2000 Ford Expedition: water leaks into the cabin

Filed Dec 14, 2014 · Body, Electrical · 70,000 miles · NJ · fire

Summary: water leaked around the left side of windshield causing electrical failures, including but not limited to the starter, radio, windshield wipers, headlamps, etc. The water entering the vehicle wet the power distribution box (pdb) and the generic electronic module (gem). These components control various electrical systems in the vehicle. The vehicle continued to attempt to start itself without any key in ignition until it resulted in the starter burning up as well as damaging associated wiring and battery. Vehicle's windshield had to be replaced as was the starter, associated wiring and battery after vehicle was towed to repair facility.

Filed Nov 23, 2014 · Electrical, Visibility · NC

5 people in my vehicle driving 55mph on i40 around midnight when air suspension went out and everything in the dash went crazy. Things cutting off and on moving backwards and forwards, when I cut it off so to not drive with air suspension down it would not restart unless you started it in neutral but the battery kept dying and exploded driving to shop,.got another battery, it exploded to. Nothing electrical worked. Door locks, windows,speedometer, stereo wouldn't come on then would come on by itself, lights to. Air suspension would not work, been in the shop twice. First time they didn't know what was wrong. This time they know but I can afford to fix it. The gem module and fuse box is over 600.00 plus labor! Im disabled with a fixed income and I haven't driven anywhere since feb I cant get to my doctor, grocery store, to get medicine for heart attack and other disabling illnesses. I cant afford another car or to fix my expo. This could have been dangerous I sure need some help with this.electrical system failure the federal safety agency preliminary evaluation #pe05033 status:closed date opened:june 15, 2005 date closed: october 13, 2005 recall: no recall issued component(s): electrical system equipment:electrical visibility:windshield summary: odi has received 39 reports alleging that water leaks around the windshield causing electrical failures, including but not limited to the windshield wipers and the headlamps.ford reports that water entering the vehicle can wet the power distribution box (pdb) and the generic electronic module (gem).these components control various electrical systems in the vehicle.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis, ea05015, to allow further investigation of the issue and to assess the nature of the potential safety consequence.the federal safety agency: for detailed information & supporting documents, see the official the federal safety agency investigation#pe05033.

Filed Jun 9, 2014 · Body, Electrical · TX

There is a defect with the installation of the windshield that causes water in enter the cab. Upon entry, the water goes into the gem mod and fuse panel of the SUV. This shorts the system - at one point you may encounter the heater turning on without the key in the ignition. Here is a special notice sent by ford in 2002 regarding this problem: *ford special message #15773 variouselectricalconditions resulting from water intrusion into the gem/cjb some 1997-2002 expedition and 1998-2002 navigator vehicles may exhibit various unusual electrical conditions, including but not limited to: xxxxx xxxxx rear blower or eatc staying on with key out of the ignition, radio staying on after doors opened and key out of ignition, wiper circuit failure codes, and multiple system warning lights with 'short to power' or 'low battery voltage' dtcs. These symptoms most often occur after a rain or snow. This may be due to gem/cjb water intrusion resulting from a windshield water leak. To service, remove the gem and cjb from thevehicle, separate them and inspect for water contamination or corrosion. If found in either component, replace both components and completely reseal the windshield. Effective date: 04/05/2002 ford motor company

Filed Dec 20, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 152,000 miles · TX

Multiple instances following rain of: vehicle turns over but will not start. Removing the key any of the following will occur- heater fan blower comes on and will only go off with the key in and in the on position. Lights may or may not come on. Radio may or may not come on. All this with key out, vehicle empty and closed. Sometimes blower will come on in empty vehicle. If the car starts sometimes the wipers will not work, the horn will not work, radio will not work, lights will not work or blinkers go on. Any or all of this may occur. Sometimes and oder like burning or sour gas will occur. If the rain quits and the vehicle sits for minutes to hours all these symptoms go away. I have pulled the lower kicker panel on the drivers side and found evidence of water below the gem near the edge of the carpet. I believe this to be the problem reported by many as the water entering from the windshield and shorting at the gem fuse connection. I am contacting the dealer, if they will not take care of it I will have a windshield replacement company try to reseal and examine for leaks. This appears to be potenially dangerous if engine would die while driving, light go out or wipers stop working.

Filed Oct 10, 2011 · Electrical, Visibility · 159,670 miles · FL

I have a 2000 ford expedition the past 3 days we have had hard rains. I went out to my car and found that the floor on both the drivers sides and passenger side of the SUV was flooded. My radio was on the car was not. The dash light were going crazy. I started the car to move it so that I could get it near an outlet to use the wet vac to remove the water and the wipers would not work. I removed the water from the floors and when I went to move my expedition it would not start it seems that it is leaking from the windshield. I noticed that there are alot of complaints on water leakage on expeditions. Now I am worried that the water may have shorted out the electrical system.

Filed Jan 22, 2010 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · AZ

Water leaking into fuse box after heavy rain storm. Sizzling noise and smoke eminating from fuse box.

Filed Jan 12, 2009 · Brakes, Electrical · 120,000 miles · MI · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate and the ABS indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. Immediately following, the odometer, heat, and radio became inoperable and the vehicle began idling loudly. Upon entering her driveway, the vehicle stalled. The brake pedal was depressed, but there was no reaction. The contact rear ended another vehicle in the driveway. The vehicle did not sustain any damages; however, the vehicle that was rear ended sustained damage to the rear bumper. There were no injuries or a police report. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop and the mechanic stated that water entered through the windshield and drained into the fuse box, which damaged the g.e.m module. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer stated that they were not liable for the repairs. The current and failure mileages were 120,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2008 · Electrical · 95,000 miles · NC

Our 2000 ford expedition has an electrical problem that was described in ford special notice 15773. When it rains, water leaks into the gem/cjb and causes the electrical system to short out. This results in blowers running while the key is not in the ignition, the car to stall out while in use, and the car to not start at all at sometimes. Since it is an electrical problem, it may also lead to vehicle fire. This occurs every time there is rain/snow. The dealership has looked at the problem before, but has not been able to find the problem. I discovered the problem searching on the internet and finding many other owners with the same problems. Finally, one post referenced ford special notice 15773 which describes exactly what is happening to our vehicle. This needs to be recalled before fires and worse occur.

Filed Apr 9, 2008 · Electrical · 136,900 miles · WI

Heavy rains yesterday. On the way home from work, stopped at a store, turned off the key, but the heater blower did not turn off. Turned the heater control to off and heard many rapid clicks from under the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel. On arriving home, blower did the same thing. Vehicle parked in garage overnight. Next morning, several series of five beeps came from under the dash. Heater blower still stays on when key is out. We had water leaking around the windshield a couple years ago that caused the odometer to go out. Had the windshield re-sealed. Odometer intermittently comes back on since then. It would appear the leak is happening again, and water is getting down into the gem module and fusebox. Have not attempted to replace these yet. I'm afraid this electrical problem will cause a fire in the expedition, which in my attached garage could likely burn down the entire house and threaten my family's safety. Www.ford-forums.com, townhall-talk.edmunds.com, and www.automotiveforums.com all have many posts of similar water-leaking-causing-electrical-problems.

Filed Jan 11, 2008 · Electrical, Visibility · 100,000 miles · IN

Windshield leaks water on to gem module and fuse box. After rain or snow vehicle will try to start while already running wipers, radio, door locks, power windows, lights flashers will not work. Dummy lights on dash will come on that water level low, no oil pressure and low battery. Now it will not shift out of park. Filed a formal complaint three months ago with ford motor compny and they have yet to acknowledge that I ever filed report.

Filed Jan 9, 2008 · Electrical · 98,000 miles · CA

My 00 ford expy has several electrical problems when ever there's rain this latest incident happen on 1/6/08 I came out of my house because I keep on hearing like someone was trying to start the truck and yeah it had been raining all night I open the truck and the radio was on the lights were coming on I started the truck and when it was on the starter was still spinning hitting the fly wheel I had to disconnect the battery I think if there's water leaking everytime it rains it could create a short and cause a fire on the truck I will like someone to look into this thanks

Filed Jun 16, 2007 · Electrical · 30,000 miles · WA · fire

I am having severe electrical problems with the 2000 ford eb expedition. These problems were caused by a defect in the seal of the factory installed windshield leaking water into the cab of the vehicle. There have been many incidents where the vehicle has become incapacitated, and one instance when smoke emerged from the driver's side of the front dashboard water was seeping into the cab and accessing the fuse box. Upon contact a short was created, causing the climate control unit, heater and A/C unit fan to begin blowing when the key was removed from the ignition. This problem occurred anytime the vehicle was exposed to rain or snow.