Terrible weekend with catastrophic ST failure

[Chaseg08]

Took my family to Lake McConaughy in Nebraska this weekend which is 4 hours from my home in Golden and happened to be 104 degrees. Made it just to the entrance of the Lake and every damn light came on. Hill Decent Control, ABS, Service Changing system, Hill start control, service engine, power steering went out. In a very short period of time, the screen shut down "to save power", the A/C turned off, and eventually the car started having idle issues and I turned it off. Friendly passerby stopped and gave me a jump. The ST started but all the faults were still present and it did not stay running once disconnected. Had it towed to Wolf Auto Ford in Ogallala and was left stranded. The dealership was closed and the nearest rental car company was over 50 miles away. I think the alternator may have quit. I don't know what else could have caused so many electrical issues.

Luckily we had a couple of friends camping there too and they came and picked us up. My mother-in-law brought my truck to us on Sunday and we packed up and went home. Called the dealership this morning and they can't even look at it until Friday. Pretty frustrating.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Could be as simple as a loose battery terminal…hopefully that’s the case.

 

[UWN]

I agree with unbroken... sounds like loose connection... possible alternator not keeping a charge as well on the battery

 

[Chaseg08]

No loose connections on the battery. I was able to verify that.

 

[Rocketw19]

Took my family to Lake McConaughy in Nebraska this weekend which is 4 hours from my home in Golden and happened to be 104 degrees. Made it just to the entrance of the Lake and every damn light came on. Hill Decent Control, ABS, Service Changing system, Hill start control, service engine, power steering went out. In a very short period of time, the screen shut down "to save power", the A/C turned off, and eventually the car started having idle issues and I turned it off. Friendly passerby stopped and gave me a jump. The ST started but all the faults were still present and it did not stay running once disconnected. Had it towed to Wolf Auto Ford in Ogallala and was left stranded. The dealership was closed and the nearest rental car company was over 50 miles away. I think the alternator may have quit. I don't know what else could have caused so many electrical issues.

Luckily we had a couple of friends camping there too and they came and picked us up. My mother-in-law brought my truck to us on Sunday and we packed up and went home. Called the dealership this morning and they can't even look at it until Friday. Pretty frustrating.

its gonna be your alt. your alt went the battery drained and your dead in the water. If it was battery it would not have happened so fast. At least the story seems like it was pretty instant? But thats the good thing they can check to make sure what one went out.


Same type of thing happened to me in a escalade. all the lights went off ect but I made it down my street not sure how much more it would of went? Mine was battery. The guy at the shop said if it was alt I wouldnt have made it that far.

 

[Cdubya]

Because it was sudden, did you verify the serpentine belt didnt snap or the belt tensioner failed.

 

[Chaseg08]

Because it was sudden, did you verify the serpentine belt didnt snap or the belt tensioner failed.

Not sudden. Lights started coming on and I had to find a safe place to pull over. Drove about 5 miles after the lights started coming on. Just hill decent control, power steering and hill start waring lights came on. Then the rest of the issues popped up 1 at a time over those 5 or so miles. When I pulled over, the screen was still on, still had A/C and was still running and then everything shit the bed shortly thereafter. I could still see the serpentine but considering it was 104 degrees out and I had been driving for 4 hours, everything was scorching hot. I did not check the tension of the belt. I really hope its something simple.

When I spoke to Wolf Auto Ford service yesterday morning, the guy said they wouldn't even be able to look at it until Friday...

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Friday?

 

[Chaseg08]

Friday?

Yuuup. A week after it was towed there. Small town, busy dealership I guess. Luckily I have a truck and motorcycles to ride.

 

[Rocketw19]

Not sudden. Lights started coming on and I had to find a safe place to pull over. Drove about 5 miles after the lights started coming on. Just hill decent control, power steering and hill start waring lights came on. Then the rest of the issues popped up 1 at a time over those 5 or so miles. When I pulled over, the screen was still on, still had A/C and was still running and then everything shit the bed shortly thereafter. I could still see the serpentine but considering it was 104 degrees out and I had been driving for 4 hours, everything was scorching hot. I did not check the tension of the belt. I really hope its something simple.

When I spoke to Wolf Auto Ford service yesterday morning, the guy said they wouldn't even be able to look at it until Friday...

Oh I had thought it was more sudden also.
that sounds exactly like what happened to me it’s the battery.
waiting a week to just check it is silly. They should check it right away and see it’s just a battery and send you on your way.
I would get a battery go over there plug it in and drive away. The slightest chance it’s not battery return it and wait the till Friday but that’s crazy to me.

 

[Chaseg08]

Oh I had thought it was more sudden also.
that sounds exactly like what happened to me it’s the battery.
waiting a week to just check it is silly. They should check it right away and see it’s just a battery and send you on your way.
I would get a battery go over there plug it in and drive away. The slightest chance it’s not battery return it and wait the till Friday but that’s crazy to me.

That sounds like best case scenario, for sure. Unfortunately, I'm back in Golden, 4 hours away and I have to be at work all week. I wish it happened closer to home!

 

[singingwhodat]

The title of this thread is very misleading. Although it left you stranded, they should be able to get you back going pretty quick. A catastrophic failure is usually a sudden and total failure from which recovery is impossible. As long as your engine, transmission, and other drivetrain components are intact, you will be cruising before you know it.


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[Chaseg08]

The title of this thread is very misleading. Although it left you stranded, they should be able to get you back going pretty quick. A catastrophic failure is usually a sudden and total failure from which recovery is impossible. As long as your engine, transmission, and other drivetrain components are intact, you will be cruising before you know it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

From Miriam Webster:
Definition of catastrophe

1: a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin.
2: utter failure.

I'd say "catastrophic" defines exactly what happened in my particular circumstance.


I don't know how you could say it's "very misleading".

 

[Big Turk]

A recession is when your neighbour loses their job, a depression is when you lose your job. Perspective. I would think that catastrophic would generally be a permanent loss.

 

[Dale5403]

A recession is when your neighbour loses their job, a depression is when you lose your job. Perspective. I would think that catastrophic would generally be a permanent loss.

I agree with perspective. To the owner this could sure be considered catastrophic. To have to leave the vehicle 4 hours away would be a real pain. To someone else it might seem not so bad. Myself, I would hate to have that happen.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

... I would think that catastrophic would generally be a permanent loss.

I'd have to agree. I don't think anyone would view a "catastrophic" failure as anything but permanent.

More like a "system failure" as opposed to a "catastrophic failure."

Now if the dealer diagnoses it saying you need a new engine or something, then yes.

 

[UWN]

You guys are so petty arguing about a title Chaseg08 keep us posted, I'm interested in your outcome.

 

[Big Turk]

You guys are so petty arguing about a title Chaseg08 keep us posted, I'm interested in your outcome.

Sorry, not arguing about the title. Just wondering what you call it when you need some warranty work on a vehicle versus, say a tornado?

 

[Chaseg08]

Called the dealership yesterday after work since they didn't call me on Friday. Service manager said the tech thought it was a loose battery connection. I know that wasn't the case because I checked all of that when I installed my amp wiring. The tow truck driver also checked. The battery tested good and once codes were cleared he went home for the day. He said he wanted to give it time to sit over the weekend and take it out for a drive on Monday. Codes reappeared. He said the tech is still working on it.

 

[FORZDA3]

“Amp wiring”? There’s your problem. When the dealer finally discovers the parasitic draw on the battery they will charge you for fixing it, as in no warranty for aftermarket installations.