99 Windstar - Unusual Electrical Problems
jrk4
05-21-2004, 11:07 AM
I am experiencing some unusual problems with my 99 Windstar. Here's a list:
1 Automatic doors only work sporadically. The key fob will generally work, but pulling on the handles or pressing the interior door buttons does nothing.
2 Exterior temperature monitor works intermittantly. It can be 80degrees outside and the temp monitor says its 50degrees.
3 Miles to Empty display and fuel tank guage do not reflect a full tank of gas until you start the car for a second time after refueling.
4 When starting the car, the entire instrument panel goes blank and the car hesitates to start. It sounds like I am starting a car with a dead battery..........but that doesn't seem to be the problem.
5 If a power door is closing when the car starts the door stops closing. I was told that this was a safety feature......I don't think so since it didn't do that for the first 3 years that we had the van!!
6 The Theft light rapidly flashed at me the other day when I started the car......I guess that it thought that I was stealing my own car..HA. It stopped flashing after I stopped and restarted the car.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as my wife is more than ready to drive the van off of a cliff.
1 Automatic doors only work sporadically. The key fob will generally work, but pulling on the handles or pressing the interior door buttons does nothing.
2 Exterior temperature monitor works intermittantly. It can be 80degrees outside and the temp monitor says its 50degrees.
3 Miles to Empty display and fuel tank guage do not reflect a full tank of gas until you start the car for a second time after refueling.
4 When starting the car, the entire instrument panel goes blank and the car hesitates to start. It sounds like I am starting a car with a dead battery..........but that doesn't seem to be the problem.
5 If a power door is closing when the car starts the door stops closing. I was told that this was a safety feature......I don't think so since it didn't do that for the first 3 years that we had the van!!
6 The Theft light rapidly flashed at me the other day when I started the car......I guess that it thought that I was stealing my own car..HA. It stopped flashing after I stopped and restarted the car.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as my wife is more than ready to drive the van off of a cliff.
Mikebox
05-21-2004, 11:42 AM
My Wife experienced similar problems intermittently. After having the battery and alternator inspected several times by load test and being assured that it was fine, I checked the battery electrolyte with a hydrometer. One cell was failing. I replaced the battery and all of the electrical symptoms went away (that has been about 3 months now)
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