Quick Fix for 2004 Ford F550 Electrical Problems

Here's a (hopefully) helpful tip on this issue with this vehicle.

I have been diagnosing automotive/electronic failures for over 30 years and have never seen this problem; Everything works, "sometimes", and at other times this, that, or the other thing, won't work at all, until I hit a bump or slam a door. For an electrical diagnostic tech, this can be a virtual nightmare. For the guy or gal driving the rig, the frustration never seems to end.

In this vehicle, and this too could apply to previous and later years, the secondary fuse panel, (the one more focused on the lights, heater, etc, vs. actual vehicle motation and braking) is mounted behind the lower cover/knee panel, under the left side of the steering column. Because of the inverted 45 degree mounting angle, i.e., fuse recepticle panel mounted at a upside-downward angle, excessive bouncing on rough roads will slowly cause the fuses to vibrate out of their "sockets".

Long story-short. I isolated and fixed these multiple electrical problems by gently bumping the fuse panel, with the cover removed, with the outside of my fisted hand. By pushing in on each individual mini-fuse, fuse, and relay, I was lucky enough to connect the downward vibration problem. I was suprised that many of these fuses were as much as 1/16 of an inch disengaged from their sockets.

Quick Fixya advice: This vehicle, these symptoms: before you do anything else, locate the panel, push in all the fuses and relays, look at the owner with a smile, and say "Try it now". Like with me tonight, they'll think you're a genius!

Big Mike R