2003 Possessed Taurus? Ticking, flickering, etc...

[LuDuGirl]

My '03 Taurus was a dream until about a two years ago. It's doing a few things, but I feel they're all related. These problems happen completely randomly and with little warning, regardless of the weather, temperature, or how long the car has been running.

1. When driving, there are times when all the lights on the dashboard will start blinking (esp the ABS light); if the headlights happen to be on, they'll flicker a bit, and then the car just dies--no sputtering, just dead (but the lights are still on). as if someone just flipped a switch. But, it will start right up again, no problems there. Sometimes, if I'm driving fast enough (usually over 45 mph), or if I catch it quick enough (sometimes the lights will be dimming/flickering for a minute or two before hand so I know something is going to happen), I can prevent the car from dying by giving it some gas. However, if I'm at a red light or stopped for any reason (still in gear), then it will die completely, with the symptoms mentioned above. Again, it starts right back up without problems. It's scary when it happens and I'm coming to a stop, though, because I lose the power brakes and I'm so scared of hitting the car in front of me!

2. The other weird thing I've noticed is that sometimes, after I've turned off the car, whether the key is in the ignition or not, there is a ticking noise. Everything is dead, the keyless remote will not work, the power locks will not engage, the dome lights won't go on--nothing. If I press the lock button, the "anti-theft" like will flash for a second. If I try to start the car, nothing happens--engine doesn't turn over, nothing. The only way I've found to make it stop is to press the brake pedal. For some reason that stops the ticking and everything goes back to normal. Only once have I come out to my car to find it in this state--every other time it happens after I've driven.

Again, both of these problems are random and sporadic. A year ago I took it to the dealership and they hooked it up to their diagnostic computer, but they couldn't get it to misbehave, so all the readings were normal. That was a $350 disappointment. It now seems to be happening more often, so I've got an appointment later this week with a dealership again (a different one this time!), but I'm afraid they won't be able to figure it out either because it might not happen when they have it.

Has anyone else had this problem and might know what gremlins are living in my car??

[RaeRae1]

Have them check the alternator. I have seen some pretty strange symptoms from a dying alternator. Although your symptoms seem to have persisted for some time, it still could be the culprit.

[shorod]

And don't rule out a battery with an intermittant internal open condition. Hopefully the dealership made sure the cables were clean and tight when you had it in previously.

If your car has the original battery in it, it's nearing the end of it's expected useful life anyway. You may want to consider replacing it.

-Rod

[tripletdaddy]

Possibly ground problems?

[LuDuGirl]

Well, after taking it to two different dealers and an independent mechanic, no one was able to figure out what was wrong with the darn car.

Our solution was simple: we traded it in for a 2008 Subaru Forester. So far, the gremlin has not found it's way home. It will be a long while before I consider a Ford again.

[icantsee]

Ok I know exactly what you are talking about I had this problem on my Taurus during a period of about eight months it was very irritating, it was very intermittent but seemed worse during higher humidity levels, I would brake on slippery roads the antilock brakes would kick in and cause power to be lost to dash check engine light would go on as well as various others and engine would stall radio would have loud static.
I never took it in to dealer for this because it was pretty intermittent and from experience I figure I would pay only to have them tell me they could not find the problem.
Ok I will cut to the chase I did notice that at times the car was parked no keys in the ignition and you would hear ticking sound from dash area put in your ignition key turn and nothing electrical was dead, kick the brake pedal and ticking stopped car will now start.
To solve the problem over a few try’s when the ticking could be heard I would wiggle various connectors in the engine compartment when doing this I realized there is a large electrical connection at the bottom end of the air filter right next to back side of battery it must have about forty wires I found that when I would move this connector the ticking would suddenly stop so I took this apart to do this you need to remove a metric bolt I can’t remember it may have been 6 to 8 mm once you undo this bolt the connector comes apart the pins looked ok and there was nothing out of the ordinary that I could see but I put it back together and made sure to give that bolt a good tighten and five months later I have never had this or any other electrical problem again Battery is original as well as alternator Even now the car has only 60000ks this problem had started after warranty was up go figure.
Hope this helps someone too late for LuDuGirl hope my description of location of connector is good enough I would post a picture but not sure if form is set up for pictures.

[shorod]

Now that is good information! Thanks for your post! Oh, and welcome to the forum!

-Rod