED ALTERNATOR. *AK *ML

ALTERNATORS HAVE MELTED AND FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

VEHICLE FIRE RESULTING IN DEATH AND HOME DISTRUCTION, DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.

ALTERNATOR TERMINAL AND WIRING HARNESS FAILED.

ALTERNATOR TERMINAL AND WIRING HARNESS FAILED.

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #95S28 ON 11/6/97. VEHICLE CUT OFF. THE OWNER DOES NOT THINK THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WON'T START WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW ZERO. IF BROUGHT INSIDE, EVEN IN AN UNHEATED GARAGE FOR TEN MINUTES, VEHICLE STARTS. *AK

ALTERNATOR HARNESS CAUSED ALTERNATOR TO BURN OUT. *AK

CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AFTER DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES, FIREMEN WERE CALLED, NO INJURIES,CONSUMER GOT DAUGHTER OUT OF AUTOMOBILE IN TIME. *AK

THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE ALNERNATOR OVERHEATS AND SOMETIMES SMOKE IS EVIDENT. THIS IS A MITSIBISHI ALTERNATOR, FORD DOESN'T RECOGNIZE PROBLEM . *AK AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURER WARNED OF FIRE HAZARD AND SUPPLIED A NEW CONNECTOR WITH REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR- CONNECTOR IT MELTS EVEN THOUGH ALTERNATOR IS FUNCTIONING, EVEN 8 WIRING INSULATION BECOMES BRITTLE OR MELTS FROM HEAT, ON ONE OCCASION REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED EXTENSIVELY SMOKING CONNECTOR ON THE VERGE OF FLAMES WHILE WORKING ON UNRELATED JOB, MECHANIC STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, LOCAL FORD DEALER DENIED ANY TYPE OF PROBLEMS OR COMPLAINTS.*JB

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK *JB

#PE 96-026, WHILE DRIVING A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE ALTERNATOR . *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FIRE STARTED AT THE ALTERNATOR CONNECTOR, SHOOTING FLAMES, THE RESULTS WERE ENGINE COMPARTMENT PLASTIC CATCHING FIRE AND SPITTING BURNING PLASTIC ONTO FUEL LINES WHICH IN TURN PUNCTURED AND SPRAYED FUEL OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *SLC

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, REPLACED WITH SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH.

REPLACED ALTERNATOR FOUR TIMES, ALSO REPLACED WIRING HARNESS. *AK

REPLACED ALTERNATOR FOUR TIMES, ALSO REPLACED WIRING HARNESS. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR CABLE, CAUSING THE CABLE TO SHORT OUT, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE TIMES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AN INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING THEN VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. SHE GOT BACK IN SAW SMOKE THEN FLAMES FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

ON THREE OCCASIONS THE ALTERNATOR HAS BURN OUT.*AK POWER CONNECTOR ON THE ALTERNATOR MELTED AND THE WHOLE ALTERNATOR AND CONNECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE 65 AMP ALTERNATOR MADE IN JAPAN.*JB

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.

MALE PLUG ON THE BACK OF THE ALTERNATOR BURNT UP. PLUG IS A PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

MALE PLUG ON THE BACK OF THE ALTERNATOR BURNT UP. PLUG IS A PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH. CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER STATES APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WENT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 125 FEET STOPPED, HEARD A POPPING SOUND TURNED OFF KEY SAT IN VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES NOTHING HAPPENED, CONSUMER WENT TO A HOME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET TO CALL LOCAL FORD GARAGE, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE NEIGHBOR INFORMES CONSUMER THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF DOOR AND WENT BACK TO PHONE TO INFORM GARAGE THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE THE CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SHORTED OUT IN WHICH THERE WAS AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ACCORDING TO DEALER BUT CONSUMER STATES HE WAS NEVER INFORMED.*JB

CONSUMER PARKED, THE CAR CUT OFF AND CAR STARTED IT UP AND HIT A TRUCK.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHENSHE CAME OUT OF STORE SHE COULD NOT FIND HER VEHICLE, SHE STATES SOMEONE TOLD HER THAT VEHICLE STARTED UP WENT BACKWARDS MADE A U-TURN, THE BACK OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB

DROVE TO STORE, RETURNED HOME, NOTICED BRAKE LIGHT STILL ON, CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND BUNDLE OF WIRES WAS SMOKING, UNPLUGGED BRAKE SWITCH, WIRES OVERHEATED. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND REPAIR WIRES THEY MELTED TOGETHER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SWITCH WIRE HAD MELTED TOGETHER CAUSING A HOT SHORT.*JB

DROVE TO STORE, RETURNED HOME, NOTICED BRAKE LIGHT STILL ON, CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND BUNDLE OF WIRES WAS SMOKING, UNPLUGGED BRAKE SWITCH, WIRES OVERHEATED. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND REPAIR WIRES THEY MELTED TOGETHER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SWITCH WIRE HAD MELTED TOGETHER CAUSING A HOT SHORT.*JB

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

ELECTRICAL WIRING FIRE. *SD

ALTERNATOR REPLACED. *SD

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITON SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITON SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD FIRE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CAR WAS BUILT IN CANADA. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD FIRE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CAR WAS BUILT IN CANADA. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOTICED SMOKE COMING FRON STEERING COLUMN, NO FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOTICED SMOKE COMING FRON STEERING COLUMN, NO FIRE. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE LOSSES SPEED STALLS, STOP. TT

ALTERNATOR IN VEHICLE HAS FAILED FIVE TIMES, LAST TIME IT FAILED IT CAUSED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT

ALTERNATOR FAILURE KEEPS BURNING OUT VOLTAGE REGULATOR 4 TIMES. TT

ELECTRICAL WIRING FAILURE BURNED OUT REGULATOR 4 TIMES. TT

ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT). TT