Author	[Modern View]
SDE 08-09-2012 05:36:41 174.124.56.123 Report to Moderator	I bought this car for my daughter because people said it is a bullet proof car. She called to tell me that the wipers came on when ever they want to. This is a common problem for this car. I found where an online mechanic said that dust and dirt get in around the flasher switch an get into the slides and rails of the multi-funtion switch. Could a person dis-connect the battery and spray a cleaner into the switch to clean it? Or will removing the steering wheel be required to clean it? Or do I need to replace the switch? She lives over 5 hrs down the road. I only have friday to fix it. Thank you Steve [Reply]   [No Email]
SDE 08-11-2012 06:53:35 174.124.56.123 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   I installed a second ground strap over the old one. We are going take a 2 hour drive today and I hope it is ok. The lights looked a little better and the wipers did not act up on either trip to town. The old ground had some broken wires on one terminal. I disconnected the battery during the oil change and the check engine light went off and stayed off for the minute that I had her run it. Thank you Steve   [Reply]  [No Email]
RodInNS 08-11-2012 06:43:26 216.118.158.123 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   I don't know the exact electrical routing on those things.... but my first thought would be the multi function switch. I've had the switch fail on my Ranger although that was a signal problem... The contacts in the switch do eventually take the green disease. Rod   [Reply]  [No Email]
Bob - MI 08-10-2012 14:47:16 24.247.176.50 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   I had 2 of the Taurus models, 1996 and a 2000. I would look for a loose wire someplace as well as a bad ground. Things that went wrong while I owned these: 1996 - transmission sensor (I think it was 2nd gear), vehicle speed sensor, serpentine belt pulley, air conditioner compressor, rear brake modulator valve, brake master cylinder, rear caliper. 2000 - connector under driver's seat for airbag sensor (common problem), serpentine belt pulley, ERG valve position sensor (3 times, super common). The '96 had 120K miles when my daughter got rear ended at a stop light and they totaled it. We bought it with 40k miles and we were never sorry. The 2000 had 47K on it when I bought it and I sold it with 160K on it. It was still running great and it was very reliable. The EGR sensor thing was a PITA but I found after a while that it was the #1 cause for "check engine" light. Easy fix about $45.00 part. They had some transmission issues at one time due to bad internal parts and I know they were sensitive to overheating if you don't flush them periodically. In spite of all the issues I thought we did well with those cars. Better than my 2006 Impala that I am now driving.   [Reply]  [No Email]
jthomas1970 08-10-2012 11:23:03 96.61.180.28 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   Some Ford vehicles have a GEM module (Generic Electronic body Module)which controls many of the inside functions-interior lights, windows, wipers etc. Don"t know if yours has one or not. If it does, it could very likely be the cause. It is usually located just above the interior fuse panel. A service manual should tell you. Good luck.   [Reply]  [No Email]
ShadetreeRet 08-09-2012 20:09:50 184.4.18.44 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   The Taurus with the standard 3.0 engine was one of the most trouble free automobiles Ford built. You don't specify how many miles are on the odometer, but the car is 13 years old. Judging by the information in the TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) provided by wvajim, I feel it would be advisable to replace the multifunction switch. There is always the possibility of a bad ground but in the ten years I was behind the parts counter I heard of very few.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Wilamayb 08-09-2012 19:47:09 66.168.153.148 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   Better than going off when you desire for them to be on I suppose :)   [Reply]  [No Email]
SDE 08-09-2012 17:29:04 174.124.56.123 Report to Moderator	Is the chasis ground the problem? in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   As Holly was backing out the driveway, I saw that the lights were not very bright at all. When she stopped, they were flickering as if they were a time light connected to the number 1 cyclinder. When she turned the lights on they were bright. Could all of our problems be the chasis ground? I saw one on the left side of the engine, are there any more? Thank you Steve   [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M 08-09-2012 13:27:06 24.140.0.120 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   May not help but on some of the GM's they had trouble with the wiper motor loosing ground.Try running an extra ground right to it.   [Reply]  [No Email]
bobpa 08-10-2012 10:39:47 72.23.158.229 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to Mike M, 08-09-2012 13:27:06   Thanks Mike. My dad has a GM (s-10) with the same problem as Steve's Ford. I'll check the wiper motor ground. Bob   [Reply]  [No Email]
TomH in Pa 08-10-2012 16:06:18 67.235.10.94 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to bobpa, 08-10-2012 10:39:47   Yea, the connector gets a little oxidation and the wipers act like they're possessed.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M 08-10-2012 11:57:42 24.140.0.120 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to bobpa, 08-10-2012 10:39:47   It's very easy and cheap to try and extra ground. You never know it may help it ?   [Reply]  [No Email]
Stephen Newell 08-09-2012 13:23:37 66.53.82.116 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   We have a 99 Contour and have never experienced this problem. The only problem we have had is often you have to wiggle the steering wheel or put the car in neutral to start it. You turn the key and nothing happens,like the battery is dead.   [Reply]  [No Email]
robgIN 08-09-2012 09:24:16 70.224.34.31 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to SDE, 08-09-2012 05:36:41   gethe vin and have a Ford dealer run it for recalls, there used to be issues with the wiper motor cover causing that problem and others. Was an old recall on some models, but that is more likely a motor/cover problem than multifunction switch, although the switch is a close second. Taurus is generally a good unit, but the 99 body styled ones are the least dependable of the Taurus family.   [Reply]  [No Email]
wvajim 08-09-2012 14:30:46 173.80.239.165 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to robgIN, 08-09-2012 09:24:16   Multifunction switch. HERE   [Reply]  [No Email]
robgIN 08-10-2012 04:38:37 70.224.34.31 Report to Moderator	Re: O/T 99 Ford Tauras, wipers come on by themselves in reply to wvajim, 08-09-2012 14:30:46   I'll take a TSB over my memory any day, go with the multifunction switch.   [Reply]  [No Email]