Computer codes from a 1999 3.8L Ford Windstar?

Question

Everything just stopped working all together. The car still starts and drives fine but the speedometer stopped working and the dash message is "fuel computer data error". Odometer stopped working as well as the AC, the rear mount brake light,and license plate lights.

These are the codes that my mechanic came up with

BODY:
B2524
B2519
U1262
B2562
B1249
B2513
B1676
B1244

ABS --> code: vehicle is not responding, electri-system malfunction

ENGINE:
P0500
PV1039
P1038

The thing is that I don't know what to do next, I looked under the dash and my Front Electronic Module # is XF2T-13C788-AB

I called an online retailer, but the guy confused me even more by telling me that there is more than one computer in my car, so I don't know what to do next. The mechanic I originally took it to wants $1000 just to start working on the Van. I can't afford paying that, so I need you guys' help or at least the websites of some good mechanics who can help me. Thanks

Answer 1

Believe me or not but i have seen this before. Seems to me it is a wiring harness that is down under the battery box that gets corroded and stops working. Also; another harness that comes across the top of the transmission rubs on a bracket and causes it to wear the insulation off the wires and short out. If this is not the case, replace the computer. The way to tell the computer thing is to look on that sticker on the passenger side door jam, and it will tell you which computer you have in it. Clean the battery connections real good, clean the ground straps that go to the body from the engine, and make sure they are getting a good ground, check those harness problems that I talked about, and If that doesn't fix the problem, try resetting the computer, and if still a no go, get that code off the door jam and replace the computer. It sounds like the computer is shot anyway, and the shorting harness would do that. Stay with it and you will get to the bottom of the problem. That short under the battery box is a common one in which i have seen many times. Good luck!

Answer 2

Actually, everyone is right! Check the fuel pressure, and if to spec, do what Gearbox and Ford Girl say. If you still get the lean codes 171 and 174 after doing what they said, keep in mind that some of those vehicles also had a problem with the intake manifold cracking, and that won't show up until the engine is hot, on a vacuum gauge. Normally, the tsb they refer to takes care of this issue, so start there.

Answer 3

Get a Chiltons or Haynes manual on you windstar. It will tell you where the computer is located. Your mechanic means there is an ECM computer and an ABS computer" Anti Lock Brake system.
Sounds like you need a new ECM...Electronic Computer Module. Basically a new Computer There may be a recall on those..I'm not sure. For recall info on your car go to...http://www.autosite.com/content/own/service/index.cfm/action/recalls?CPCID=22652-13-6213-0-2177-60-0-0&id=22652
An ECM is fairly easy to replace. Just unplug unbolt replace rebolt, and plug in. You can get them used fairly cheap or just get a new one. It's rare even on a POS like a Ford that that many codes and problems come up. If the computer is bad all looks bad in the code world bad!

Answer 4

These are the meanings of the codes I posted earlier

BODY:
B2524 = License lamp ckt short
B2519 = High mount stop lamp fail
U1262 = scp computer data fail
B2562 = Auxiliar A/C blower speed 1 ckt fail
B1249 = Blend door rear fault
B2513 = Blower (fan) fault
B1676 = Battery voltage out of range
B1244 = Rear wiper mtr run fault (this actually works though)

ABS: code ---> Vehicle is not responding electric-system malfunction.

ENGINE:
P0500 = Vehicle speed sensor fault
PU1039 = Multiple defns-use-
P1036 = scp data fault for vvs high resolution

I tried looking for malfunctions such as cuts or burns in any harnesses I can see, but this thing is driving me nuts. I don't want to pay someone billions for something that I can resolve myself.

Answer 5

Without looking into the specific codes that you are listing, my first instinct is that you have a loose or missing ground. This would explain why you are having so many (typically un-related) vehicle problems. Has your van ever had any body work? Body shops are notorious for leaving off ground wires that connect to body panels (like the inner fender). I would check the wiring schematic for the related components and see if they all lead you back to a common ground connection. Make sure to check the battery connection as well, there could be corrosion in the battery cable that is causing your troubles. Please don't rush out and buy any parts too quickly.

Answer 6

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/awJUL

The p0141 If I remember indicates a heater (that warms up the catalyst o2 for bank 1) to be faulty indicating you need to change it.. it's a blue connectored o2 sensor with blue coating over the wires The p0171/p0174 is a widely known code meaning lean bank 1 and 2 and usually leads to a vaccum line off or more likely the o-rings between the upper plastic intake and the lower aluminum intake have shrank over the years and allowing air leakage causing your concern Ford had a TSB (Bulletin to recommend a repair fix) of changing the o-rings, some bolts, vaccum lines and possibly the front valve cover for the code issues

Answer 7

The answer above looks close, a missing ground, but also you do have a few computors, and 1 may be missing power, b codes are for (B)body systems, I'd check all maxi fuses first, grounds, then get into specific computors, I've had alot of problems with wiring near battery corroding and breaking wires

Answer 8

Hello,

have you checked the connectors/defects of the wire harnesses? Isn't it suspicious that you lost several functions at the same time?
Can you connect this phenomemon with a specific event ?

If I were you, I would look all cable harnesses I can access and look for disconnected/damaged sections. Some of these harnesses reside in the cabin so you can check them inside as well.

I hope this helps a bit.

Regards

Answer 9

as others have said i check the grounds but i also take a look at the connector at the back of the instrument cluster had similar problem on a car once when 2 of the pins in there shorted sorry can not recall the year but it was a ford

Answer 10

first get a copy of the Haynes automotive computer codes manual. that will definitely tell you your engine codes. I'm not sure about body codes.second there is a body sensor computer in your vehicle also located in your engine compartment