Five problems related to starter have been reported for the 1999 Ford Expedition. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I have this very same problem. While vehicle is off the heater blowers will turn on and run battery down. While driving 4x4, washer lights, power windows, radio, interior lights all turn off and on. Radio works while in park but, powers down when vehicle is put in gear. Have had issues with water getting in and running down drivers side. Appears alot of people are having the same issue. Bought the vehicle in 2008 just started having these issues within the past year started out slow but are getting worst and more frequent. Now my vehicle after jump starting it I hear a electrical noise coming from my starter, it shuts the car off and kills the battery. The car will only run for ten seconds or so before it repeats.
The radio would turn on and off without the key in the ignition, the starter tries to start the vehicle without the key in the ignition. While driving down the road the interior lights flicker and the headlights will turn on and off randomly. Automatic door locks will not always work.
It started off with a beeping, that happened once and a while. I also noticed when the defroster was turned on black dust like stuff would blow out. Then one day my husband and I heard the Expedition trying to start. No keys in the ignition, no one in the truck! my husband had to disable the battery to get it to stop. We were going to take it to the Ford dealer,but when we started it, it continued to try and turn over. Therefore my husband had to disconnect the battery again and we had to pay for a truck hauler to take it to the Ford dealer. While at the dealer we told them it couldn't be started, because of it trying to turn over, but apparently they did let it run and now we have starter problems. Also they had the windshield seal replaced, but it still leaks. We will be taking it back to them to have their repairs repaired. It's a shame, I was so proud of my SUV, now I just don't know.
Events leading up to failure: (1) started with fog light switch not working. (3) took it in for service and was told the windshield was leaking and shorted the switch. Service attempted to correct leak by leaving windshield in place and providing more sealant. (1) leak in windshield discovered to persist after battery drained due to radio and various electrical functions would continue even without the key in the ignition. Most recently, the starter would repeatedly attempt to start the engine randomly after the engine was started and even while the key was out of the ignition! (2) with this uncontrolled electrical activity battery drain was causing stranding and the most recent occurrence the smell of an electrical fire was noted. (3) the car was taken immediately to a Ford dealership for service, where currently the gem module and fuse box are getting replaced as well as the windshield to fix the leak - I was told that the original windshield cannot be re-sealed as it will break when removed. I don't have VIN with me at this very moment, but can submit it later. What does oem mean next to the defective elements I've listed?.
(1) 1999 Ford Expedition would not start, dead battery. Replaced battery, determined all electonic components shorting out and inoperable: headlights, brake lights, and interior lights goes on and off, wipers work only intermittently. (2) vehicle taken to local Ford repair facility. Dealership was immedietly familliar with problem. Failure attribuited to leaking windshied and subsequent water leakage on vehicle gem (general elecronic module) and fuseblock (3) repairs consisted of replacing winshield, repacing gem module with improved water resistant variation (result of TSB), replaced fuseblock, replaced starter motor. Problems with some electronic systems persist after repair. (4) resuling $1,650. 00 repair bill for 5 year old, 70k mile garage kept vehicle due to being left in the rain for two days.