Starter problems of the 2000 Ford Expedition

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.

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.

Serious electrical malfunctions consisting of fan blowing without vehicle being started, radio going on and off, 4x4 light blinking, clicking noises, starter trying to start the vehicle while already started, popping noises, windows working and not working. Battery being drained. All this after snowstorm.

I went out to my truck to start it and the radio was on. No keys in ignition. Starter engages while running in park and neutral. Wipers come on and off no keys in ignition. Locks and unlocks by itself no keys in ignition. While driving have to put in neutral to roll window down and up. All this happens when it rains or snows.

I posted a complaint earlier and would like to follow up on it. I had several electrical problems after the rain. This last time caused my battery to completely die and all of my electrical stopped working. I had aaa come out and jump start the battery and I let it idle for about 45 min. Until the electrical shop opened. During the idling I heard a loud noise that sounded very strange and unfamiliar so I jumped in and when I put it in gear to leave the noise stopped and I continued to the electrical shop. As soon as I parked and put it in park the noise began again. The guys at the shop heard it and immediately recognized it as the starter engaging. This was a result of my electric system malfunctioning. After a whole day of diagnosing where the electrical problem came from, they found that the main fuse box located inside the vehicle below the drivers side had a lot of moisture, rust and corrosion on the back side. They were not able to locate where the water is leaking from because it stopped raining. I am familiar with the windshield seal and the drain hole of the wiper blade as being the suspected origin of the leak, so as soon as it rains again I will go back to the shop so they can try and find the leak. They ordered a new fuse box from the dealership and it was around $145 but will take 4 days to ship, so they cleaned the back of the fuse box to hold me over. It runs fine and seems to be back to normal. So I would check that fuse box if you're having trouble. The high power fuse box in the engine compartment was not damaged. I'll update again if I find out where the leak is coming from.

My 00 Ford expy has several electrical problems when ever there's rain this latest incident happen on 1/6/08 I came out of my house because I keep on hearing like someone was trying to start the truck and yeah it had been raining all night I open the truck and the radio was on the lights were coming on I started the truck and when it was on the starter was still spinning hitting the fly wheel I had to disconnect the battery I think if there's water leaking everytime it rains it could create a short and cause a fire on the truck I will like someone to look into this thanks.

While driving windshield wipers and radio stopped working. When shutting off engine, heater blower blewout cold air full blast, and starter kept clicking. Vehicle taken to dealer twice, could not remedy problem. Please add further details.