2003 Lincoln Navigator No Power

jbmorris2001

I just bought the Navigator sight unseen besides the basic pictures. The owner drove it to a car lot last month and I was to pick it up today. I got there and the battery was dead. Replaced the battery and the air compressor came on. I got inside and the blinker was on and the windshield wiper was on, no the key was no in the ignition yet. Turned them off and then tried to start it, no panel lights beside air bag light, no click, nothing..... Tested the main power fuse (the big fuse) and it was good.

Tomorrow I'm going back down to the dealer with a meter and start testing the power cirerts to find out where the power is and is not. I have read that there is a leak problem at the windshield near the fuse box, do not if this has anything to do with this problem yet.....

Please if you have had this problem or might have ideas please let me know.....PLease

PF_Flyer

Definitely sounds like you have a short (or shorts) going on. Buying sight-unseen does have some risks associated with it. Hope you got a good price on it.

jbmorris2001

OK, yep looks like fuse box to start with... Started out pulling it to get a good look at it only to find that one of the top plugs the wire are burned. The plug is the small white one on the top of the fuse box. Pulled the box and not only was the wires burned the plug is burned, plastic box is burned and it goes all the way to the bottom of the box.

So now what is this plug, where does it go, what else is shot? Oh, and yes the box had signs of water in it, so new box ordered, and try to find the wiring that is burned and replace the plug..

Oh the sad not, I was looking at it this morning and there is a spot on the roof that is rusted out? Is this something that is normal? It is on the passenger side, where the luggage rack mount to the roof. SO another thing...

Yes it was a good price and now I know why

jbmorris2001

Can Anyone tell me what the White plug goes to? The Black, brown, and another wire shorted out..

sttr

Top white plug right is PCM power relay the middle white plug top is probably the fog lamps and the other far left white if I am getting to the correct white plugs, is probably your trailer tow

jbmorris2001

The white thing that I'm talking about is the one with the wires coming out. Mine is shorted out, but looks like the wires that are shorted are all grounds..... Thanks for the help, getting closer

jbmorris2001

Here is the board...

PF_Flyer

Looks like that needs to be replaced. (A shout out to Capt Obvious)

jbmorris2001

Great news, Found a box today looks like it matches the old box and there is no signs of water damage.... I have it installed but have no hocked the white plug up yet as I still do not know where it goes and what might be shorted out... SO looks like the plug that shorted was all overload circits....whats the odds.

Well it is up and running, so now on to all the other problems, leaks in the sunroof, roof rusted, power window not working, liftgate not working, door ajar(think drivers) and much much more....

Drivers great so who knows I might have a great car after all

PF_Flyer

Progress!

You're sure the prior owner drove it to where you picked it up?

jbmorris2001

Im not sure of anything. Found the oil change sticker on the windshield, next oil change 92k or 9-2013... Hmm so might have been by roll back... Good news, rear liftgate now works, door ajar fixed it was the driver side passanger door..

Now i just have toget the sunroof fixed and everything is fixed....

sttr

Lincoln Navigator and Expedition owners should all be aware of the following faults to the build of the vehicles. Some are not quite right at the corners where two sheets of metal fold over top each other and weld together. At the corners of the windshield you can find a spot lifted up where if so water can get right into the vehicle by going under this lip where the metal is not actually joined. When you remove the trim pieces over the windshield you can see quite clearly where the water trail leads and where water can settle and even drip right into these spaces if they are not welded all the way around. It requires sealing when you replace the windshield or by just removing the black trim panels and other pieces to get access to these spots. I have pictures of this taken with my camera

sttr

This is another view from inside the door at the same area looking up. You do not want to seal that shut but the area shown first in my first two pictures shows where the water comes in. This little lift up area here with an open channel sits right over the fuse box on the driver side in my 06 Nav. It the same way only the hole is bigger on my passenger side which is where my Nav leaked from since new til 2016 when I finally found the spot where Lincoln drops the ball on Expeditions, Navigators and many others. This leak has been a major issue with these so much so that to even take one in for a trade it is the first thing they look for I [non-permissible content removed] you not! They know about this and its another thing they refuse to accept responsibility for! This fixes it and it should be paid for by FORD!~

sttr

Ideally now that you owners of Expeditions and Navigators know this, and when your vehicle leaks water inside, and not just at the sun roof but other places in the corners of the front glass and down on the foot wells and door jams that allow power loss if it drips on the fuse box, and staining of the carpet, rusting contacts and more like mildew smells well you have a seam to follow. Now you know where to look, you can follow that sheet of metal which the last picture shows inside the door coming down behind the hinges of your front doors. Now you another, maybe your spouse can check it good and as you can see its sealed and welded down in most places there.

Its laid down flat and joined like it should and when done correctly it won't leak. Some lucky owners got some made correctly where these seams are solid I've seen them but the fold over up under the trim on the hood and all around the bottom of the windshield where ever the robots welded where this piece of metal and all other pieces come together and join must be sealed. If not it can come into your vehicle quite easily and many people immediately blame the sun roof. So follow that seam where the metal sheeting joins and you are likely to spot other places where water can and maybe even has gotten into the vehicle. Seal every spot with a good sealer like they use for outdoor trim and clean the areas off good. Before you wipe it make note of the water trail or rust trails and any debris. These are all tells of where its coming from and from what direction and seal it all! Then you have a good vehicle.

Do follow those seams because those seams don't just let water into the vehicle they also provide access points for box elder bugs to get into the inside of the vehicle and begin laying eggs which stain everything red color! Permanently too!~ Its pretty sad when a luxury vehicle can sit in a drive way next to a Honda Accord from 1986 and the Lincoln luxury car gets full of box elder bugs from parking near the wrong tree but the Honda never gets a one! So seal those places its obvious FORD isn't going to! And and don't think the Caddy is any better! I owned that too and the Escalade lets as many bugs get in the vehicle as the Lincoln! They've both had problems with this and tolerance inconsistencies. For what it is worth after this seal job on all the seams where metal joins metal which took most of a day to trace, I no longer have a bug problem or a leak in my Lincoln. It can be done. Just do it right once and that should lock it up nice.