03 escape acting oddly

I did a r/s on an 03 Ford escape using the 12v wire at the ignition harness. It stated it was fused at 10amps, so to be safe I used the negative parking light wire at the GEM module so that I didnt have to worry about drawing any more current off the ignition wire than what the factory ignition switch did. Now here is where it gets weird... 2 things happen after the install... 1) the lights flash jsut fine with lock and unlock, etc.... but when it is remote started and running, the lights do not work whenever the vehicle is running. This wasnt a big deal for the owner and so we let it go. 2) If you remote start it and put the key into the ignition, but turn the parking lights on before hitting the break (ie shutting down the r/s) it immediately blows the 10amp ignition fuse. At first I thought that it was just drawing extra power, but if the key is on, then it really shouldnt be any different than if you had started the car with the key and turned the lights on... or is there something I am missing? The owner is very down to earth, and said that they really dont even wanna bother with bringing it back, and that they are just going to make sure to hit the brake before turning the lights on.... but being as much of a "perfectionist" as I am about my installations, this is something that I would rather find a solution to so at the very least it doesnt happen again. I know that I can just simply run a new power to the battery, but I really just want to figure out why it is happening. Thanks guys. KennyKenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

I have done a few Escapes using the power from the switch and making sure the lights were negative so i don't think that's your problem. There must be a problem with the way it's wired to the lights to snap a 10a that instantly...Mike M2

Tech Manager

CS Dealer Services

I know when I did mine(and others) I always used power at the switch.(mainly because all my tech sites say it is fine and I never really though of it) I only go to the battery on caravans and things of that nature. As far as the p-lights go I just grabbed the positive brown wire in either the kick or at the switch(i don;t remember which one I used) I have never had any problems yet(knock on wood) It definitely sounds as if you have some electrical issues on your hands. I assume that you tested the wire coming out from the r/s and it shows ground on it? If so then I would just try the positive wire and be down with it. good luck.

yea, the lights work just fine when the ignition is off. Even though directechs said that the negative lights could be tagged at the GEM, im wondering if there is some sort of change in voltage on that wire while the vehicle is running, and then when you turn the lights on, it is backfeeding that signal through the brain and blowing the ignition fuse.Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

You need to run the 12V to the battery. 10amps is not enough, your lucky the car hasn't blown a major fuse leaving the customer stranded. Don't take this the wrong way but if you are not going to do it right why even bother. You don't seem to be that much of a "perfectionist" that you claim to be.Cris

ther is a 50amp battery feed in th drivers kick, cant be sure but may be 12awg yellow

The constant-power feed at the ignition switch is fine, and there is no need to go to the battery. However, you should be removing the remote starter's 30-amp fuses, and using a single 5 or 7.5 amp fuse for everything. This way, when there's a malfunction, only the remote starter stops working, and the car remains driveable. What kind of remote starter did you install? I'm thinking it could be a DEI product, with the parking light jumper accidentally in the wrong position. If it wasn't the jumper, I'd disconnect the remote starter's parking light wire from the car, put a light/meter onto the wire coming from the remote start, and test that it works as it should.

it is a valet561r. I double checked the jumper and the jumper is correct. Plus, if the jumper were incorrect, or I had the incorrect circuit, te lights wouldnt work.. which they work just fine when the car is not running (ie door lock flashes). Its my sister-in-law, so i told her i will take a look at it as soon as my back heals up (i took a pretty good spill last night and am currently bed ridden for a few days)Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205