Replacing Multifunction Switch

[Curtis]

No brake light on right side, fast blinking

Thats more of an indication of a bad brake/turn signal bulb

 

[ahodges]

Has anyone ever had their wipers stick in the high mode no mater what position the wiper switch is in? Mine is doing this on my 97 mountaineer.

 

[Steeda04SVT]

Has anyone ever had their wipers stick in the high mode no mater what position the wiper switch is in? Mine is doing this on my 97 mountaineer.

Have you taken off your MFS yet to clean the contacts? I did it on mine and used a small piece of a scotch pad and did all of the contacts then some compressed air to clean it out and dielectric grease and worked like a champ.

 

[ahodges]

Have you taken off your MFS yet to clean the contacts? I did it on mine and used a small piece of a scotch pad and did all of the contacts then some compressed air to clean it out and dielectric grease and worked like a champ.

No, not yet. I'll look into it. It was acting up sometimes but it had never did this before. I'll take it apart and check it out and post back.

 

[ahodges]

Ok so I took the switch all apart and cleaned the contacts, then applied dielectic grease to them with the same results. I couldn't access the actual contacts for the wipers on the end of the switch..
When I hit the high position they turn on high but then I lose control of them and they stay on high no matter what position I put the switch in. The onlyway to shut them off is turn the key off, pull the wiper relay, or disconnect the battery for a while. After the battery is plugged back in the wipers are off until I hit the high position again, then they stay on again.. Is there a wiper control module anywhere?

 

[ahodges]

I figured it out. The wiper circuit goes through the 4x4 control module, which must have the delay functions in it. Well I had one from a 2000 explorer and the circuits are not identical. I just got done swapping a 4.0 from a 96 explorer into the mountaineer and had gotten the control module from a junkyard, a 2000 was the only one I could find with 4auto as the primary driving function. Simple fix, I'll just have to go find a module from a 97.

 

[dking]

Alot of great info will try to clean my MFS in the next few days.

 

[dking]

No Hi Beams

Cleaned the Multifunction Switch a couple weeks ago and still no hi beams. Does anyone have any suggestions? Local parts store can order me a new for $60 bucks if needed. Just want to make sure that will fix the problem. Included are some before and after pic's.

 

[Lloyd10977]

Check ROCKAUTO.com. Their online catalog lists the MFS for about $45-50. That certainly solved MY problem.

 

[dking]

Checked fuse 33 (15a) OK . Pulled MFS and found corrosion on contact 11 in the plug. Cleaned with contact cleaner and dental pick. Works great now. Thanks for the info Lloyd10977.

 

[dcooper]

I need some help with my 1998 Foird Explorer turn signals that are not working. I had replaced the multi function switch with an original Motorcraft correct one and still not working but have learned it could be the flasher replay. I have 2 questions: 1. where is it and 2. is there a flasher replay for the 4 way flashers and another one for the turn signals OR one flasher relay for both the turn signals and 4 way flashers?

 

[ahodges]

It is under the knee panel above the hood release. It is a special one that only fits in Explorer's as far as I know and I believe it is yellow. I'm not sure if there is a seperate one for the 4 ways but I'm leaning towards saying that there isn't in these.

 

[mikepier]

Just took apart and cleaned mine today on my 99 XLT. Thank god for the pics posted here. My hazard button popped out with the spring, and I had no idea how it went back until I saw the pics.

 

[blusher]

I have a poltergeist in my wipers as well!! But only my wipers. Everything else works fine. They will come on at random times. Good to know the solution.

 

[celly]

Thanks to Al for helping me from the grave. It really was a 20 minute job (if that) on my '99.

The issue I was facing (outside of the odd puff of smoke) was that my truck would no longer cancel the signal light after I turned. Drove me nuts how often I'd be driving for a few minutes with signal flashing.

Thanks Al.

 

[gump]

wipers mfs problem

I have read all 8 pages of this thread.

I have a 97 Explorer V6 4WD 4D. I have the occasional buzzing from the MFS. But that isn't the real problem. I can reliably turn the wipers on at high speed, only. The intermittent speeds and slow speed are very hit and miss. When I move the wiper switch from high speed to slow, intermittent or off, if the slower speed does not activate, the wipers stop where they are without returning to the home position. The washer worked intermittently as well. All other functions of the MFS were normal (hazards, turn signals, high beam).

So, I bought a junkyard MFS and had the same result. I took the junkyard MFS apart, cleaned it and put it back together. I sprayed electrical contact cleaner in the stalk where the end cap meets the stalk. I now have the same trouble except that the washer pump works reliably but the wiper motor does not activate. I cleaned the contacts on the wiper motor connector and swapped the wiper motor relay (located in the engine compartment fuse box between the master cylinder and the drivers side fender) with another one in the engine bay with no change in behavior.

When I turn the wiper switch one click to intermittent speed, I can feel the relay *click* once but nothing happens (the wipers don't move). When I turn it step by step it does not click again until I get to the 9th position (high speed) and the wipers begin to function.

When on the rare occasion that the wipers operate at the slower speed I can feel the relay *click* each time the wipers are activated.

It seems to me that there is either:

a) some electrical component between the wiper switch and the relay that interprets the switch setting and operates the relay accordingly that is not functioning properly, or

b) the wiper motor is not functioning properly

Any ideas are appreciated as is any direction to a diagram that illustrates the components of the wiper system.

 

[ahodges]

If your wiper motor is good, which it sounds like it is, then it could be the GEM (electrical control module) which is located behind the radio to the left if you are looking at the radio. It is a small black box with 3 large electrical connectors plugged into it. The GEM controls a lot of electrical functions in the truck including wipers, interior lighting, the overhead council, 4wd functions, etc, etc. If you want to test this theory you will need to find another 97 V6 4x4 explorer that was built within the same month or so as yours. In 97 and 98 the GEM changed several times.

 

[gump]

[MENTION=119708]ahodges[/MENTION]: from some further research, it seems the GEM is accessed by removing the radio. Any suggestions as to testing procedure to determine if it is in fact a faulty GEM? Any suggestions as to replacement source? Thank you.

 

[ahodges]

I have no idea on how to test it besides getting another from the junkyard. Your junkyard multifunction switch could be faulty as well. Its hard to say. Maybe it is a weak wiper motor.

 

[rb142]

I would start by checking the harness connectors at the MF switch. Make sure the wires aren't getting pinched, and the connectors aren't pulling off or corroded. Get a wiring diagram and you should be able to "fake" the signals to the wipers to test them. I wouldn't go near the GEM except as a last resort (it's unlikely to be the problem anyway).