DTE 0 and Door Lock Actuators

[91lsc]

From what the service manual says, the tripminder(message center) is not picking up the correct signal from the fuel sending unit. The fuel gauge works, so I assume the sending unit is OK. If anyone has had this problem and fixed it- PLEASE HELP! BTW Pro-five-oh, the door lock actuators were pretty easy to install, hardest part was changing out the rods and getting the 3 ball bearings and snap ring in place. Carquest sells a new aftermarket for $46.50. Although it is only listed for a Town Car, Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, it works for the Mark series. Ford wanted $77 for the same part. Thanks!

[Charlie]

I took my message center out and cleaned all the electrical contacts on the back and the DTE 0 thing has NOT happened sinse. I have had some people tell me that wont work but, it worked for me and was easy to do. If that doesn't work it is probley the sender in the tank. It may work for your fuel gage and just be intermitten enough to screw up the message center.

[This message has been edited by Charlie (edited August 04, 2001).]

[pro-five-oh]

Glad to see the door lock swap worked out fine. Do you have the part number for the door lock actuator from Carquest??? They will work with all Ford cars/trucks with a rod swap.

If your fuel gauge varies a lot while driving then you might have a bad sending unit. I'd try cleaning the contacts too...

[91lsc]

The door lock actuator Carquest part # is AF0701 replaces 1330079. Ford part # F1AZ54218A42A. All these # came off the Carquest packaging.

[Guido]

Mine DTE beeps too, but it says over 200 miles to empty tank!!! Why would it beep then???

[Charlie]

Guido help me to understand. Your saying that while your driving the message center will automaticly go to DTE start beeping and say 200 mi . Is that what you mean? If so that is weard.

[Guido]

Actually no, it'll only do it right after I start it. Now I understand if says "0" then it could be the sender in the tank giving a wrong signal, but if it says "200" (it depends, but I'm usually about 1/2 tank) it still beeps, but I don't know why. I just press clock button twice.

Hope this helps.

[Papayogi]

[My 88 has done that (except mine says 0) for over 3 years! I have just learned to ignore it! My 90, doesn't do it!

[Charlie]

Guido, I'm no expert just another mark owner. But, it sounds to me like your message center must be bad. They are purty cheap in the boneyards and I've heard that they interchange between many different Fords. If you could get one cheap they are easy to replace.

[pro-five-oh]

Originally posted by Charlie:
I took my message center out and cleaned all the electrical contacts on the back and the DTE 0 thing has NOT happened since.

Charlie is RIGHT! Oh man, this RULES!!!

My 1983 Conti had the same problem. I just disconnected the Tripminder and reconnected it and the DTE "0" error went away! The DTE now reads accurately like the fuel gauge.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!

Disconnecting it is kind of like unplugging a computer after it freezes. The best fix is always the FREE one.



[This message has been edited by pro-five-oh (edited August 14, 2001).]

[Guido]

You guys must be so lucky with the boneyards cuz I constantly call them to see when they have a Mark VII and they never do!!! It's hard for me to locate used parts for my car, and when I do they're not cheap anyway!
I was quoted from a scrapyard $75 for a power window motor...when the dealer charges $112!!! Not much cheaper!
It's starting to scare me for when I really need something!

I think it would be worth it to buy a complete car for $1000 and strip it for parts!

[sotexlscman]

I've replaced the Tripminder and mine still beeps on startup. There must be a partial problem with my sending unit. It shows the correct tank level on the manual guage, so I guess I will live with it for a while.

Guido, I have the same problem with junkyards down here on the bottom of the U.S. My experience has been down here that if you call on the phone and not ask for a motor, tranny, or something else that brings in some bucks, they will automatically say they don't have the part or the vehicle.
Maybe that's just in my area, but I doubt it. I have had some luck walking through some yards and finding some Marks that they didn't know they had. I assume they don't want to go to the trouble of looking up a $5.00 to $20.00 part, so they just say no.

Just my opinion, I hope this helps.

Dean

[Charlie]

Guido, I do have a complete car for parts. I also had problms finding parts at the local salvage yards. Around here they only really deal in cars that are less then 7 or 8 years old. After that they crush them. As for your tripminder, I think pro-five-o said the one in his cougar was interchangeable with the one in his Lincoln. You may want to check e-bay for Mark VII parts sometimes some will show up on there I'm told. I wonder if a person could advertise looking for parts on there??

[pro-five-oh]

Originally posted by sotexlscman:
I've replaced the Tripminder and mine still beeps on startup. There must be a partial problem with my sending unit. It shows the correct tank level on the manual guage, so I guess I will live with it for a while.


Dean, keep on trying to disconnect and re-connect the tripminder to the wiring harness. Maybe clean up the metal contacts of the Tripminder's printed circuit too. I unplugged the computer twice on my Continental and the problem fixed itself.

Charlie, the Cougar/Tbird computer is not interchangable as they use a different processor. The displays or some other little electrical hardware is the same however.

Guido, the only way to get cheap parts is to pull them yourself at the places that make you pull it. These junkyards have little or no computerized tracking so they never know whats on the lot!!! If you have these boneyards up in Toronto, you'll just have to visit them and see for yourself!

I'd buy a Conti/Mark parts car if I had the parking space and if my homeowner's association wouldn't have a cow over it. But they would.

[Guido]

Good tips guys, I'll ask for the big parts and see if they care more. But I guess I do have to go in every once in a while. There are a few here you can walk in. Or pay a flat fee and keep all you can grab. It would be nice to strip a Lincoln for $35!