Check that ground wire running from the neg side of the battery, to the side fender wire loom.

 

Would that stop communication? The car's electronics work (radio, windows, trunk solenoid, lights, etc) except for the gauges... nothing happens when you turn the key!

 

There was a guy who came on here not even a week ago with the same problem, and we told em about that wire, and Tom ended up coming on and saying that wire is a ground wire for the ECU fault, and that it would affect the things you are talking about.

I'll see if I can find the thread.

EDIT: ah here it is, see if this helps.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289343

IDK if they found a solution for him.

 

I'm gonna get under the car this weekend and check some shit out. Thanks, community! I'll check back in once I snoop around! Any other tips/pics please pass 'em along!

 

had this problem happen to me as well turned out to be a bad cable from the starter to the battery so i changed the whole cable from the starter, alternator and to the battery. Also swapped in a crown victoria starter motor internals into the stock focus starter so that could have fixed the problem

 

this is a strange issue, i suspected the PCM but you guys have seen this before, its crazy if this is caused by just one cable, but such as life it happens. thanks for the tips, im learning as i go for this car.

 

Same thing happened to Josh's mom's sohc. He said if its not that ground then its gotta be your ecu

 

*Fingers Crossed* I hope it's just that starter/alternator/battery cable!

 

updates????

 

Agreed..Whats going on with the car?

 

Its got to be that wire. I had this problm too. Simple pimple

 

I was working and traveling up ta PA to pick up my Matco 5s tool box... I didn't get a chance to crawl under it. Graduating school (HELL YEAH Boosted Olds; we effn' made it!) and starting a regular day schedule should afford me the time I need this week.

 

yes we did mang, feels good. now to get that focus running again broski

 

Congrats Chuck!!! Once you get your car figured out, we still need to get mine squared away... If you need anything on yours...let me know.

 

I gotta give you a call so we can get synchronized for this. We can definitely get yours done while I beat my head against the wall because of mine!

 

well its to the right of the battery, I know because I had to try and make a new one for this girl. She didn't take care of her care (but thinks she does) and it broke right there at the terminal. It wasn't enough to kill it, but the speedometer would act like a tach. It's called the redundant ground and ford likes to use it a LOT for their computer system. A lot of people buy replacement battery cables and don't understand why that one is there so they leave it off and wonder why their truck doesn't start (then they don't believe me when I tell them that's what it is [facepalm])

check it out though, it's pretty easy to find.

 

well its to the right of the battery... check it out though, it's pretty easy to find.

Is it that little one that goes directly off to the right? So I'm looking for compromised wire, I suppose...

If that looks good, I gotta trace the big power cable though, right...

 

Checked these:

They are all tight and secure; the wires all seem intact. I did continuity testing on them and there must be at least one strand through each of them 'cause there's continuity...

Then I got under the biotch and looked and poked the cables between the alternator and starter... everything is secured and the cables don't feel crackly or burnt...

 

Hey Keefs; was it the drop testing that tells you how intact the cables are?! I think I'm gonna have to reconnect the battery, drop test the cables (remove some of those plastic looms for some of 'em), and then drop test each side of the fuses... UGH!

I'm also gonna see if a coworker can print me a copy of the pinpoint tests for the "Dashes of Death" symptoms... EFF!

 

yea, remember we did a drop on you positive terminal when it wouldnt start you had .006v drop. it doesnt take much to eff it up.

see what you can find out from the techs there. ill look on alldata for any TSBs

 

only thing i can find is a readiness failure which requires a re program [smackbum]

 

Hmmmm... tell me more... in a PM, please!

 

So, I looked at everything here:

And it is all still secure, no corrosion, and the wires look and feel intact internally.

And I also looked here:

The cable between the alternator and starter is in fine shape, unlike last time this happened and it was blackened and crispy.

The issue I'm having with inspecting the electrical is all the plastic looms covering large portions of the cables. I'm having a bear of a time figuring out where the positive cable goes after leaving the battery...

 

I'm gonna swap a battery at work and see what happens... I hope this solves the issue!

... what if it's just worn out battery clamps though... *SMACK* STOP GUESSING!!!

 

soooo anything new?

 

ready for it: 20a maxi fuse was blown!