1999 Ford Windstar (Brake Pressure Switch)

[joebagley]

I also have a problem with the cruise control on my '98 Windstar. When it is turned on and you press the set button the green CRUISE light will come on for about 1/2 sec. then go off. It will do this every time you press the set button. I have checked all the fuses and they are OK. The Brake Pressure Switch is clean and dry. The tranny has been rebuilt (cruise control would not work before Tranny was rebuilt). It runs well on the expressway and shift gears smoothly. I took it to a local repair shop and they ran test on the TRS. They told me that there was current to what he called the Clock Spring in the steering column, but had no current returning back to the TRS. Is the true I have never heard of a Clock Spring. The Windstar has 177K miles.

I finally replaced the BPS and now I have CRUISE CONTROL again.

Joe

[lapin_windstar]

hi everyone

I have a 95 Windstar and had a question about the Brake Pressure Switch. After reading Windstar's warning/suggestion at the top of the page, I went to look at mine.

It's always been unplugged! I guess that explains why I never had cruise control. I got the Windstar about a year ago, and judging by the toasted ABS and absence of receipts, I'd say maintainance had been pretty minimal.

Leaving aside the suggested fix (which I will probably do), my question is as follows: is there any reason why the previous owner would have *deliberately* unplugged the BPS, so that me plugging it back in will cause some other problem to reoccur/flare up again

Tangentially, I think Ford is acting pretty poorly in not fixing this problem (or at least providing the harness free) - after all, it's not just ugly/uncomfortable design, it's actually a design/construction fault! I don't expect to be buying another Ford (built in Nth America, at least) for a long while, unfortunately for Michigan...

[AvalonJohn]

lapin,

I can think of a couple reasons why the previous owner disconnected the switch. The first being the potential of fire. There have been one or two engine fires due to these leaking switches placed on Ford vehicles. Secondly, many times when these switches fail the number 10 (10amp) fuse shorts and blows. If you leave the switch connected, and replace the fuse, it will continues to blow. When this happens you loose your speedometer, odometer, heat control, and that annoying ABS light stays on. Also, if you hadn't lost your cruise control prior to the fuse blowing you would now because it's connected to the number 10 fuse. So, having said all that, they must have realized that in order to have everything connected to the number 10 fuse, except CC, they had to disconnect the switch.

AvalonJohn

[lapin_windstar]

Ohhh, that makes sense, thank you.

OK, well I think I am going to try reconnecting it. It seems like at worst, the fuse will blow, and I can just replace it and disconnect the BPS again. If the fuse doesn't blow, then I can leave it connected, and get the replacement part to fix the fire risk.

Thanks everyone!

[terence123cars]

Hi everyone: I lost my Cruise Control a couple of months ago and found in this forum that the Brake Pressure Switch was linked to this problem. I checked the switch, which is mounted just under the Master Cylinder and sure enough it was really soaked with brake fluid. So, I bought a new unit.
As mentioned in the Thread, there is a new, "Fused Wiring Harness" that comes with the replacement part. I changed the switch in about five minutes and that cured the cruise control problem. I took a moment and opened up the old switch and found that there is a circular contact that moves when the brake pressure is applied and there are two other fixed contacts that carry the current through the switch. One of these contacts had completly burned away with all of the brake fluid that had soaked the inside of the switch unit. Hope this helps.

[lapin_windstar]

I have a 95 (note to self: never buy a model in the first year of production
again).

Does anyone know if the "brake repair kit" is the same for all years? I'm just about to order it from fordparts.com using part number XW7Z-9F924-BA, but I'm not sure about compatibility. I'm using that part number because that was the one that was printed on Wiswind's photo.

[wiswind]

I think that they give you the option to enter your VIN when you order.
I have found that part numbers can change.....as when they make any change to the part....the part number changes.
So to be safe, I would order what is listed for your vehicle.
In fact....the part is cheap enough, that it might be worth just going to your local FORD dealer to get.....and they will have the correct number on their system.
I replaced mine several years ago.

[lapin_windstar]

Thanks, Wiswind, sounds like a good suggestion. I've never been in an actual Ford showroom before so it'll be an interesting experience...

[lapin_windstar]

Just for anyone's interest: the kit I ordered above *does* fit the 1995 Windstar, and it's a very easy fix. It literally took five minutes. Unscrew the old one, screw in the new one, plug it into the harness.

I now have cruise control back and my gas tank readings are accurate again!

fordparts.com was great, too - they delivered in two days from time of order, and I'm at the other end of the US from them.

[jeaton]

Many thanks guys for contributing to this thread!!! Replacing the Brake Pressure Switch as is referred to in this post, but referred to as the Cruise Control Disable Switch by the Ford Parts Dept. fixed the problem with the cruise control not working. I bought the Brake Repair Kit - Ford Part #XW7Z9G652BA (at a premium) from the local dealer. It was a snap to fix... 10-15 minutes.

Jon

[balconio]

I just did this and it literally took 5 minutes.... ordered the kit from fordparts.com and picked it up from my local Ford dealer for $14.36 + tax. the XW7Z9G652BA Motorcraft kit had the new pressure sensor and also the harness adapter- Rock Auto couldn't even beat that deal...they wanted almost 6 bucks to ship, and it wasn't motorcraft stuff either. This fixed the Cruise Control problem on my 96 Windstar, and no more threat of it lighting itself afire in my driveway....

[RickZ]

Great work everyone - Thanks for all the help with this CC problem... we were missing our cruise for 2 years - luckily not too much driving. Anyways, thanks to a 15 dollar part, we have it back now. Everything seems to be working again.
Last year the recall only addresses the Fuseable link which doesnt fix the leaking brake fluid. Until further notice, the Brake pressure sensor, which you can get for next to nothing and change yourself with a 9/16 wrench and replace the new one with a 13/16 open end. There is also, like everyone here who has already posted, a quick link that connects the old wire harness to the new switch. the hardest part was removing and replacing the bloody air filter housing. other than that, a quick soap and rinse of the hands was all it took. CELEBRATION TIME!!!!! wow does it ever feel good to have my van back.

[65val]

I have the same problem as described in the above posts...cruise control not coming on when commanded to. I had a local trans shop scan the trans and they discovered a "P0722 - Output Speed Sensor codes". Along with the cruise not working, my speedo reads about 10-15% high (has proper-sized tires)and the convertor locks up too early and won't unlock until I slow down to about 35mph, at which time the engines lugging. This Windstar had the Ford recall for the fused harness install about 3 years ago(?), when my father owned the van. I just went out to check that master cylinder brake switch, and it does have a bit of brake fluid residue on it, but not dripping anywhere. Fuse #10 is also fine. Any ideas out there? I will replace that brake switch if the general consensus is that thats the problem.

I'm also wondering if all these problems are related somehow?

UPDATE: I tried unplugging the BPS connector and "jumping" across it with a paperclip....no difference...cruise still not working (no light on dash either). Like I said, my van has the fused harness already installed, but they didn't change out the switch. Could the fuse in the fused harness have blown,causing my cruise not to work even when jumpered?

Thanks all.