2000 Windstar electrical problems

[park7163]

I have a 2000 Ford Windstar SEL with a few electrical problems
#1:The odometer lights up when the key is turned on but after 10 seconds it goes to lines.It does not function either.
#2:This van is equipped with that message center in the dash and it flashes that the tailgate is open(Tailgate ajar).I took the back panel off the gate and disconected the two sensors at the latches and this made no difference.
#3:When I purchased this van the ABS light was on.During the safety inspection I found that the rear wheel cylinders were siezed.I replaced the cyllinders,Brake shoes,and drums on the rear and also the front pads and rotors and found all the ABS sensers to have steel particles on them so I cleaned them all but the ABS light is still on.
#4:I reset the oil change light as per owners manual and I do not know if it was me but now if you go through the test mode on the info center it comes up with error mode for fuel economy and the direction(GPS)
Any help would be appreciated.

[theoldwizard]

#1 and # 4 may be related. Could be the Vehicle Speed Sensor.

[park7163]

If the speed sensor is malfunctioning would the speedo fail.In mine the speedo itself is functioning just the odometer goes to lines and does not work.

[park7163]

Just want to give away my age but is the speed sensor the thing that fits in the trans where 20 years ago the speedo cable would have gone.

[theoldwizard]

Originally Posted by park7163

Just want to give away my age but is the speed sensor the thing that fits in the trans where 20 years ago the speedo cable would have gone.

Not true on all transmission (especially ones that don't go back 20 years ago !)

[BroncoJoe19]

It is mounted on the transmission.
HEre is a picture from autozone for a '98


At the top of the winstar forum there is a sticky about door ajar switch. Often lubricating it makes it work again.
You'll have four ABS sensors, they should all ohm out to approx the same, the fronts are a little different from the rears.

THere is a sensor at the bottom of the master cylinder (at least there is one in a '98) It has a tendancy to leak brake fluid onto it, and short it out. They have since upgraded it to a newer design. If you have brake fluid on it, that may cause the abs light to be on.

[park7163]

Bronco Joe.
Thanks for the picks.That is what I was trying to describe.I guess that is what runs the speedo but my speedo works just odometer does not function.

[BroncoJoe19]

I don't know if it affects the operation of the odometer.
Sometimes crazy things start to happen if the car battery is on its last leg.
I post a chart below. YOu can check the battery with a digital volt meter across the terminals with the engine off it should be a 12.66 volts

Courtesy Mark v
Battery Charge Table
12.6V or higher: 100% charge
12.4V - 12.6V: 75-100%
12.2V - 12.4V: 50-75%
12.0V - 12.2V: 25-50%
11.7V - 12.0V: 0-25%
11.7V or less: 0% (and probably not capable of being recharged).


You may also want to check your battery connections and your grounds. There are a couple one on each side of the radiator support, and probably on one or other of the fenders. Usually there is one on the firewall near the PCM, and under the dash near the courtesy lights on both sides.

I'll see if I can locate which one in particular is for the instrument cluster.

[redcarwire]

Originally Posted by BroncoJoe19

You may also want to check your battery connections and your grounds. There are a couple one on each side of the radiator support, and probably on one or other of the fenders.

i would have to agree.

[mark v]

Your dash may be failing if the speedometer works but not the odometer.