Suspected short in dash

[Davehal9000]

A friend of mine has a Fusion that was bought used, and would periodically act up on her.  Am trying to get the year and exact model, but if I remember right it was  higher end model, with all the bells and whistles.

 

In the beginning, the AC, speedometer and other components would quit while driving.  They would eventually come back on.  The car would fail to start on an increasingly frequent basis.

 

I did a Google search and found mention of the battery ground being painted and causing problems.  No such luck.

 

A mechanic friend advised her to disconnect the battery when she parked it, and reconnect before starting.  Guess it worked for a day or two, but the car failed to start more often.

 

The same mechanic friend discovered if he smacked the dash, it started every time.  Problem solved...

 

Had the same problem with a toy as a kid.  Was told not to get too happy...  something was loose inside the toy.  Eventually it would disconnect completely, and hitting/shaking it would do no good.  Looks like that day has come with her car.

 

She doesn't have the cash to have anyone look at it.  Mechanic friend lost interest in working on it when she didn't agree to work off the bill in other ways.

 

He seemed to think it's a loose wire in the dash, likely associated with the anti-theft system.  Any suggestions on what to look for?

 

[WKelley]

Probably a bad solder joint on the back of the instrument panel.  CHeck "Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics" youtube page, he just fixed a 2012 Fusion with the same issues.

[Davehal9000]

Thank you!  Will give it a look