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Ford Windstar Electrical Problems

334 messages,  Last post on Apr 26, 2013 at 6:05 PM

You are in the Ford Windstar Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Ford Windstar Cargo, Van

Messages Page 6 of 34

#51 of 334 Windstar Wigging Out! by gcastor

Jan 17, 2008 (11:16 am)

My 1998 Ford Winstar has all the same issues as everyone else's! Dinging dingers, dome lights staying on, transmission was rebuilt because of metal shavings, strut issues, you name it. The newest is......... The right blinker when turned on makes a sound as "zapping" noise as if shorting out AND whether it is related or not, the battery light comes on, lights dim, fan blower gets low. We charge the battery but it just does it again. When you rev the engine the light will go off but then comes back on. Any ideas?????

#52 of 334 Re: Windstar Wigging Out! [gcastor] by jjsbg

Jan 17, 2008 (12:11 pm)

Replying to: gcastor (Jan 17, 2008 11:16 am)
we ended up replacing the battery and that did not resolve the problem. Then Ford dealership decided that there was a Di-ode?? in the alternator that was bad, so they replaced the alternator. Thank goodness for warranties, but the warranty did not cover the 12 hours in diagnostics that it took to find this elusive di-ode. But, for now, the car is starting without a problem. The inside lights and right sliding door are still having a will of their own, but we will try the WD-40 that one other poster mentioned here. Never again will we buy a Ford. This has been a nightmare.

#53 of 334 Re: Windstar Wigging Out! [jjsbg] by jeffyscott

Jan 17, 2008 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: jjsbg (Jan 17, 2008 12:11 pm)
12 hours of diagnostics to find a bad alternator??? I'd be a lot more angry at the incompetent service department than at Ford on that one.

#54 of 334 Re: Windstar Wigging Out! [jeffyscott] by gcastor

Jan 17, 2008 (3:52 pm)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Jan 17, 2008 1:15 pm)
After I posted the original message, we drove home and the car died. We bought a new battery and that was enough to get us home. We will now try a new alternator. This will be the 3rd new alternator in 5 years. I still don't know what the zapping sound is when you turn on the right blinker??? Any ideas on that one? Maybe a short somewhere? Hubby does not seem to think so??

#55 of 334 left side door ajar switch by stape

Jan 29, 2008 (9:18 am)

My door open light stays on and beeps at low speed. I need to find where the door ajar switch is located. Is in the door or under the dashboard? It seems to be just the driver side door. It is on a 1995 Ford Windstar van.

#56 of 334 Re: left side door ajar switch [stape] by jeffyscott

Jan 29, 2008 (9:42 am)

Replying to: stape (Jan 29, 2008 9:18 am)
Go back to post #1 on this forum...door ajar light problems started this off.
 
We fixed this issue on tailgate and other doors by spraying lubricant in the proper places.

#57 of 334 Re: Windstar Wigging Out! [gcastor] by hrozario

Feb 01, 2008 (12:37 pm)

Replying to: gcastor (Jan 17, 2008 11:16 am)
I forgot to mention about the lights. If you drive just over 20 to 30 kph the dome light goes off. The ringing also stops. But when you slow back down to 20 or 30 kph the
'ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding Mother of Mercy shoot that damn noise already'
comes back on. It may go away after awhile but that again is like a lottery. My luck has never been good with this vehicle however there are times like in extremely cold weather and bad roads where it helps me out of bad sticky situations. I guess it is one of the reasons why it stays with me.
Doy you know what generates the ding sound? I would like to disconnect it so it stops for good.

#58 of 334 Re: Windstar Wigging Out! [gcastor] by hrozario

Feb 01, 2008 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: gcastor (Jan 17, 2008 3:52 pm)
Is your so suspected alternator problem still there? I had a similar issue and it was related to the ignition switch. I actually thought it was the starter or alternator too. There is a white block under the dash which when finally pulled out showed signs of a little burn or sorting. This can intermittently cause the same problem till it burns out completely. The mechanic I finally took it too traced the wiring diagram to this and when he replaced it I did not have any more issues with that particular issue.

#59 of 334 Even more Electrical problems by dlowery2008

Feb 05, 2008 (9:24 pm)

Anybody with any ideas on these problems?. 2002 Windstar Sport, it has two driving lights in the front bumper, which come on with the headlights (no separate switch). They've suddenly started to come on by themselves after the vehicle is switched off, but also switch off too!. Secondly the radio/CD stopped working, together with the lights for the power windows, mirrors on the control pads and the windows and mirrors too. Occasionally these devices will start to work, but not for long. Also the door light for the sliding driver side door suddenly starts flashing and then stops!. All the while the van is driving well, headlights, dash and console lights all work as does the odometer, tach, gauges and power locks. Perhaps it's a Poltergeist!

#60 of 334 Battery Light Brake Light three beeps by dcantillon

Feb 06, 2008 (4:42 am)

Battery is losing juice. New Alternator confirmed as charging. Just had plugs replaced and my fear is the mechanic screwed something up. The lights go dim as Van is running but idle pace changes and lights brighten as engine guns a little.
The Battery light came on, the brake light came on, and the ABS light all came on at the same time and there were three beeps. Am I doomed? It was running fine when I had the plugs changed and now this, but I don't trust the mechanic anymore. He wanted $400 to replace a $35.00 line. Help!

Messages Page 6 of 34

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