Hi,

My 2000 VDP has been having rough starts/failsafe mode specifically in the morning that usually subsides by the afternoon. I am the third owner handed down in the family. I trickle charge my AGM battery on a daily basis, just purchased this year from Walmart.

I have not tried checking the alternator as I do not see any more odd electrical happenings.

I did some investigating in and around the TB today and noticed this zip tie holding in a connector. Can someone identify what this connector is. If a mechanic previously broke a securing tab I would like to buy a new harness and solder a new plug in because this just looks janky!




Zoomed in!

Here is my hypothesis:

Everyone who's owned the car before me has always complained of the car not starting specifically in the mornings. In winter in the Bay Area where I live now and the mornings do get damp, humid, and cold. I think a mechanic previously secured the plug in with a ziptie to make it as tightly connected as possible to keep the elements out.
For the moment I have cleaned the other connectors on the TB with canned air and electronics cleaner. I also applied dielectric grease to the connections' gaskets and seals and so far P1121/failsafe engine mode has not come back today on 2 separate drives. Will attempt a few early morning starts.

I have not undone the ziptied connector yet as I do not have a replacement to put in. Can someone point me to the correct connector? I plan on using quick solder connections and heat wrap.

 

Have a look at the attached PDF containing various Ford connectors.

 

Looks like the accelerator pedal sensor connector

 

In most cases if you get just the new plastic connector by itself, you can make that all work without having to solder any wires. If you have the wires with the new connector, I’d save them just in case it still needs repairing.

 

It should be same as the Toyota (Sumitomo) 4-pin connector shown on the pictures below (compare your connector to be certain).

 

Looks to me to be the female end of the connector may be broke lose, cut the zip tie and see it it is, or if the male plug is broke. If the male plug is not connecting tight as others said you will only need o replace it with a new, if it is the female end, you may be able to replace that end as well

 

It IS the pedal position sensor and the zip tie is there because the locking tab is broken on the connector. I broke mine about a year or so ago and the cleaner plus dielectric grease will hold it in until the replacement is done. And, the alternator connector is the same, so I would get two as long as your ordering parts; they get brittle over the years.