Electrical Short? Melted dash-wire, car chugging, lights flickering...

Ok I have a 1995 Taurus GL Wagon, 3.0L V6 EFI, it was formerly city fleet vehicle (i hope that doesnt matter).

A couple months ago, my temperature gauge stopped working, it would not leave the "cold" zone, around the same time, my 'brake' dash light would come on randomly every now and then. Checked brake fluid and was fine.

Then one insignificant night after coming home from work... as i turned the car off i heard a sizzle and saw smoke lightly flow from behind the dash.

I turned the car back on, and after 5 mins turned it back off, going from ACC to OFF, i heard the sizzle again, more smoke came from behind my dash, and this time i saw a cherry red glowing piece of who-knows-what fall from behind my steering column.

I then took apart the dash the next day to find out it was a purple wire with a white stripe that ended up burning up. I do believe this lead to the 'brake' dash light... Which no longer lights up might I add (burnt wire?!)

So just ignored it. But just a week ago, a new batch of problems started; my temperature sensor is jumping ALL OVER THE PLACE, but alot of times it goes to HOT and even far beyond HOT. My battery light flickers on and off and also the car seems to chug at random times while im driving, almost as if its misfiring?

I have no idea what the h*ll is going on, please help! radiator coolant levels are fine, no leaks... alternator was checked as well as battery about a month ago and both were fine, i doubt they went bad...

Im going to check all my fuses, but none of this makes sense to me.

Any helpful infomation would be greatly appreciated, WHAT IS GOING ON !?

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum!

It seems like 1995 would be about the time Ford was having issues with the ignition switch, not sure your car was part of the recall but may be worth checking in to. That would be in the vicinity of where you describe the glowing part/wire.

There have been others who have described issues with the instrument cluster and gauges not behaving. Seems to be an issue with the flex board connecting the instruments and bulbs.

Finally, several goofy electrical gremlins in these cars have been found to be caused by faulty Transmission Range Sensors. The TRS would not be under the dash in the steering column so I doubt that was part of the glowing part, but if the issues end up not all being related you might then investigate the TRS as well.

-Rod