Need Help

J

jinx8402

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Hey, I have a 2000 V8 LS, and when I start my car up it beeps, as if something is wrong with the car. I checked the status center, and nothing was showing, and no lights on the dash come on to warn me. While driving, the beeping happens again every half-hour. I have no idea what the problem is.

I also noticed that my Cruise Control doesn't work often, and when it does, the buttons don't do as labeled (hitting the - button actually makes it speed up). I'm not sure if this is related to the beeping.

Also, I installed an after-market radio. For the first month of having it installed it was fine, and no beeping. Then about a month later it started. I'm not sure if this is a possible reason, but considering it didn't do it at first, I'm going to assume it isn't the reason.

Thanks for any help,
Craig
 
I believe the beep is a warning sign of a grounded or shorted connection. It takes only secondt to remove the radio. Why dont you recheck the radio wiring.
 
I know the LS has a low-fuel beep that repeats. Perhaps there is some connector that was loosened during the stereo install?
 
Well, I did just recheck all my ground wiring, I switched to several different points, and it still beeps. I'm not sure what it could be anymore. It's not directly from having an aftermarket radio, is it? I know some GM cars you can't install a new radio without buying a special adapter. Is it the same for the LS? I'm thinking I might have to just take it to Ford to see if they can get the error code.
 
Does the "Check Engine Light" come on when you turn on the key before you start it?
 
Do you mean the yellow light of an engine that is right below the tachometer? If so, yes it does, but isn't that normal? As soon as I start the car, it turns off.
 
Yes, I asked to see if perhaps you had a burnt out bulb and the beep was related to the check engine light. Apparently not.
 
Does the supplemental restraint system (air bags) light come on when you key on? If that bulb burns out the vehicle might beep also.

That might also explain the cruise control problem (bad clockspring in the steering column).
 
Ok, after checking that, I did notice the airbag light doesn't come on when i put the key to the on position, or when i start the car up. There isn't a fuse i should check is there?

If it is just the bulb, what is the part number/where can i get it? How hard is it to take apart the dash and put a new bulb in? Or is this something I need to take down to a Ford dealership?
 
Yes, I'd check the fuses first. Then I'd check the light bulb.

The bulb might have burned out or someone might have removed it. When you get the light working again, it will flash a code, if there is a problem with the air bag system.

If you have a service manual, it will show you how to get to the light and what the codes mean. It would also show the safety precautions needed to repair these systems.

I've repaired mine on my Mark (using the service manual) but I wouldn't recommend doing this without the manual.

Hopefully, another LS owner will chime in with some LS details that I don't have.
 
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I would check the fuse, but I have no idea what it is listed as in the owner's guide. If anyone knows which one I should check, let me know.

EDIT...Nevermind. I figured out the two fuses labeled RCM control the airbags. Both fuses were good, so it wasn't that. Now I need to check the light. There shouldn't be any implications by just changing the light, right?
 
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The Mark VIII has a fuse to protect the "Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor" maybe the LS does too? I'm not sure what "Air Bag" they are talking about though.
 
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You have two problems.

First, the RCM (Restraint Control Module) has detected a concern and is trying to let you know by flashing the airbag warning lamp. Based upon your comment about the speed control, I would suspect the clockspring (the rotating contact behind the steering wheel that allows the stationary wiring of the steering column to remain connected to the electronics of the turning wheel.)

If the RCM knows it cannot flash the light, it will beep 5 tones, 5 times, with a one second break between repetitions, to let you know something's wrong.

The light failure could be due to a number of things; certainly the bulb, or wiring between the RCM and the cluster, an internal signal output failure in the RCM, or perhaps circuitry within the cluster.

Your next step is to get the OBDII system scanned through the Data Link connector under the dash. Counting airbag light flashes is not the diagnostic for OBDII restraints; the RCM will generate 5-digit codes beginning with B (for Body), ie: Bxxxx. For example, if the RCM knows it cannot transmit a signal to the warning lamp, it will set "B1869". If there is a problem with your clockspring, a "B1932" or "B1934" might be set.

If you correct the underlying malfunction so that the RCM doesn't NEED to warn you about anything, the beeping will most likely stop even though the light has not been fixed!

Keep in mind that while the RCM is aware of a restraint system malfunction, it goes into a default mode that disables all airbags to prevent any possible incorrect deployment. As long as you're hearing that beeping after startup, you will have NO airbags if you're in an accident. There are certain rare situations, if the conditions are right, that the RCM may override the default, but don't count on it.
 
Thanks for the info Frankie.

However, I took it to a Lincoln Dealer today, they ran the diagnostic test (which cost 90 just for that) and it came back with 19 (yes 19) errors. They couldn't even give me an estimate besides it being extremely expensive since they would have to rip apart the car to find where it's coming from.

Now I'm in a huge bind. I just purchased the car used a year ago. I still owe about 9000 on it, and It definitely isn't worth that much considering what's wrong with it. I don't know if I should continue driving the way it is, and not have an airbag, and be annoyed by the beeping. Or if I should just bite the bullet, and trade it in and get a new car, and just have to add the remaining amount to any new loan.
 
19 error codes may not mean 19 separate problems.

Many restraint components will cause the RCM to generate multiple codes, but have a single issue. Remember the B1932 and/or B1934 both relating to the clockspring?

The RCM generates two levels of codes: CMDTCs (Continuous Monitor Diagnostic Trouble Codes) or ODDTCs (On Demand DTCs). The CMDTCs are problems stored in memory that may or may not actually be present during the scan and the ODDTCs are hard faults truly present during the test.

When diagnosing that many errors, the tech should be erasing all memory codes and concentrating on the hard faults, some of which would probably be duplicated in memory. This should narrow the actual errors down to something more manageable.

I don't know what your dealership or you consider extremely expensive, but at our place, if we've got a difficult retail diagnosis, we give the customer the option of authorizing a very set number of hours, say two or three, to give us a chance, on the understanding that we won't just call it quits after that time and leave the vehicle in pieces.

Did they give you that choice?
 
No, they definitely didn't give me that choice. He did say that he thought that it was a wiring defect, and thats what was causing that many errors. I just don't have the disposable income for them to go through my entire car at this point in time.

Maybe I can call back to see if they would be willing to do something like that.
 
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