This one has to be one for the records.


98 Ford F150 4x4, V6, extended cab


Last night the lights started blinking in rapid succession, head lights, tail lights and interior lights. I walked over (my neighbors truck), opened the drivers door and it stopped, but when I closed it it began again. I turned off the delay for the lights and closed the door again. It started blinking again accompanied by a ticking under the dash in the glove compartment area. Only after a few attempts at turning the ignition on and off and closing the door did they remain off. I walked away thinking the timer switch for the headlights or a relay.


Today, when it returns from work, I hear the speedometer and odometer are no longer working. From the description of issues it sound as though the anti-lock brake system is affected as well, I am told that when applying the brake the truck seems to slide rather than stop.


Here is a really good one, the drivers door window will only work if the truck is in park. The 4 x 4 light flashes on and off intermittently.


While my first though is to call a priest for an exorcism, I do not believe I will find one willing to perform it so I am here to request your assistance. I do not want to start throwing parts at this thing though a BCM would likely be my first guess.


Has anyone heard of all this going on at one time? Two days ago all was well.

 

Yes, I've seen things like this before, and worse.
It's probably something global (affecting the whole truck), rather then just circut specific.
So, start by checking powers and in particular, Grounds. Look at all the body grounds, starting at the battery and going toward the back of the truck. You can take out the kick panels on both side, and there are grounds in there that like to corrode and create problems like this.
Also, start by checking the charging system, etc. as an undercharged battery or a shorted battery can create similar problems.
If all else fails and everything looks good, try retrieving codes out of GEM, ABS, and the PCM. It might help narrow down things.

 

richard, what was the issue my truck is starting to act the same way

 

The windshield was leaking on the drivers side, when it rained water would seep in.

Not sure why it did not short everything electrical out, but had to pull the fuse box and GEM and clean them with electrical cleaner, cleaned the rust off the dash grounds, and repaired the leak in the windshield.

This required the removal of the entire dash, and it was a mess in there, mildew, corrosion, and stink. This must have been going on unknown to the owner, acting as a time bomb. Likely there were symptoms that were not noticed or shrugged off.

Sorry I did not reply, by the time I was able to get the truck for a couple days to find and fix the issue, the thread was an old post.

 

iv been hearin about the dreaded fuse box gem thing NOT lookin forward to THAT
I did however reach up there under the dash and every thing seems to be bone dry lots of dust not moisture so maybe my prob lies elswhere.
so all that work solved the problems? thanks