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9 Posts
Hello,
I have a 2002 Ford Escape XLT with the V-6 and 80,000 miles. It's been a reliable car and well maintained by me. My wife and I took it on a holiday trip from SoCAL to the Midwest. During this trip was when I first saw this problem:
- One night at a hotel in Oklahoma, I was awoken by the sound of my alarm. This is the first time I've heard it go off without me accidently setting it off. I panicked because I thought someone was stealing the Christmas presents we were traveling with. I ran outside and did not see any signs of intrusion. My key fob would not work. I opened the door with the key and the alarm shut down. On the instrument panel, many indicators were dimly lit (i.e. Brakes, Battery, Oil, Check Engine). I tried to start the engine but it would spin as if it weren't getting fuel. I unsuccessfully searched for tools to disconnect the battery. After about 15 minutes of searching for tools, the lights on the panel went off. I tried to start the engine again and it started like a champ. This was probably the second night my Escape has ever seen freezing temperatures. I thought that might be messing with the battery. We had no other problems the rest of the way to Iowa.
- One night in Iowa, the same thing happened. The alarm went off, the key fob wouldn't work, and the indicator lights were on in the console. I took it to an auto parts store the next day to test my battery. The tech said my battery checked good but that I had a diode out on my alternator. I wouldn't think this was the cause of the problem and elected to hold off replacing the alternator until I returned home.
- On our way back to SoCal, we stopped in Kansas for some gas. After fueling up, I drove to a parking space and turned of the ignition switch and took out the key. The funny thing is that the engine was still running. It continued to run like a champ. I tried the key several times but the engine continued to run. When I switched the key off, the radio would turn off and the indicator lights on the dash would dim but were still lit. The blower motor continued to work as well. We had a long way to go and a no-stop issue was better that a no-start. We stopped in OK to get a few tools so I could disconnect the battery to turn it off for the night. The engine continued running all the way to Texas. We stopped for gas and I tried to shut the engine off. It continued to run for a few minutes while I fueled. It then shut off. From Texas to SoCal the problem never occurred. I thought my Escape just didn't like the cold weather.
- A couple weeks later at home, the alarm went off like it did in Iowa and Oklahoma. Indicator lights on, etc. I disconnected the battery and was going to deal with it in the morning. However, the next day the problem was gone. Today at lunch while listening to the radio with the switch in ACC, the indicator lights came on. Out of curiosity, I started the engine and tried to turn it off. I couldn't. It continued to run like it did during our trip. I got back to work and was able to turn it off.
Sorry for the length of this message. Thought it was important to get my point across. Has anyone experienced this problem? Could a bad diode on an alternator allow current to energize the engine electrical? Could this be a PCM problem? I plan to change the alternator this weekend but will have no idea if this fixes the problem. If the problem still surfaces, I know it wasn't the alternator. Appreciate any help that is out there.
I have a 2002 Ford Escape XLT with the V-6 and 80,000 miles. It's been a reliable car and well maintained by me. My wife and I took it on a holiday trip from SoCAL to the Midwest. During this trip was when I first saw this problem:
- One night at a hotel in Oklahoma, I was awoken by the sound of my alarm. This is the first time I've heard it go off without me accidently setting it off. I panicked because I thought someone was stealing the Christmas presents we were traveling with. I ran outside and did not see any signs of intrusion. My key fob would not work. I opened the door with the key and the alarm shut down. On the instrument panel, many indicators were dimly lit (i.e. Brakes, Battery, Oil, Check Engine). I tried to start the engine but it would spin as if it weren't getting fuel. I unsuccessfully searched for tools to disconnect the battery. After about 15 minutes of searching for tools, the lights on the panel went off. I tried to start the engine again and it started like a champ. This was probably the second night my Escape has ever seen freezing temperatures. I thought that might be messing with the battery. We had no other problems the rest of the way to Iowa.
- One night in Iowa, the same thing happened. The alarm went off, the key fob wouldn't work, and the indicator lights were on in the console. I took it to an auto parts store the next day to test my battery. The tech said my battery checked good but that I had a diode out on my alternator. I wouldn't think this was the cause of the problem and elected to hold off replacing the alternator until I returned home.
- On our way back to SoCal, we stopped in Kansas for some gas. After fueling up, I drove to a parking space and turned of the ignition switch and took out the key. The funny thing is that the engine was still running. It continued to run like a champ. I tried the key several times but the engine continued to run. When I switched the key off, the radio would turn off and the indicator lights on the dash would dim but were still lit. The blower motor continued to work as well. We had a long way to go and a no-stop issue was better that a no-start. We stopped in OK to get a few tools so I could disconnect the battery to turn it off for the night. The engine continued running all the way to Texas. We stopped for gas and I tried to shut the engine off. It continued to run for a few minutes while I fueled. It then shut off. From Texas to SoCal the problem never occurred. I thought my Escape just didn't like the cold weather.
- A couple weeks later at home, the alarm went off like it did in Iowa and Oklahoma. Indicator lights on, etc. I disconnected the battery and was going to deal with it in the morning. However, the next day the problem was gone. Today at lunch while listening to the radio with the switch in ACC, the indicator lights came on. Out of curiosity, I started the engine and tried to turn it off. I couldn't. It continued to run like it did during our trip. I got back to work and was able to turn it off.
Sorry for the length of this message. Thought it was important to get my point across. Has anyone experienced this problem? Could a bad diode on an alternator allow current to energize the engine electrical? Could this be a PCM problem? I plan to change the alternator this weekend but will have no idea if this fixes the problem. If the problem still surfaces, I know it wasn't the alternator. Appreciate any help that is out there.