2000 Ford Expedition: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jul 27, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 155,000 miles · OH

While driving this expedition I began noticing strange intermittant electrical behavior like the windshield wipers not working, radio turning off, windshield wash light blinking, and 4x4 light blinking. Several times in the middle of the night I'd notice that the headlights would come on on their own. Also the air ride would turn on and off while the car was off, and the heater fan would also come on. This would kill the battery. Several times while driving the 4x4 would turn on in the low gear making it difficult to maneuver. On several occasions the starter would turn on while the car was already running. I replaced the gem module and had the windshield resealed several times, but after just a few months the problems would recur. The final nail in the coffin was when the starter kicked on while running and it took a minute to get the car safely stopped. I could smell smoke from the burned up starter motor. The expedition has sat for 1.5 years as I am unable to sell it and am unwilling to put any additional money to fix this lemon.

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 Apr 30, 2011 · Electrical · 166,928 miles · VT · fire · 1 injury

I went approx. 3 miles when smoke started to come out of the heating vents in my 2000 ford expedition. A few sec. After the truck began to smoke flames were starting to come out of the area by the drivers side feet. Under the dash. My husband put out the fire and sustained severe 2nd degree burns on his fore arm hand wrist and chin. He was able to see the fire started by corroded wires under the kick plate. All the wires have melted and now 4x4 isn't working windows are not working lights inside of truck stay on headlights stay on no tail lights no dash lights power windows and door locks no longer work, speaker on driver side does not work. Hazard lights do not blink they just stay on. Temp in the truck reads 140 deg. F. We have not yet had this looked at. I have an appt with a ford garage on monday to see if this was a recall issue.

Filed Apr 20, 2011 · Electrical · 148,648 miles · WA

We bought this vehicle in february 2010 it ran perfectly until we got the first snow of the year and then we started having major electrical problems. It started out just the warning lights would blink, then the radio would shut off in drive but come back on in park. Then the wipers would no longer work or the headlights! So we parked it for about a month, the second day the radio and heater came on without the keys even being in the vehicle so we had to disconnect the battery! We let it sit with the battery disconnected for awhile then tried it again. The SUV ran great for about 8 weeks then it snowed again and it suddenly started trying to start itself and we do not have remote start!!! Now it does it every time you shift, start it, or whenever it is parked it just starts cranking away!! I now have smoke coming from somewhere behind the fuse box! The fuses are all good and I can't see any problem with the wiring... I have talked to several people who have had these exact same issues with this model of expedition and none of them have been able to figure out what the problem is even after spending thousands of dollars... And ford is refusing to issue a recall... So what are we to do as consumers when we are assured the vehicles we buy are safe and they turn out to be the exact opposite!!!!

Filed Aug 13, 2009 · Electrical · FL

I have a 2000 ford expedition. After a really bad rainstorm today my SUV started acting possessed. It has been working fine and now all of the sudden the headlights turn themselves off and on, when they car is off the key is not in the ignition. The fan/AC in the SUV runs while the vehicle is off and the key is not in the expedition. The whole electrical system is acting crazy, the SUV does things on its on even when the vehicle is off and the key is not in the ignition.I had been left stranded with my vehicle in the walmart parking lot with the light, gauges, and air turning itself on and off. I am a single mother and I am so scared to drive it when it drives because I am worried the electrical system could catch fire or I could get into an accident with my daughter in the vehicle.

Filed Jun 18, 2009 · Electrical, Transmission · 118,000 miles · FL

2000 expedition windshield was replaced in november leak caused vehicle to do crazy things like try to start when I turned the headlights on with key out of ignition and had a burning smell. This morning vehicle wouldn't start after rain. After jump starting vehicle overdrive light on gearshifter handle was blinking and vehicle wouldn't go into gear feels like you're driving with brakes on. No problems moving in reverse. Problem started out of nowhere, also lights flicker when tried to jumpstart. Connected cables wouldn't start lights went dead repositioned cables lights came on after doing this for over an hour car finally started with the above noted problems.

Filed Dec 10, 2007 · Electrical · 45,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. Occasionally in cold, snowy, or rainy conditions, the vehicle would experience electrical failure. The windshield wipers would not work, the radio would turn on and off randomly, and the headlights flashed on and off. The contact needed to disconnect the battery in order to shut off the headlights. The dealer could not duplicate the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000 and current mileage was 60,000.

Filed Oct 19, 2007 · Lights · 112,250 miles · CT

Headlamp switch blew/failed/charred and smoke came out of heat/AC dash vent while driving on the highway.

Filed Dec 15, 2006 · Electrical · 70,000 miles · CA

It started last winter the wipers would fail when it rained and then we came out and the radio and dash was on and the keys were no where near the ignition. Now after the last rain my husband turned on the headlights and my car tried to turn over!!! What next, we are not sure how to correct it but im afraid to drive it. What happens when the wipers fail and I have no visibility. It is a 2000 ford expedition, ford really needs a recall this is dangerous.

Filed Dec 3, 2006 · Body, Electrical · 25,000 miles · MO

Leak in driver side windshield which leaks into fuse box causing several electrical problems, engine revs on its own, starts by itself, windshields wipers turn on and off, radio works than turns off, head lights turn off while driving note have had it into dealership and repaired and it still doing the problems, was told by the tech it was a leak and they would not be able to guarantee the work. Happens every time it snows or rains heavily.

Filed Feb 5, 2004 · Lights · 60,000 miles · KY

Headlight dimmer switch defect causes headlights to go off unexpectedly.