96 Taurus GL - Electrical problem

[VGIZZO]

I was driving my car the other day and all of a sudden the speedometer stopped working and the wipers died. Also the high beams were flickering off and on as well as the high beam inidicator on the gauge cluster. When the car is on accessories the wipers will work.. but not when the car is running.

The radio stopped wotking and the cruise control. I check all the fuses and they seem fine.... I know I probably have a short somewhere.. but I have no idea where? Any ideas?

I forgot to mention that there was a huge storm the night before and I may have run through a large puddle. Also, the cars still runs except for the problems mentioned above.

-Vincent Gizzo

[mustangmike351c]

check the ignition switch

[VGIZZO]

Hi. Thnks for the reply. Is there a way to test the ignition switch? It seems to be working ok as far switching from accessories to RUN. I just spent $40+ on a Transmission Range sensor that I thought might be causing the problem.... but it did not fix the problem.

-VGIZZO

[shorod]

The procedure should be in your inbox.

-Rod

[VGIZZO]

Thanks for the PDF. I'm going to try and troubleshoot it tomorrow when I get home from work. I'm guessing the terminals they show are on the connecter. If it is where does it plug into? The fuse junction box on the driver's side?

-VGIZZO

[bubbabooboo]

Could it be a bad or weak relay?? Just a thought.

[VGIZZO]

Hi. The problem turned out to be a yellow wire behind the wheel well. I found some info about it from a old post on a ford forum. The plastic shielding(guides wire harness through firewall to engine compartment) cut the wire and it just corroded. I fixed the wire and everything works fine now.

[shorod]

Great information, thank your for the follow-up!

-Rod