Multiple issues

[dagwood57107]

I just purchased a 99 Mountaineer V8 AWD fairly reasonable, but there are a few issues I need help diagnosing.

1st: The rear wiper does not turn, but the mist works and does a nice job spittering down the gate to my rear bumper. I checked fuses, although I dont have anyway to check the relays. There is no sound coming from the motor, doesn't sound like its stuck or anything.

2nd problem: The front wipers work, but there's no "mist". I can hear the pump work for the rear wiper, but nothing for the front wipers when the multiswitch is pushed in. Again, I checked fuses, but didn't want to blindly replace the multi switch without some input or suggestions.

3rd problem - the fog lights don't work, and there is no indicator light on the dash button. I pulled the panel and verified that everything was seated properly and I made sure all the fuses are ok. I am also aware that the headlights have to be on dim. I also have the auto switch, which I have tried on and off.

Originally I thought I may have an issue with the counsil since the fog lights were not working and neither was the rear wiper, but the rear window defrost light comes on.. so I dont think its an issue there. I've spent a couple hours looking through threads and wasn't able to find anything useful, or like my issues. Any ideas?

 

[JoeMahma]

I just purchased a 99 Mountaineer V8 AWD fairly reasonable, but there are a few issues I need help diagnosing.

1st: The rear wiper does not turn, but the mist works and does a nice job spittering down the gate to my rear bumper. I checked fuses, although I dont have anyway to check the relays. There is no sound coming from the motor, doesn't sound like its stuck or anything.

2nd problem: The front wipers work, but there's no "mist". I can hear the pump work for the rear wiper, but nothing for the front wipers when the multiswitch is pushed in. Again, I checked fuses, but didn't want to blindly replace the multi switch without some input or suggestions.

3rd problem - the fog lights don't work, and there is no indicator light on the dash button. I pulled the panel and verified that everything was seated properly and I made sure all the fuses are ok. I am also aware that the headlights have to be on dim. I also have the auto switch, which I have tried on and off.

Originally I thought I may have an issue with the counsil since the fog lights were not working and neither was the rear wiper, but the rear window defrost light comes on.. so I dont think its an issue there. I've spent a couple hours looking through threads and wasn't able to find anything useful, or like my issues. Any ideas?

On the front wipers. My washers only worked intermittently and it turned out to be the multi switch. I would check to see if you're getting power to the washer motor when the switch is depressed but I'll bet it's just the multi switch.

 

[sloop]

this is for my '95 explorer

the fog lamps have a relay in the power distribution box - that box is located in the engine compartment near the firewall on the driver's side

 

[96eb96]

On the front wipers. My washers only worked intermittently and it turned out to be the multi switch. I would check to see if you're getting power to the washer motor when the switch is depressed but I'll bet it's just the multi switch.

Sometimes if you hit the switch with some force the washers will work. This is another way to tell if the multi is bad. I replaced that part on 2 other fords.

 

[dagwood57107]

Thanks!

Thanks for the insight! I will let you all know what I find out. Probably wont be this weekend, but the following i'll get some time to tear into this

 

[dagwood57107]

Rear Wiper working

Well I got the rear wiper working. Apparently the motor was just stuck. I turned the key on, turned the switch on and went to the back and just "jacked" on it with some pressure to see if I could get movement, then it just started working. I'm guessing it hadn't been used in a while and just needed a kick start. Been working flawlessly since then.. more updates to come!

 

[zonianbrat]

I dont mean to hijack but where is the multi-switch located? I have the intermittent washer issue going on in my front wipers.

 

[m4dc0w]

I dont mean to hijack but where is the multi-switch located? I have the intermittent washer issue going on in my front wipers.

The signal handle of the left side of the steering column, they are notorious for going bad.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

For problem #3 have you checked the bulbs? You didn't day that you had.

 

[dagwood57107]

zonianbrat - Yeah, multi-switch is just a fancy name for the blinker bar as far as I'm concerned.

Dan - yeah, I checked the bulbs on the fogs, they are good. Going to spend a little more time tonight after I get the kids to bed. Hard to get things done with a 3 year old running the house!

 

[zonianbrat]

Thanks for clarifying that m4dc0w and dagwood! Is it hard to replace? I assume I just need to take apart the plastic on the column and go from there? It might explain a problem I posted a while back where I was driving down the road and all of a sudden my blinkers did not work for about 10 minutes. The hazards worked then all of a sudden they came back. Weird...

 

[TheJackal]

Well I got the rear wiper working. Apparently the motor was just stuck. I turned the key on, turned the switch on and went to the back and just "jacked" on it with some pressure to see if I could get movement, then it just started working. I'm guessing it hadn't been used in a while and just needed a kick start. Been working flawlessly since then.. more updates to come!

had this same problem, found myself having to replace the motor anyway 6 months later

For the fog lights, you might want to check the Fog Lamp Relay and the Fog Lamp Isolation Relay, both of those are located in the "Auxiliary Relay Box 1" which is just under the air cleaner on the passenger side.

The relays for the windshield washer are also in there but as mentioned before the multifunction switch is already suspect, since they go bad so often. I think my truck has gone thru 2 at least, probably more...

 

[dagwood57107]

Everything fixed

replaced the multi-switch, misters now work without issue... I got the place I bought the truck from sprung for the multi switch. Turns out the fogs had a bad switch too all paid for by the dealer!