electrical problem

my wifes taurus is diplaying some electrical problems
wipers only work on low no intermitent or high seems to wipe once and stop
lights dim at a stoplight or in idle
you can hear a electrical whine thru the radio seems to go away when you accelerate

My thoughts is maybe something wrong with alternator or regulator and possibly a bad wiper switch on column any other thoughts?

What year is the Taurus?

The contacts in the stalk could be the problem with the wipers. If so, you might be able to clean the contacts yourself (doesn't require disassembly of the steering column) and get that going.

With the noise and dimming lights though, I suppose it's possible you have a bad major ground connection somewhere that's also affecting the wipers, or possibly just a bad diode in the alternator.

-Rod

What year is the Taurus?

The contacts in the stalk could be the problem with the wipers. If so, you might be able to clean the contacts yourself (doesn't require disassembly of the steering column) and get that going.

With the noise and dimming lights though, I suppose it's possible you have a bad major ground connection somewhere that's also affecting the wipers, or possibly just a bad diode in the alternator.

-Rod
i have noticed that the windsheild spray doesnt work either and the whinning occurs more fequent when it rains

You're probably going to need to get out the test light or multimeter and do some probing around to find out where you have voltage and where you don't for the wipers. I'd certainly suggest inspecting the ground straps as well. Did either of these by chance start occurring shortly after some work was performed under the hood?

-Rod

You're probably going to need to get out the test light or multimeter and do some probing around to find out where you have voltage and where you don't for the wipers. I'd certainly suggest inspecting the ground straps as well. Did either of these by chance start occurring shortly after some work was performed under the hood?

-Rod
did have the front frame section replaced below engine it started every so often than just seemed to get worse. i think the wiper is its own problem in the switch because the high setting worked on and off from kinda day one . will take it to autozone to have alternator tested fri see what they say with the results. just seems to occur more fequent on wet days and when there is a load on electrical system

sounds like a bad ground. do you live in the north?