Windstar stalling/light problems?

I have wrote a few posts about tranny issues. Your help fixed it for a bit, but in the end it needed a rebuilt tranny. Now that it is done i notice two other major things going on. Both happened before the tranny was replaced, but they weren't on my top priority list.

1. Tailights sometimes come back on after I exit the car with the key out of the ignition. However, everytime we use our turn signals they stay stuck on until we use the same turn signal again. They dont flash on and off. Thery stay lit solidly. The turn signal lever clicks back into normal position when I am done turning, but the light still stays solidly on until I use the lever again? That happens almost every use of the car while the tailight problem only happens about 3 out of 10 times? Any ideas?

2. Van will drive fine on the interstate for about 20 minutes. Then it begins cutting out ever so slightly to where you think you are just hitting a small bump in the road. After about 5-10 minutes of it doing this small amount of cutting out it begins to cut out much more heavily and frequently to where it is impossible for anyone in the car to not notice. The engine makes no clunk sound and we dont hear any sounds out of the ordinary when this happens. It just seems like it loses power for milliseconds before it regains them causing us in the car to jerk back in forth during its worst times. Kind of like it isnt getting gas right or timing is off? Any suggestions? Could it be a sensor? Also I would likke to mention that when this happens I have noticed it usually starts when my wife puts in regular 87 gas. I then put in premium 93 in and after about another 20 minutes driving it goes away. Could the octane in the gas make that much of a difference? I cant say for certain that me doing the better gas thing fixes the problem everytime, but it has enough for me to notice. I shouldnt have to put premium all the time so I am assuming ther is something wrong somewhere.

I have already changed the camshaft sensor, fixed the heater aculator, rebuilt tranny, and fixed the infamous CEL light p301 code or w/e it was called that had to do with the intake. Changed the plugs and wires( the plugs are platinum, but not motorcraft platinum 2's like I heard i should use) Changed the battery. Other than that no other work has been done. It has 106,000 on a1999 3.8L.

Edit: Also no codes have been thrown since I rebuilt the tranny and the problems are still happening that I listed above.

thanks!

Now are they your tail lights staying on or the brake lights? I had the brake pedal switch replaced on mine.. Not that hard to do.. It is a dealer Item but don't think it was very much in cost.. They are known to fail.. It located inside under the dash around the brake pedal linkage.. It was a little tricky to take out but not to bad from what I remember.

The Brake On Off (BOO) switch controls the brake lights.
I have pictures of it in the pictures that the link in my signature takes you to.
Follow the shaft that the brake pedal is mounted on.....and you will find it.

It is EASY to replace......a good thing because you are certainly in a ergonomicaly unfriendly position just to be able to look at it.

Be careful with the wires........I had one break....which prevented the brake ON signal from getting sent.....which prevented me from shifting out of PARK with the motor running (had to shift to Neutral, start the motor, then shift into gear) and caused me to have NO brake lights.
So while you are looking......check for a frayed wire and repair as needed.

If it is turn signal related, might be the Rear Electronics Module (REM) that I think may be on the newer (1999 and newer) windstars.

I have heard of the turn signal switch going bad.....but not how you mention......though it certainly is possible.

I also wonder about power and ground connections.

Although I would not expect a weak battery and/or alternator to cause ONLY this problem......strange things can happen when voltages go out of the correct range.

Do these newer vans use an electronic flasher unit anymore? If so, and the other suggestions don't do it, the unit may be bad.

Right now I'm drawing blank on your performance issue, but it's definitely not right. Some sensor is not getting the right info. You may not have a CEL, but you may have something stored that may be helpful. Have you noticed if the radiator fan comes on too much or not enough? If so, your ECT sensor is possibly bad. Boy, if you don't have any codes, it probably is worth having a full engine and emissions system scan to pinpoint the bad or out of adjustment component(s). That should eliminate a lot of guess work,....hopefully.....even though even I don't care for taking my car to the dealer or to a mechanic.

I was thinking the REM as well. It is the taillighs that stay on. Not the brake lights. Outside of me paying 400 for a new unit does anyone know where I can get a used working one for a 1999 3.8l windstar? I have checked our 3 local junkyards and they have all been pulled from all of them. (just my luck) If it was just the brake lights and not the turn signals too i would replace the brak on off switch, but i just think there is more too it at this point.

So no real solid ideas on the cutting out? I really wanted to avoid taking it to a ford dealer for 150.00 test,but it might be my only option.

I will take it in on monday if no one else can think of a good reason for the cutitng out. All help is appreciated.

You might try ebay for used parts.