Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Topic: Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff... (Read 2017 times) previous topic - next topic

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

April 23, 2007, 02:41:23 PM

Hello!
I replaced the bulbs in my speedo again today. Finally used long life bulbs not to take the cluster out again in a few months. I also replaced the instrument cluster voltage regulator as the fuel and temp gauges were going up and down with no reason. With the new regulator they are reading lower, is it OK? The temp gauge used to read between O and R with hot engine before now the needle barely passes the N.

I also took some pics of the misterious plug (the wide one with many pins) under the dash of my T-bird. I dunno what is it for? Would it add some new functions to my car if I'd plug it somewhere? :D

I also did one thing wrong... reconnected the battery with the key in ON positon. Hope it doesn't hurt the ECU or something?

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #1 – April 23, 2007, 02:46:26 PM

That looks like the plug for the cruise control (one of two) that plugs into a white plastic box (cruise computer) under the driver's side of the dash.I may be wrong,but that's what it looks like to me.

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #2 – April 23, 2007, 03:05:50 PM

Off of Vinnies note, do you have CC and does it work?

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #3 – April 23, 2007, 03:26:11 PM

Quote from: 84 Fila;142337

Off of Vinnies note, do you have CC and does it work?

Yup... it works fine!

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #4 – April 23, 2007, 03:27:43 PM

There's one thing that doesn't work. The key/seatbelt/headlights warining buzzer/chime. Maybe that's the plug for this?

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #5 – April 23, 2007, 03:43:04 PM

Find an place to plug that into, it may be it

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #6 – April 23, 2007, 03:59:22 PM

Quote from: 84 Fila;142349

Find an place to plug that into, it may be it

Couldn't find any! I tried to plug it somewhere. It tured out I'm trying to plug it to the other side of fuse box or something.

Speaking of the fuse box. What's that something on the other side of the fuse box that looks like a flasher and has a yellow cover on it?

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #7 – April 23, 2007, 04:03:35 PM

That is the emergency flasher pot...the silver one in the fuse panel is for the turn signals. They work from two different but concurrent circuits. I don't know why one is on top of the fuse panel and the other is in it...seems to me like Ford got a little lazy when they designed it.

Anyway, to answer your question about the chime module, in your car it is located to the left of the steering column and buried waaaaayyy under the dash, on top of a metal brace. It *should* be light blue in color. If you don't see anything light blue then I would say your chime module is missing, and that would explain the hanging harness.

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #8 – April 23, 2007, 04:23:42 PM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;142358

That is the emergency flasher pot...the silver one in the fuse panel is for the turn signals. They work from two different but concurrent circuits. I don't know why one is on top of the fuse panel and the other is in it...seems to me like Ford got a little lazy when they designed it.

Ah hah! Now that explains why I changed a three turn signal flashers to make the hazard lights blink slower with no luck! I thought they have one flasher for both functions. So, how to replace the hazard lights flasher?

Quote from: EricCoolCats;142358

Anyway, to answer your question about the chime module, in your car it is located to the left of the steering column and buried waaaaayyy under the dash, on top of a metal brace. It *should* be light blue in color. If you don't see anything light blue then I would say your chime module is missing, and that would explain the hanging harness.

So, it's like under the instrument cluster next to the steering column? Should I look up like trying to see the bottom of the inst. cluster to find it? Do you think it's possible to plug those wires to the chime module from under the steering column?

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #9 – April 23, 2007, 04:31:25 PM

Quote

Ah hah! Now that explains why I changed a three turn signal flashers to make the hazard lights blink slower with no luck! I thought they have one flasher for both functions. So, how to replace the hazard lights flasher?

Mmmm...it's not terribly fun but also not the worst thing you'll ever do. Reaching it is the worst part. It just pops out like the turn signal pot, no twisting necessary...at least, not that I can remember.

Quote

So, it's like under the instrument cluster next to the steering column? Should I look up like trying to see the bottom of the inst. cluster to find it? Do you think it's possible to plug those wires to the chime module from under the steering column?

OK, the easiest way to see it, in my experience, has been to loosen the headlight switch and move it over, and shine a flashlight down through that area. The light blue housing on the chime module is VERY easy to spot. I suppose you could crawl underneath and shine the light up, but viewing through the headlight switch hole is MUCH easier.

Now if those wires that you have laying there are directly under the column, like the photos sort of suggest, then I don't think they'd be long enough to reach the chime module. If that's the case then your module's just dead, which is common with old age. Then again, someone might have gotten upset enough at the module to just unplug it. Hard to tell...I can't remember what the chime module harness looks like. It's been a looonnnnggggg time since I've had to replace one.

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #10 – April 23, 2007, 05:03:11 PM

That looks like the warning chime plug. The plug has ten wires:

1. DG/LG: Fasten belts output
2. R/Y: Run power
3. W/P: Accessory power
4. R/PK: Door open input
5. W/R: Lamps on input
6. BK/PK: Key in switch input
7. T/Y: Tone
8. BK/O: Door ajar input
9. BR/LB: Seatbelt buckled input
10. BK: Ground

The warning chime sits behind and to the right of your headlight switches.

If they match then that's it. You might not have something for all pins, for instance pin 8 if you don't have door ajar sensors.

Misterious plug under the dash and other related stuff...

Reply #11 – April 23, 2007, 05:27:36 PM

I'll take a look at the wires tomorrow. Maybe somebody has a shop manual showing all the wiring and eg. chime module location. It would be easier to find it this way...