Crazy Expedition?!?!

[malcoll]

We have owned our 99 EB Expedition since new... it now has 99,400 miles. Well.... it has started to go CRAZY!

Last weekend my wife called me from church... it would crank but not start..... by the time I got there.... she had started and was running?? Hasn't done that since.

Then I noticed... when we start the Expy...... all the gauges will "flash" from the bottom position to their top position... then the odometer goes blank.... then everything comes back on...... it has been doing this for about a week... but no other issues.

Today... my wife came back from the grocery store... I got in the Expy to go to my office...... the door ajar light (and the interior lights) would not go off... I checked all the doors and hatches.. all closed..... then the light went off. Went to the office.... got back in.. same thing.... then after about 45 seconds they went off??

No rhyme or reason........ right now all the interior lights are on.. the running board lights are on...... as if a door is open........ I can't get them to turn off.........

What could be causing these problems? Seems like a bunch of problems just popped up. I am concerned I may have to sell the Expy if I cannot trust it.... as my wife and son drive in it everyday???

Any advice you all can provide would be appreciated.

Lance

 

[malcoll]

Follow up.... I just went back outside.... the interior lights were off.... so I opened the passenger side front door...... lights came on... closed door.... lights went off. Opened each door and closed each door... lights went on and off properly.....

Except the drivers door... I opened that door last... closed it.. and the lights stayed on???

Where is the switch for that door? Are all the doors wired to one switch?????

I just looked outside after about two minutes..... the lights are off??

Tried my test again...... lights seem to turn on and off properly till I open and close the drivers door?

I even got inside.... waited... after about 30 seconds the lights clicked off... I operated the ignition.... no door ajar lights.... I opened and closed each door (from inside).. the door ajar light (and interior lights) came on and off properly... then I opened and closed the driver door..... door adjar light stayed on and the interior lights stayed on..... I switched the engine off and (without the drivers door open) left the key in the ignition and there was that "beep, beep" to remind me the key was in the ignition??

So where do I find the switch for the drivers door... it seems to be the problem surfaces when I open and close the drivers door.

Thanks again,
Happy Holidays,
Lance

 

[PaulC]

Two unrelated issues seem to be present at this time:

1. The guage sweep is a classic expedition symptom of a dying battery.

2. The light switch triggered by the driver's door is apparently sticking, another commonplace Expedition problem. The switch is part of the door latch housing found in the door. Give the latch and adjacent switch a few shots of WD-40, and close the doors a few times.

 

[Guest]

The deal with the not starting is probably just your Idle Speed Control. It runs about 56 dollars from Napa and just bolts on and plugs in on the top of the motor, installs easily. Was the truck just turning over but not cranking. It will happen again if it is the ISC, the only way to fix is just replacing it. Hope this helps. All of your stuff just seems to be normal wear items. They are all just coming at once.

 

[Guest]

I had similar and weird light problems with my 98 XLT a few months back and took to Ford dealer and they put in a new battery and all my problems were solved. Hey Auto Zone will do a free OBD II scan to see if there is any codes since someone is pointing to the ISC. I would lean toward the battery!

 

[malcoll]

Took battery to AutoZone today for a test... t'was a bad battery.......

Replaced with a new one.... the guage "sweep" went away immediately.... we'll see if the other "symptoms" are gone?

Thankyou for the suggestions,
Lance

 

[malcoll]

All symptoms seem to be gone... except the "door ajar" light staying on intermittently.

I did the WD-40 spray down...... we'll see if that corrects that symptom.