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Greetings from a newbie...

1K views 24 replies 5 participants last post by  turbo 
#1 ·
Hiyas all around... I joined this board a couple days ago, but waited until now to post -- as of 3:30pm (EST) this afternoon, I'm official! :D

1993 Green LX Wagon, 1.9L 5-spd ... and only 70,000 mis. on it, too!

I need to figure out:

a) why the cruise control isn't working, and
b) what is supposed to be in the neat little square hole in the dash
to the right of the steering column. :roll:

...other than that, it's primo.

- turbo
 
#3 ·
welcome to the board...about your questions you have to be a paying member to ask any questions its free to answer.......JUST KIDDING.....Um i always thought that little button near the steering column was for the rear windshield on the wagons but being that you have a wagon I guess it isnt so know I would like to know what exactly that is damn sorry I couldnt help :?
 
#4 ·
turbo said:
Hiyas all around... I joined this board a couple days ago, but waited until now to post -- as of 3:30pm (EST) this afternoon, I'm official! :D

1993 Green LX Wagon, 1.9L 5-spd ... and only 70,000 mis. on it, too!

I need to figure out:

a) why the cruise control isn't working, and
b) what is supposed to be in the neat little square hole in the dash
to the right of the steering column. :roll:

...other than that, it's primo.

- turbo
a) I know someone can help you with this, I know very little myself.
b) the square hole to the right of the steering column...I think I know what you're talking about...here's a picture of it in my GT:



Is it that thing where my radar detector cord comes across it on the dash? (the black thing in my blue shroud...)

if you're talking about that...it's where the rear window defogger switch is supposed to be, I have an extra one if you want it... :p

Forgot to mention...welcome to the site. Got any pics of your monster? :wink:
 
#6 ·
95EsortSittinLo said:
O man I need to know my right from my left I thought he meant the otherside :?
Yeah after I posted that i had to go back and check to make sure he said right side. lol

Here's how I normally keep it straight.

Hold out both hands and make the shape of an "L" with your index finger and thumb, which ever one looks like a real "L" is your left hand. :p
 
#7 ·
Is it that thing where my radar detector cord comes across it on the dash? (the black thing in my blue shroud...)

if you're talking about that...it's where the rear window defogger switch is supposed to be, I have an extra one if you want it...
Yep -- that's the spot. Rear window defogger switch, huh... hmm.. Peering down into the gap, I can see what looks like a Molex connector down there... probably where the switch hooks up, I'm guessing. :wink:

So.. you have a spare, huh? Yeah, if you can bear to part with it, I'd like to plug up the gaping hole in my dash! 8)

Forgot to mention...welcome to the site. Got any pics of your monster?
Not yet... but I do have a digital camera with fresh batteries in it. I'll snap some "before" shots in a little bit and get 'em posted. I have a few ideas about changes I want to make to the interior (Those guages and the aluminum brush bezel look sweeeeeeeeet!!), including getting a new AM/FM/CD installed -- it's got AM/FM/Cassette... but, to be honest, I don't think I own a single cassette tape! :p

- turbo
 
#8 ·
James92Scort said:
95EsortSittinLo said:
O man I need to know my right from my left I thought he meant the otherside :?
Yeah after I posted that i had to go back and check to make sure he said right side. lol

Here's how I normally keep it straight.

Hold out both hands and make the shape of an "L" with your index finger and thumb, which ever one looks like a real "L" is your left hand. :p
Lol yea my parents taught me that. For my first road test(i took it twice) I put a little white dot with white out on the right side of my steering wheel so I knew which side was the right :twisted: Now Im pretty confident about right and left tho :wink: :)
 
#9 ·
Here's a few pics of my new car...

Hiyas again... sorry for the delay. It decided to rain, so I had to wait to take the pics... here's a few:

Exterior shot... that tow-bar has got to go. I haven't got an RV to tow it behind, anyway! :wink:



Interior shot... clean, huh? :D



Gauges... only 70,532.65 miles -- and I put 78.4 of 'em on it during the test drive! :lol:



This one shows "the hole". Definitely need something there. :)

 
#12 ·
Hey, turbo, nice lookin' 93 wagon :thumbleft:

I wrote a response 3 days ago, but it got eaten somehow and I haven't had time to write it again until now. :?

How heavy do you think that towbar is? What does it bolt to underneath?
Don't ask me why I want to know... :toothy9:

Oh, I was going to say. I don't have a rear window defogger, so I just have a smooth cover over that hole. The other side is the power window switch o_O

Anyway, welcome to the site, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

PS: SittinLo, left is the foot you put forward when you ride regular foot, right is the foot you put forward when riding goofy foot. (I figure those are terms a sk8border has a shot at understanding :pottytrain1: ) I spent Sunday riding down parking decks in Charleston on my Freebord (do you sell those?.. no Mtns in NJ :tongue: ).. ride down 5 flights, jump on an elevator and do it all over again.
 
#13 ·
How heavy do you think that towbar is?
Hmm.. I'm not sure... but it's pretty heavy gauge 2.5" pipe... so, I'd say it was pretty heavy. I'll have a more accurate estimation in the near future. ;)

What does it bolt to underneath?
At this point, my guess is the frame. Again, I'll have a more accurate estimation in the near future. ;)

Don't ask me why I want to know...
Okay, but... why do you want to know, anyway?

Oh, I was going to say. I don't have a rear window defogger, so I just have a smooth cover over that hole. The other side is the power window switch o_O
I don't have a rear window defogger, either... but I've got a gaping hole in my dash. :) ...and, on my car, the one on the other side has the power mirror controls on it... I thought the power window controls were mounted in the driver's side armrest.
 
#14 ·
turbo said:
I don't have a rear window defogger, either... but I've got a gaping hole in my dash. :) ...and, on my car, the one on the other side has the power mirror controls on it... I thought the power window controls were mounted in the driver's side armrest.
Thats where my power window switch is too. on the dash to the left. of course my driver mirror doesn't work left to right and the passenger mirror doesn't move up and down...lol

stupid Ford switches. :D
 
#15 ·
Beaverboy said:
Hey, turbo, nice lookin' 93 wagon :thumbleft:

I wrote a response 3 days ago, but it got eaten somehow and I haven't had time to write it again until now. :?

How heavy do you think that towbar is? What does it bolt to underneath?
Don't ask me why I want to know... :toothy9:

Oh, I was going to say. I don't have a rear window defogger, so I just have a smooth cover over that hole. The other side is the power window switch o_O

Anyway, welcome to the site, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

PS: SittinLo, left is the foot you put forward when you ride regular foot, right is the foot you put forward when riding goofy foot. (I figure those are terms a sk8border has a shot at understanding :pottytrain1: ) I spent Sunday riding down parking decks in Charleston on my Freebord (do you sell those?.. no Mtns in NJ :tongue: ).. ride down 5 flights, jump on an elevator and do it all over again.
Ya we got freeboards and flow boards :wink:
 
#16 ·
That's what I figured, turbo.... heavy..
turbo said:
Don't ask me why I want to know...
Okay, but... why do you want to know, anyway?
Ehh... if it weren't made for pulling a car, it would make a kickass rally light mount. Call me crazy, but I like how it looks in those pictures. :happy6:

SittinLo said:
Ya we got freeboards and flow boards :wink:
Cool, have you ridden either? I've almost got my freebord set up to where it feels just like my snowboard... still a little more tweaking to do. I've never ridden a flow board, only seen/heard of them... they look dangerous :p

~Crazy
 
#19 ·
So, anyway... any of you fine folks have some Cruise Control system troubleshooting tips?

Is there a "Cruise Control ON" light to show whether it has been activated...and, if so, where exactly is that indicator?

When I turn the Cruise "on", nothing seems to happen. When I click the "Set" button, again nothing happens (and, of course, lifting my foot off the gas produces a steady decrease in forward speed). In other words, it seems completely inoperative.

The Chilton's book is singularly unhelpful. The author(s) cheerily suggest the problem may be:

  1. blown fuse
  2. short or open in the cruise control circuit
  3. faulty brake or clutch switch
  4. leaking vacuum circuit
  5. faulty cruise control switch
  6. faulty stepper motor
  7. faulty transducer
  8. faulty speed sensor
  9. faulty cruise control module

...which is all well and good, but it does nothing (much) for me, other than create more (or, more detailed) questions, like:

  1. which fuse? the chart(s) in the book don't indicate which circuit the cruise is wired into
  2. short/open: I would think a short would cause option 1 to look likely, and an open could be anywhere...
  3. brake/clutch switch: this would be evident in circuits other than cruise control, so I think it unlikely...
  4. vacuum: ditto.. and again, I think it unlikely
  5. the "faulty xxxx" answers: with the exception of the cruise control switch, where exactly are these parts located on my car? If I could find them, I could check/test them...

...anyway... any help in troubleshooting/diagnosing this problem would be welcomed...
 
#20 ·
turbo said:
Yeah I can part with my switch. Just pay for the shipping and I'll happily send it your way.
...arrived in today's mail!! Yay! I'll add it to my project list... might even get it installed this weekend....

Thanks again, James... I definitely owe ya one!! :thumbleft:
Not a Problem man. I bought the extra dash piece for 15 bucks and painted it, then took mine out and replaced it. So I now have an extra dash bezel, 6 extra vents (I took mine out to mount some gauges there), and that extra switch, which I don't need.

Onto the cruise control questions...honestly I have no idea. My cruise works and I'm very very happy it does. I do know there isn't an indicator light & the only way to see if it works is to actually hit the on button and then the 'set accel' button to see if it sticks at that speed. but obviously that doesn't work for you. I wish I could be of more assistance but all I've done is ramble on and on. :lol:
 
#21 ·
The weather cooperated today (only a few drops of rain in the area of town where I live), so I was able to get some things done:



Thanks again, James... :D

As for the Cruise Control, I'm still researching some troubleshooting and testing information. I'll (of course!) share my findings here...
 
#22 ·
James92Scort said:
turbo said:
Yeah I can part with my switch. Just pay for the shipping and I'll happily send it your way.
...arrived in today's mail!! Yay! I'll add it to my project list... might even get it installed this weekend....

Thanks again, James... I definitely owe ya one!! :thumbleft:
Not a Problem man. I bought the extra dash piece for 15 bucks and painted it, then took mine out and replaced it. So I now have an extra dash bezel, 6 extra vents (I took mine out to mount some gauges there), and that extra switch, which I don't need.

Onto the cruise control questions...honestly I have no idea. My cruise works and I'm very very happy it does. I do know there isn't an indicator light & the only way to see if it works is to actually hit the on button and then the 'set accel' button to see if it sticks at that speed. but obviously that doesn't work for you. I wish I could be of more assistance but all I've done is ramble on and on. :lol:
James could I get a few of those vent pieces like 3 rows got broke somehow I swear it wasnt because i was angry and punched it :oops: :roll: :twisted:
 
#23 ·
I said:
As for the Cruise Control, I'm still researching some troubleshooting and testing information. I'll (of course!) share my findings here...
...and, so I shall.

I picked up (off Ebay) a CD-ROM copy of the Ford Motor Company 1993-1994 Workshop Information "Extensive Compilation Set" -- in short, it's the 1993 Ford Service Manual in electronic format. I highly recommend it -- lots of good information, detailed systems analysis and troubleshooting procedures for nearly everything on the car... and, it contains the part numbers, as well... if you feel like donating more money to Ford for parts, that is...

anyway.. best $6.00 I've spent in a while.

So... on to the Cruise Control issue with my vehicle: The manual indicates that, in addition to the Clutch Starter Switch (which makes sure you have the clutch pedal depressed before it'll activate the starter motor), there is also a "Clutch Pedal Position Switch" (in manual transmission models, only) that makes sure you don't have the clutch depressed when operating the Cruise Control.

So, I figure I've got a bad switch. I call the local Ford dealer, mainly out of curiosity, and ask for a price on a replacement switch. I hope you folks reading this are sitting down. $79.24.... and, it's not in stock; he'd have to order it. I declined, figuring I can either fix mine or find a replacement in the junkyard for quite a bit less money.

This evening, in the process of verifying that the Clutch Pedal Position Switch was, indeed, failing (using the testing/diagnosis procedures outlined in the aforementioned service manual), I found out exactly what the problem with my Cruise Control is...

The switch is normally depressed when the clutch pedal is disengaged, and when you press on the clutch pedal, the switch 'opens'... well, mine wasn't working exactly that way... y'see, there's this little rubber piece that is supposed to be inserted into this hole in the angle bracket on the right side of the clutch pedal arm (see accompanying diagram, below) -- it's not there. As a result, as I release the clutch pedal, the actuator arm of the switch goes through the hole where the little rubber piece is supposed to be mounted... and, thus, the switch is not depressed as it should be... For those folks starving for technical details, and in the interest of being as accurate as possible, I'll note that the "little rubber piece" is actually called a "Switch Contact Point" ...I think, just for grins, I'll call over to the Ford dealership again tomorrow, and find out what kind of ridiculous price they put on THAT part! ...then, more than likely, I'll fashion one of my own making to complete the repair job.

 
#25 ·
Beaverboy said:
Good job, and thanks for the diagram. Show us that price, just for giggles.
Okay... so, I call back to the Ford dealership this morning, expecting to be told that the little rubber things were a part of the switch assembly, and that I was still expected to pay $79.24. Instead, here's what happened:

Me: Hi, I called yesterday about a Clutch Position Switch for my '93 Escort...

Joe: Yes, I remember...

Me: Okay, so last evening I actually stuck my head under the dashboard, and found that the switch is operating perfectly, I--

Joe: You need that little rubber thing, right?

Me: Umm... yes.

Joe: Okay, they're $3.78 apiece, and we have them in stock.

.... so, this evening on the way home, I stopped by and picked up a pair. $8.12 including tax, and I installed one of them while I was in the parking lot. Tested the cruise on the rest of the drive home. Works fine. :D

....I am somewhat chagrined that he knew exactly what I wanted when I called this morning -- it's almost as if he knew that was the problem in the first place... and, yet, he was willing to sell me an $80.00 switch. :roll: (Not that I'd actually pay $80.00 for a simple switch, mind you...) Ah, well.. in any case, the Cruise Control is fixed now, so I'm happy. :D
 
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