I have a 2004 Lariat. Recently, my climate control didn't work, I took it to the local Ford and they said the previous owner tied in his alarm/auto start into the climate control and could have possibly back fed it somehow. They ended up fixing it, and recently, yet again, sometimes when I start it, (it's becoming more frequent, and in mornings) the climate control doesn't work, then once i shut off the truck, dash lights start flickering and ticking, and the ac blows out, but i can't control it. I can't stop it unless I drive around for a good amount of time, then it seems to stop.

I checked the fuses and tracked it down to one relay that sounded like it was making the noise, sure enough it was, and it does infact go to the blower motor. It's definitely not the relay, I replaced it with the heated back light relay and still ticks like crazy. Just didn't know if anyone had even heard of this and maybe it's not the alarm and something else? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

you do have the digital controls? if so, i sounds like you may have a short....

 

Usually I do not. I'll shut the truck off, and most times i hear the ticking and lights flashing, which drains battery, then the blower goes off. I took out the Blower Relay and Just this morning I actually had the digital reading showed up, I could control temp and fan (obviously wouldn't work without relay), So it seems like the only way I can get it to not happen when the truck is off is to just take out the relay,

 

that is weird....is your battery original? i heard of some weird chit happening from old batteries....

 

I believe so. Though the pervious owner had an inverter and autostart/alarm put it. Ford said they thought he may have somehow tied in the autostart/alarm to the climate control in such a way it's backfeeding it possibly. Does that sound possible? It seems to be very selective when it happens, so a short kinda doesn't seem right.

 

it could be possible...still sounds like a short, maybe in the climate control module, not a cheap fix if that's the issue...

 

not a cheap fix eh? I hope thats not the case..

 

Remove the center trim panel that surrounds the radio/AC control. Look for any wires (specifically a ground wire) that is loose or cut/broken, or loose connectors. Seeing as how this area was last tampered with (by previous owner and the Shop you took it to), I'd examine this area first. A clicking relay is seeing fedback voltage somewhere, or it's detecting a bad ground. A relay has 4 (sometimes 5) posts/connections: one is ground, one is battery feed, one is the "trigger" (I.E. a dash switch, push button), and the last is the connection to the device that will use the battery feed. Relays protect switches by preventing them from flowing large current through them, causing them to arch or burn up.

If all that looks good, see if you could borrow a battery somewhere for a day or two to see if that's the cased, although you don't describe starting problems, and a low charged battery will show symptoms of slow cranking (starter motor).

 

Thanks, I will try that after work today and let you know how I make out. The only thing thats really throwing me off I think is if it was a short, where is the blower getting power from when the truck is off?

 

That's why I'm ruling out a short at this time....In looking at my 2005 Ford Shop manual wiring diragram last night, Ford (and I'm sure other manufacturers) use "common" grounds for multiple circuits (I.E. power windows, lights, blowers, etc.).

If you don't find an obvious loose or broken wire/connector in the last "worked on" area, PM me, and we can get all your symptoms, and trace them to a common ground or two, plus Identify the connectors and their locations.