Wierd electrical problems

[Imkunfused]

This just started happening on a 96 GL taurus. When you put the car in reverse, the radio shuts off.. you lose power to the items in the door (door locks, window). the lights for the buttons on the doors shut off, and it gets real hard to steer (powersteering working harder). Has anyone had this kind of problem? There are no problems with wires getting pinched from what i can see. Any help would be appricated.

Thanks

[dukebonaventura]

I too have a 96 ford taurus GL and a few months back, the radio wouldnt work in reverse, but that was it, then it worked ok a few weeks later...but the last month or so ive run into the same major problems...The light in the dash that shows that the driver's seatbelt is not buckled will flicker on and off very rapidly, then i will lose the radio, window motors, winshield wiper motors, and the steering will get very tight. When this isnt happening, most of the time my radio doesnt work unless the car is in park. If i come to a sudden stop, or hit a pothole, or accelerate quickly, the radio will come back, which leads me to believe its a wiring problem. A former car mechanic told me the radio part is most likely a wiring issue, but had no idea about the other problems. He thought maybe the Ground on my battery was bad and changed it, but the problem has occured since then. When i took it to my regular mechanic, he said that Fords are notorious for having dashboard light problems, that id have to buy a new radio, and he changed the power steering fluid because it was the original fluid...but i knew deep down it wasnt all a coincidence and now i know it definitely isnt coincidental if it is happening to you too...im off school next week so im going to take it to the dealership, if you find anything out before then let me know, if not ill let you know what the dealer says! Goodluck!
-Duke

[michelq]

you have shrorted safty switch on transmission,replace it
michel

[Imkunfused]

Thanks Michel, Hopefully that will take care of the problem

[michelq]

for sure it will fix the problem.
other name for the part
transmission range switch or sensor

[angeiboz]

I did my TR sensor my self, it’s really easy (I'm a girl), and the part was only about 40.00. It fixed all my strange electric problems.

[CrackALaid]

Just to let yall know, This Just Started Happening to Me This Morning, Same Thing, Radio Cuts Off In Reverse and When I Accelerate Quickly. I'm Going to Buy a TR Sensor Tomorrow, Hope It Works Cuz I'm Broke Afterwards (assuming its 40$)