03:XLT thermo dials activate HB's, no output, Truck possessed?

[bbg808]

Hi All,
I've searched as much as I dare regarding the issues I am facing with my 03, which leads me to believe I've got a few different problems going on. I know the post is long, but I tried to be as specific as possible, because I need some serious guidance!
Having some major issues with my 03 XLT, V6. I bought it in Feb. 2010 with 97,000k on it (108k now). The dealer knew he had to change the alternator and battery, which he did, as a result of what I suspect to be a faulty automatic starter. When I had it home for a few weeks I began to notice that my blinkers would cause my radio display to flicker or completely black out. I changed the stock radio out with a Clarion 7in display and the issue stopped.
The last week or so I've been noticing people flashing me with their high beams when I'm driving home. I always double check my dash to make sure mine are not engaged (either full time or interim), and the indicator light is never on. I finally walked around the front of my truck and noticed that even though the dash indicator was off and the lights not engaged, the highs were actually on. I noticed that when I changed the output setting on the thermo (from 4/3-2/1) that the highs went off. Like a charm though, they went on again when I had the heat on full blast.
I wish that were all: next night I start the car (auto light switch normally engaged) and I have no air being blown out nor interior display lights. I played with the cab light switch, no change. I played with different variations on the thermostat to see if I could get something to come out, no change. After a few minutes of letting the truck warm up, air came on full blast and display lights turned on, like nothing happened.
Day after, same situation when the truck started, except the thermostat never came back to life, so I drove to my destination with no heat, chattering like an Eskimo the whole way.
Last night, same thing started the truck, no display lights, nothing coming out of the thermo. Interestingly enough, increasing the output number of the thermostat increased the lighting behind the blinker indicators. 1: nothing, 2: faint, 3: stronger, 4: fully lit. Also, the high beams turned on when number 4 was engaged, even with the headlights turned off. The display lights went on if I disengaged the blower settings, i.e. from defrost/floor/etc, to off. Again, this carried on for a few minutes, well beyond the period the truck needed to reach mid temp, and after a few minutes at mid temp, everything went back to normal.
This morning, nothing from the thermostat my entire trip, and when I was trying different permeations of the thermo switches, my blinker lights were going on and I'd imagine my high beams were too.

I am getting a bit desperate with this thing. (I was going to get a helmet and pick out a tree to drive into with it!) Any and all comments/advice/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will try and post pictures tonite to clarify my explanation.

 

[lynchy wa]

G'day mate, this thread may help tho' it didnt mention thermostat issues.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//archive/index.php/t-274627.html

How much does a priest charge these days?

 

[bbg808]

Much appreciated. I'm going to get it down to run a CPU test and see if any codes come back. From there I'm inclined to look at the fuses, then grounds. I sincerely hope one of those will do the trick, or this is going to be a nightmare! Thanks for the help! I'll post the final fix, when and IF I get there!

 

[lynchy wa]

Good luck amigo.

 

[BigRondo]

Just a shot in the dark may it's the multifunction switch. You said you are having problems with the high beams and the directionals. It's really easy to swap out. Like I said, a shot in the dark. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will chime in.

 

[bbg808]

Update:
I took the truck to the second-hand dealer I bought if from and had them look at it. After an hour or so, they told me they restored the heat in part; only worked on full blast and unhooked the cables that regulated the blower output. They said their computers could not detect any issues, and I would have to bring it to a Ford dealer for a more complete diagnosis. I did not.
I ended up putting it in 4x4 low and magically everything came back on and now works perfectly. I dare not tempt fate, but realize I have a large problem on my hands and am just thankful that it righted itself for the time being.
Thanks for all the input.

 

[BigRondo]

Update:
I took the truck to the second-hand dealer I bought if from and had them look at it. After an hour or so, they told me they restored the heat in part; only worked on full blast and unhooked the cables that regulated the blower output. They said their computers could not detect any issues, and I would have to bring it to a Ford dealer for a more complete diagnosis. I did not.
I ended up putting it in 4x4 low and magically everything came back on and now works perfectly. I dare not tempt fate, but realize I have a large problem on my hands and am just thankful that it righted itself for the time being.
Thanks for all the input.

Thanks for the update. Keeping my fingers crossed.