99 ford winstar light problem

I have a 99 ford windstar w/ 65,000 miles. my problem is one day coming home the dash lights went out. i heard a click from under dash. It stayed running so i went on home pulled in driveway, shut it off and it wouldn't start again. And the headlights tail lights and dome lights stayed on. of couse it drained battery down so i charged the battery put it back in and again as soon as i hooked the + post the lights came on and tail ect draining once again plus it wouldn't even try starting. Not being a mechanic and electrical problems are sometimes difficult i called my local ford dealer and they said it sounded like a front electronic module which was $514.00 i bought it and replaced myself. Once again put new battery in and again lights came on and no engine start. So i called them again and they said it has to be the rear electronic module which works off the front electronic module which was $372.00 as you can tell this has been a costly mini van for me and neither front or rear module corrected the problem. So i took it to local mechanic after this and he checked all fuses relays ect and still no relief. Upon reading forums i never replaced the headlight switch itself but i figured something this major couldn't be this simple. Any help at all would be wonderful.
Jeremy

I have a 99 ford windstar w/ 65,000 miles. my problem is one day coming home the dash lights went out. i heard a click from under dash. It stayed running so i went on home pulled in driveway, shut it off and it wouldn't start again. And the headlights tail lights and dome lights stayed on. of couse it drained battery down so i charged the battery put it back in and again as soon as i hooked the + post the lights came on and tail ect draining once again plus it wouldn't even try starting. Not being a mechanic and electrical problems are sometimes difficult i called my local ford dealer and they said it sounded like a front electronic module which was $514.00 i bought it and replaced myself. Once again put new battery in and again lights came on and no engine start. So i called them again and they said it has to be the rear electronic module which works off the front electronic module which was $372.00 as you can tell this has been a costly mini van for me and neither front or rear module corrected the problem. So i took it to local mechanic after this and he checked all fuses relays ect and still no relief. Upon reading forums i never replaced the headlight switch itself but i figured something this major couldn't be this simple. Any help at all would be wonderful.
Jeremy
Maybe you could just try to disconnect the headlamp switch, just to see what will happen. I was looking in my 2001 wiring diagram (probably similar to your 1999) and I can see that the switch send current to the FEM and this one make your front parking light and/or headlamps and also the instrument cluster to illuminate. According that you said that the tail lamps were also on, I'm surprise that the Ford part counter has immediatly recommanded to replace the FEM. The headlamp swith, when you turn it on, also send current to the REM, doing the same thing for the rear lamps. Now they recommand to replace the rear module :(:(:( Try to diconnect the headlamp switch in first. FYI Rock Auto Parts sell it for 25 to 35 (Ford genuine) if it is necessary to replace it.
Some Windstar model has an autolamp system ( shut down delay after you leave your van) and this could be an aditional issue if equipped.