2000 Ford Expedition: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Jun 2, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · LA

It started with the radio and windshield wipers not working periodically this went on for several weeks and then on saturday night 5/31/14 at approx. 11:30 am "[xxx]" showed up and my car was trying to start its self. It made a clicking sound for about 30 mins with the lights going off and on. The sound was like a dead battery sound. Then it would try to start itself. This went on for about and hour and then it finally stopped. I assumed that the next morning my battery would be dead but when I went out sunday morning it started right up and I was able to run my errands. This morning monday 6/2 I went out to go to work and it would not start but the lights came on and it continued to make a clicking sound even though I assumed the battery was dead. I am scared to do anything, like jump the battery , for fear it will explode or catch fire. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 12, 2013 · Electrical · 135,000 miles · TN

Vehicle sitting in driveway after 2 days of rain. Went to start up vehicle and battery dead. Took battery out to be tested and tested fine. Spent $165 on alternator replacement. Vehicle dead again next morning. Charged battery started vehicle up. Noticed water in floorboards and headliner. When key was removed from ignition, radio was still on and door would still ding as if key in ignition. Battery dead again several hours later. After doing research, was extremely frustrated to learn the issue is very well documented with improperly sealed windshields. Rather than ford paying to reseal or inform consumers to fix out of their own pockets, they allowed consumers to experience dreadful electrical malfunctions with vehicle. Without going to mechanic, I removed both the gem module and fuse box. Put fax in vehicle to speed up the drying process. Allowed fuse box to sit inside for a week and ordered a gem module off the internet. Cleaned corrosion from fuse box/gem connectors and replaced gem module. Vehicle performs much better. Things that haven't worked in years (auto locks) now work. However, radio loses power intermittently which is frustrating. I own 2 fords and am a very very disappointed consumer that something that could have been fixed for $100 have cost loyal consumers thousands.

Filed Jan 26, 2011 · Electrical · 114,558 miles · MN

Symptom was a dead battery. Courtesy lights would not go off. Hard failure. Root cause was leaking windshield seal which corroded electronics. According to the ford service bulletin this was first discovered well within the factory warranty period of the vehicle. An online search found numerous similar complaints along with a ford service bulletin ford special message #15773. Repairs to my vehicle included removing and replacing gem and cjb along with resealing the windshield. I purchased the vehicle new in april 2000 and it has never been in an accident. Repair cost was over $1400 for a latent defect that has been in the vehicle since it was built.

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Engine · NJ

When the key is taken out of my ignition, the blower motor to the heat and air conditioning goes to full blast. I then have to disconnect the battery in order not to drain the battery. This only happens when it is raining out. Apparently the windshield leaks to the gem box and shorts it out.

Filed May 19, 2008 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · MS

I have a 2000 expedition that is experiencing electrical failure, dead battery every week, clicking from under the dash, lights flashing on the interior, radio/clock lights fail, drivers side back side window fails to open and rear window wiper stopped working. The flashing, clicking and other various electrical quirks happen at random times but the drained battery happens every week. I can jump start the truck but when it sits for a few days undriven and I try to start it...dead battery. I have replaced the battery several times until I realized it wasn't a faulty battery, it is an electrical malfunction. I took it to our local ford dealership to have it checked. I had also informed them of the leaking windshields/gem module problem I had read about. They informed me that they had several expeditions serviced with the same electrical malfunctions. They called me and said it was a dead battery after I did their job and informed them of the leaking windshield/gem module. I asked them to please check the module and whatever else was needed to fix my truck. They later said they checked it and found no corrosion in the gem module. They also said since it wasn't "coding" they had no clue what was causing the electrical failure. They said this without further investigation into other possible causes such as moisture in the keyless entry pad which is known to be faulty and a replacement part available. All that was done was to put a new battery in my truck, told my problem was a dead battery because it's their policy that when a vehicle comes in for service, to find the most logical reason for malfunction when it wont code and sent home with a truck that I know will not start in a week, possibly catch fire due to electrical problems, possibly kill someone or burn my house down.

Filed Jun 22, 2005 · Electrical, Visibility · 30,000 miles · MT

6-12 months ago, 2000 ford expedition started having erratic electrical behavior. Windshield wipers quit working during rainstorm while away on vacation. Was very hazardous to have happen while driving down highway during a downpour! Radio would go on and off while shifting the automatic transmission. Took to dealer (still under warranty at this time), they "tightened up some things", problem went away, until next rain storm! Due to needing the vehicle, I could not get it back to dealer before factory warranty expired. I thought it would be ok though, because I had purchased a "premium" extended warranty. Took to dealer a second time, now truck tries to start itself with no key in ignition, wipers again fail while driving during rainstorm, heater blower motor remains running after exiting vehicle. This drains the battery if left overnight, and results in an inoperable vehicle. Truck four wheel drive indicators flash on and off at times while driving. Not a good feeling when traveling 70 MPH on the freeway. After inspection, dealer informs me that water has intruded into the dash components due to a leaking windshield. They state the extended warranty wont cover it because they dont cover "water intrusions". Gem module, fusebox need replaced, windshield resealed to fix problem. Quote of about $1000.00 I declined repairs at the time. Went home and researched the problem. Seems many, many people have had the same problem. I called ford and after many phone calls, they declined to do anything about it. I am very disappointed with ford. Have always bought their products because I believed they stood behind their reliability and workmanship. Here is a factory installed windshield that started leaking before their 3/36 warranty expired, their dealer "band-aided" the problem instead of fixing the cause of the problem while still under warranty. Now I have an inoperable vehicle in my driveway that frankly, seems to be a major safety risk to put my family of six in.

Filed Jun 20, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 200,000 miles · MS · fire

Dt: a week ago the alternator light and ABS light began to flash while the vehicle was being driven. It then died, this happed on thursday. The alternator was draining the battery. The battery has been replaced twice since thursday. The vehicle caught on fire two weeks ago while being driven. The fire was put out by the owner. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer under recall for the cruise control. The vehicle is now in the dealership service department. Dealer is now trying to determine the root of the battery and alternator problem. The owner feels this may be linked to the original cruise control recall.