When driving my 1999 windstar all the guages will start swinging back and forth uncontrolably for a while, then they will freeze in one place for a while then start working again.
My 99 windstar did the gauge jumping also and all i did was clean battery terminals and tighten, seemed to have fixed the issue.
I went through this same scenario last year and it worked for about 9months. I plan on breaking down the cluster again in a few weeks because it is doing the same thing it did before and the cruse control has also stopped working. This time I plan on spraying the contacts carefully with a contact cleaner hoping to get a longer reprieve from the issue. 1999 windstar xl
I have a fix for you and it won't cost you anything if you have some level of mechanical ability. My '99 Windstar did the EXACT same thing. As an electrical engineer, I first suspected that the electrical connectors had oxidized. So I took out the instrument cluster (IC), and pulled apart/re-connected the connectors about 5 times. That "scratches" the pins inside the connectors and makes for new contact. More isn't necessarily better here, cuz if you do it too often, then the tension of the contacts against each other decreases. There are 3 main harness connectors on the back of the IC, you have to unplug them to remove the the IC. Once removed, take the back white shroud off of the IC, held by torx screws. Then, there are two somewhat rigid ribbon connectors on the printed wiring boards. These can be kind of a nuisance to remove. I suggest using the torx screws above, with about 6 #10 washers to hold the PWB down firm. Connect/reconnect these two ribbon connectors a few times. The connectors have retaining clips, so don't just pull them too hard. They are quite stiff to remove, and the clips must be pulled back. When you get that far you'll see what I mean. Put the white IC shroud back on, re-install the IC, and your good to go. I don't know if the bad connection was on the ribbon connectors or the 3 main harness connectors, or both, but since I went through all the trouble to get to the IC, I decided to do them all. This was 2 years ago, and the problem went from being there all the time, to completely going away. Then, about 2 weeks ago it started happening again. I did the same procedure and again life is good. It took me about 1.5 hours, but I wasn't in a rush. The main point here is that you most likely DON'T need a new IC. I hope this helps. Remember to disconnect the battery first before doing any of this.
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Please help 1999 windstar problem with guages
My guages go crazy, but when I turn on my turn indicator or the lights or the A/C the van dies. it starts right up again, but i can't drive in the night or the heat or signal.
I am having the same problem with Ford Windstar guages as well. They are doing the exact same thing. When you find a solution please let us know. [email protected]. Thanks
erratic cluster goes crazy, sometimes fine, slap the dash sometimes fixes, i suspect a short but am unsure. seems to be worse in hotter weather
I also have the same issue with my 1999 Windstar. I have had other electrical issues. I have had to replace the blender motor and the passenger side window motor. But will try scuffing the pins of the (IC) suggestion this weekend.
Ford, Windstar, 19999 Dash panel cluster of: Fuel, Temp., Tac and Speedometer gauges surge unexpectedly with erratic behavior. (Cannot take key out of ignition for the Tac needle is jammed into the steering column. Have to leave Van in "N" with the key in the ignition...for the 2nd time this month! My father is on his way over to get it out of the way again!!!) I am wondering if Luisa_K's problem with her Ford 350 is the same as mine. Desperate in Milw!
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