2000 Expedition, 5.4L v8, eddie bauer eddition 4wd

Ok, I have another weird problem with this vehicle, first the dash lights started blinking when driving, then the radio flashing on and off, and now if in gear the running board lamps and emergency flasher lights on the dash blinks widly, a few days ago i heard something outside and the starter was engaging over and over again without a key in the ignition. I had to unhook the battery to get it to stop, then hooked the battery back up and nothing for a moment so i started it, but then the starter was still trying to engage while the car was running, i immediatley shut it off and unhooked the battery again, i checked everything and couldn't see any wires broken or damaged and hooked the battery up again and this time it wouldn't start at all, or even try to engage the starter, lights on, but nothing when i turn the key. Thinking that maybe it burned the starter up, i bought a new one from Napa and a new solenoid that goes on the firewall, hooked everything up, and it started once, i shut it off and it would not start again and is again making no noise when the key is turned. i checked with a light tester for power going through both the starter solenoids and the starter but i don't have anything to test how much juice is flowing through it, but the battery still reads fully charged on the dash gauge, if you can trust that. All the other problems with lights blinking and radion going on and off are still there, but seem to be less than before. Please help, i have no idea what is going on with this thing, everything seems so random but almost has to be connected somehow.

 

Have you had any rain lately? Search on GEM problems and you may find your answer.

 

What about the ignition switch? Maybe there is a short inside of it or the wiring harness that plugs into it. Probably have to remove some of the plastic around the steering wheel column and underside of dash to access it but it is worth looking at. Ford had a huge recall on these back in the 90's for cars and trucks. That could explain some of the things like your radio flashing on and off and other lights doing the same. The switch is turning on/off causing all these things to flicker even though you are turning the key. Just a thought.

 

I was thinking it was maybe the GEM, but its really hard to get to and i havent had time yet to get to it so see if there was water damage, and yes there has been a lot of snow, but would that cause the starter to not hit at all, and i will check the ignition switch as well this evening, does anyone have any directions on how to to get to the gem without taking out the whole dash

 

An idea that I was thinking is if you try to start it again or if the starter decides to magically engage on its own and not disengage, unplug the small wire from the solenoid on the firewall. Correct me if I am wrong but the small wire comes from the ignition switch and that is what engages starter. It supplies power to engage the solenoid allowing juice to flow through to turn the starter over. I should have looked at mine, there might even be 2 wires. I think you would unplug the one that goes on the "I" terminal. If the starter quits turning over when you unplug it then you have narrowed your problem down to that wire. Trace that back to it origin. Just another thought.

 

I had a 2000 EB and driver side windshield leaked causing shorted GEM which in turn exhibited all kinds of crazy electrical malfunctions similar to what you've described. Pretty common, specially for 2000 model if you search the forum. This thread is one example: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...em-module.html

You have to fix the leak and dry the GEM area, and hope no permanent damage happened yet.

 

+1, insurance replaced the windshield and seal (window was cracked anyway) and the problems went away.

 

ok, sorry for it taking so long to reply, but my problems are still ongoing, i have replaced the starter again, as the last one was burned up, the car started once and it sounded like the starter wouldnt disengage for about 8 sec then the starter kicked and it stopped, shut it off, started back and it didn't stick, shut it off, wont start back, i can hear the solenoid on the firewall kicking, but nothing else, could it be the keyswitch and if so how do i test it. I'm about at my wits end with this vehicle and i don't know what else to try. also now thats in been in the garage for a few weeks, none of the lights are filckering like they were but the radio still isn't working

 

So you've ruled out a water leak and defective GEM?

 

i haven't ruled out a defective gem, but everything i've read say that the symtoms of the gem would stop when it was dry and it has, except for the starter sticking, and i'm not sure if the gem would be capable of doing that as i haven't seen anyone reporting that type of issue with it, and that makes me think that it could either be something else causing everything or it has another problem as well, and i have heard of the keyswitch doing that, but i don't know how to test the keyswitch