Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

[Phillip]

I'll get right to the point.
Last week, when I was parking my 2005 T-Bird in a parking garage, I turned off the ignition, and then turned the light switch to OFF (straight up-and-down position of the switch). I walked out of my car, and noticed that the lights were still ON. I got back in the T-Bird, flicked the light switch back ON and then back OFF, and the lights went OFF and stayed OFF. I figured, No Problem!

Two days ago, it was a hot day in D.C., about 80 degrees. I normally do not use the A-C, since with the T-Bird in a parking garage, I usually just use in the inside air option, and it seems to blow out reasonably cool air. Well, two days ago, when I turned on the car to go home, the air blowing out of the dashboard vents felt HOT, which I thought was strange. I decided to turn on the A-C, and NOTHING CHANGED, THE AIR WAS STILL HOT. I basically drove home with the fan OFF and the windows down so that I would not burn up.

Yesterday, i decided to test it out again, and I turned on the car in my driveway, and also turned on the lights. I tried the A-C, but it still blew out hot air (which it also blew out when the A-C was turned OFF). THE STRANGE THING THAT OCCURRED WAS THAT THE LIGHTS STARTED TURNING ON AND OFF KIND OF RANDOMLY.

THUS, IT SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING, AND I AM WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS, AND IF THEY HAVE ANY ADVICE (LIKE, COULD IT BE ONLY A BAD FUSE?).

I DO HAVE THE EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN, AND SO I AM HOPING THAT IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE BEFORE I TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP.

THANKS, and sorry for the long post.

[DaiUyTed]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

All manner of goofy, unexplainable things are known to occur when the battery starts to die...check it out before taking more logical but expensive steps.

[Gobird]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

All manner of goofy, unexplainable things are known to occur when the battery starts to die...check it out before taking more logical but expensive steps.

Like Ted said, check the battery first before getting into it too far. Low battery can cause some strange things.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

Length of post no problem.

I too have a 2005, bought it new November 2004. Just last week began having weird symptoms none like yours. I had stuff like random surging when in drive, cabin lights not slowly going dim but quickly going from on to out. Windows not always doing their drop upon opening the door or if they did drop not always going fully up upon closing the door.

The car still had its original battery. I had a dead battery Monday. Replaced the battery and now I do not have any of the above problems, in-fact the car seems to run smoother.

I would suggest if you still have the original battery you replace it.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

My 1st thought too.

[Phillip]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

Thanks, everyone. I had my original battery replaced last year, and so I hope that is not the problem, but maybe you are right.

I have one of those battery voltage level testers that connects to the cigarette lighter input, and so I will use that and see what it shows.

[tbird05cel]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

Phillip, do you have automatic cutoff for your lights? If so, why would you manually turn the switch off?

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

I think you will be lucky if it IS the battery.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

I think you will be lucky if it IS the battery.

Agreed. If that's not it, my next bet is one of the electronics modules.

[Phillip]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

TBird05cel:

No, I do not have an automatic cutoff for my lights. Is that some aftermarket device? I do see an automatic mode that I can set on my headlights switch (kind of at the 10:00 position on the switch), but I never use it. Should I?

My battery tester shows that the battery is fully charged, so perhaps it is an electronics module. I sure hope it is covered by the ESP. Anyone know whether it is or is not?

[007Cruiser]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

Should be covered. Best get it in for diagnosis.

[gnilier]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

I brought my 2004 into Ford for electrical problems and they made a call and it was covered by ESP. I blew a fuse and subsequently had two shorts that they took care of.

[Welker]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

Have you replaced a bulb anyplace in the car recently? If the wrong one is in someplace it can cause virus type symptoms which will get worse with time but will disappear when the right bulb is in place. Just a thought.

[04birdman]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

dont know about the wierd lites .. but the hot air issue ... heater hot water control valve.... see post "bunch of hot air"

[Phillip]

Re: Experiencing Strange Electrical Issues with T-Bird

I did replace both taillights about 4 months ago (got the bulbs at Auto Zone, and did the replacement myself), but that seems too long ago to be the cause of this issue, . . ., I think.

I'll try to find the "hot air" thread and see what that says.

Just read that thread, and it does seem that I might have a bad heater control valve.

Though it is weird that the hot AC thing has happened at the same time the lights are doing their weird thing. Oh, well, after reading this thread and the "hot air" thread, it seems that the heater control valve and any electrical issues are covered under ESP (thanks, Lou!), and so I will just take the T-Bird in and see what they find.

Thanks. everyone.