2000 Ford Expedition: windshield wiper failure

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 Feb 19, 2015 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · TX

I began noticing electrical problems with the lights going on and off, dash gauges going on and off, radio going on and off, heater going on and off, door alarm staying on when driver's door is open, but no key in ignition or lights on, door locks not working properly, 4wd engaging automatically, cd player going off and on, windshield wipers going on and off, and water on driver's side floor after rains. It has become more of a problem. I did not know what was causing the problems until I began replacing parts and found on the internet that this has been a known problem with the expedition and ford being aware of the problem for many years. I just wrote the ford company and they told me they knew nothing about such problems!!! Reference number is [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

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 Aug 1, 2014 · Electrical, Visibility · 86,000 miles · CO

Driving normally during heavy rain wipers and radio went dead at highway speed and worked intermittently after that. After the rain stopped and car dried out wipers and radio worked normally again. Carpet on left side under fuse panel and gem module, both of which have already been replaced was wet. This is a safety concern as it is extremely difficult to see when the wipers stop working unexpectedly. The cause seems to be the windshield wasn't sealed properly at the factory, as my father bought the vehicle new and said the windshield has always leaked. I purchased the vehicle from him.

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 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 Sep 17, 2012 · Electrical · 200,000 miles · MA

After a moderate rain, while driving on the highway, the wipers, defroster and windows stopped working and the radio began blinking in and out. Since this incident, it seems that after any rain, the electrical system goes crazy, I hear relays clicking under the dash, things don't work when turned on, or do work with them turned off. Several times the blower for the heat would keep or turn on after I shut the truck off. Absolutely a safety hazard that should be recalled if this is that common a problem. > also my mechanic said it will cost upwards of $1000 to fix this problem and not guaranteed not to happen again.

Filed Mar 19, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · TX

During rainy periods the stereo and windhshield wipers will turn off and on by themselves. If the truck is turned off the stereo and AC will stay on and locks will lock and unlock by themselves. Smoke comes up from the steering wheel. The turn signals will blink a few times then stop blinkin but the light will stay on.

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 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!!!!