I have a 2000 Windstar SEL that has 180,000 miles on it.
Today, while driving, the fuel gage went crazy. I only had approximately 3 gallons of gas left in the tank, the message display stated 42 miles left, so I knew I had to refuel shortly. However, then the needle on the dash display dropped below the red mark and the message display said fuel error.
Startled, I decided to drive to the nearest gas station which was 100 yards away, to add some additional fuel to see if it would fix my problem. However, when I signaled to turn right, I noticed the signal light was blinking much faster than normal. Then without doing anything, and with the climate controls off, the rear heat came on.
At the gas station I turned off the vehicle, and added 10 gallons to the tank. Upon restarting the vehicle, the fuel error returned, but rear heat had stopped. While driving, the fuel gage returned to normal, but as I continued over the next five miles the fuel gage needle would drop below the red line, and I would recieve the fuel error message, but then return back to normal. This happed over and over again.
I finished my errands and then went home. After an hour I went back to the vehicle in the garage, and started it up. Everything worked fine. I ran another errand and after a while the fuel gage started going awry again. Plus the turn signals were blinking too fast again.
Later in the evening I went out for another short errand. This time the fuel display stayed below the red line, and the climate control would not come on. It was cool this evening, so I was looking for heat, but it would not turn on.
After returning home, and after the vehicle was off with the key removed I found that rear Driver's side RED brake light remained on, the rear Passenger Side Yellow turn signal remained on too, and the light beneath the glove compartment inside the vehicle on the passenger side stays on. I have tried to turn these off, but after several attemps of starting the vehicle and turning if off, I've given up. Its been 3 hrs now and the lights are still on.
What is causing the van to act so strangley? But more importantly... How do I fix it?
Fulcrum