The thing is possessed!

[Jabs]

I love this forum! Kudos to those of you who run it!

Bought a used Windstar 2003 SEL in 6 months ago (under 70k miles)-worked great. Took it in for an oil change at 3 months, and about a month later started getting the "oil change required" warning. Checked oil-fine, mileage not up yet and it was running fine so I ignored it. Close to the mileage for next oil change once or twice while I was driving it (highway) the "check charging system" light came on and then went off. Took it in, had oil changed and they replaced the alternator. When I got in it, the "oil change required" light was STILL on. Mentioned it to the repair manager and asked him to "reset it" but they don't SELL Ford's so he was clueless. Since the oil had just been changed, I decided to just take it to a local Ford dealer later to have it shut off. On the way home, the low tire signal came on. (they had rotated tires too so no worries) Then out of the blue the ABS light, the brake light etc came on, went off, all dash info disappeared and then came back on but car was operating perfectly fine. Came home, called repair shop to bring it back in, and make appointment for following week.

Daughter takes car to run to store (again, working fine except for electrical weirdness) and she reports that on the way home the AC all of a sudden stopped working and the radio would only come on if the AC was off. Didn't drive it until shop date, no problems on the way...of course. They kept it for 24 hours and reported that the mechanic could NOT get it to do any of the things I reported but they were concerned and tested everything. They also could not get the "oil change required" light to go off again.

Drove it for a week, no problems. Today-drove it 2 miles round trip picking up son from school. Parked and shut it off, gathered other son and left for dentist 45 minutes later. No problem. Stopped at intersection approx .5 miles from house and "beeping" started...light seat belt or door open sound. Then ABS light, brake light, etc blinked on and off and the "check charging system" warning came on. Again, car is operating perfectly except for weirdness. I pulled over and turned the car off and then could not restart it period. Husband jumped it, drove it home, we went over manual and I found this site and read all threads and tried all things that applied. Now it wont start again. #10 fuse is fine.

Battery? Something else? Exorcism?
Thanks in advance!

[taillight]

Of course check all of the fuses first. Then look for a loose wire. Mose likely under the dash. With the engine running have someone watch the guages and wiggle the wires under the dash and even under the hood and watch for changes.

[garync1]

I have a 2001 but when the battery started to go it did strange things such as inside lights out side head lights started blinking.Dash lights and all kinds of things,then dead...So I would have the Battery checked at your local Auto parts store..If you had the Alt. replaced already then it could have had pulled the Batt down as well. Just unable to charge fully up or its dieing. But have the Battery checked out.Its free at autozone and Advanced Auto..

[wiswind]

I would also recommend getting the battery checked out....and also cleaning the battery terminals....I have been bit by poor battery terminal connections that were tight....and looked perfectly clean...but gave me intermittent electrical problems.
Remove the cables from the battery terminals and clean....they sell a little brush just for this purpose at most auto part stores.
A light coating of grease over the terminal connection after the cable has been connected and tightened will help prevent corrosion.
Make sure to wash your hands right away after working with battery (before touching your face, rubbing your eyes, or eating) connections as the battery temrinals have lead in them, and there is often some battery acid present in the area.

Low voltage in the system will cause all kinds of strange problems.
Your battery (if original) is close to 4 years old.....and 5 is about the expected life of a battery......although many do last longer....but it is on borrowed time.

Many auto part stores, such as AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts, will test your battery and alternator for free

[Jabs]

Yep, we're thinking battery. We charged it up overnight and I thought things were fine until it died while I was grocery shopping. Jumped it and while driving home, if I was doing over 60 it would work fine, but when my speed dropped below that, I would lose the radio, air conditioner, and worse...the brake lights and turn signals! Was sure I was going to get rear ended!

Will be taking it to Auto Zone today for a battery test and probable replacement. The frustrating thing is that when I took it back to the dealership for diagnosis and they kept it for a day and a half and "ran every test they could think of" that they didn't figure out it was the battery or at least suspect it FIRST having just replaced the alternator. *sigh*