1998 EB Gone Wild........

[ACE1989]

My 1998 expedition has gone wild.... Monday evening I noticed that the head/tail lights were on. The light switch was off and the car was not running. Before I could get to the car the lights went off. 30 seconds later they came on again. a few minutes they went off again. This most have been going on all day since the battery was too low to start the vehicle. I jumped the vehicle and let it charge. The lights started coming on and going off again so I disconnected the battery........
Any idea what's causing this??????????

[packwmanw]

It may be related to a leaking windshield which is shorting the GEM, CJB and/or fuse box

FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773 VARIOUS ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS 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: FRONT OR 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 THE VEHICLE, 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

I had to have the fuse box and GEM replaced and the windshield resealed on my 97 Expedition.