Unexplained electrical problem with son's 1999 Ford Taurus

[denise]

My son purchased a 1999 Ford Taurus a few months ago. A few days ago, we noticed that when he runs the air conditioner or seemingly the accessories on the car, his battery runs down. We have taken the alternator to be tested, have run a voltage test on the alternator with the car under load, and have replaced the battery saver relay with no result. Anybody out there got any ideas on this or ever had a problem like this?

[Tara Brown]

denise wrote:

My son purchased a 1999 Ford Taurus a few months ago. A few days ago, we noticed that when he runs the air conditioner or seemingly the accessories on the car, his battery runs down. We have taken the alternator to be tested, have run a voltage test on the alternator with the car under load, and have replaced the battery saver relay with no result. Anybody out there got any ideas on this or ever had a problem like this?

Have you had any responses - we are having the same problem with our Taurus.

[Gary Thomas]

denise wrote:

My son purchased a 1999 Ford Taurus a few months ago. A few days ago, we noticed that when he runs the air conditioner or seemingly the accessories on the car, his battery runs down. We have taken the alternator to be tested, have run a voltage test on the alternator with the car under load, and have replaced the battery saver relay with no result. Anybody out there got any ideas on this or ever had a problem like this?

Has you battery been fully charged? I bought a new battery and put it in the car and in a few days it ran down I took the alternator to be tested and it was good the man at the store told me to make sure the battery was fully charged he said with all the accessaries the car had and me driving mostly at night that the alternator couldn't fully charge the battery. I charged the battery and everything has been fine since. With me driving mostly at night with radio on and lights and the air the alternator just couldn't keep up I thought a new battery should have been fully charged when I bought it but it wasn't, hope this helps

[fred]

We have a 99 Taurus whose latest and a repeat issue is daytime headlights dimming when engine is started and shortly after, This was happening last year( for about 2 months) but stopped happening with a Alternater and Battery replacement ( ford dealer +$500cdn)... after the car died on the highway... I think the alternater failing is a result of another problem. My plan is to get the charging system tested to see if a cause can be found for the alternator. I'd just get rid of it but the rebuilt tranny (sungear broke) heater core, new brakes, set of snows are hard to walk away from

[Carl]

My parents are having the same dang problem with there 99 taurus we can not figure it out either any suggestiopns

denise wrote:

My son purchased a 1999 Ford Taurus a few months ago. A few days ago, we noticed that when he runs the air conditioner or seemingly the accessories on the car, his battery runs down. We have taken the alternator to be tested, have run a voltage test on the alternator with the car under load, and have replaced the battery saver relay with no result. Anybody out there got any ideas on this or ever had a problem like this?

[Steve]

1st -Check fluid level in the battery.
2nd -check belt tension.
3rd -do load tests on battery and alternator.
4th -check wiring connections at battery, alternator, starter.(are they loose, corroded or burnt)
5th -do voltage drop tests on wiring circuits for charging and supply.
6th -check for signs of a bad grond on any of the circuits being used when draw of power is larger than should be expected.
*note your alternator should be powerful enough to run your car and accesories without the battery even being hooked up, unless you have added items that consume more power.(such as powerful stereo amplifiers or entertainment products)
Good luck

[S_Rose]

Main Page
http://www.misterfixit.com/alterntr.htm
Dead Battery - an expensive lesson learned
http://www.misterfixit.com/dedbatt.htm
I found the link to MISTERFIXIT.com to be very useful when I had trouble with my alternator. The dead battery story explains his steps hoping to solve his battery from repeatedly dying. It cost him $400.00 in repairs before doing a diagnostics test and then discovered the repair was replacing a .50 cent 10 guage wire.

[Adrian Gilbreath]

I have a 99 ford taurus that is having problems with the headlights. The car runs fine, but when shutting the car down the lights will not turn off. The headlights stay on even though the switches to control the lights are in the off posistion. Can anybody helpme figure out what would cause this?

[C Spencer]

HELP i have a 99 ford taurus that is having a problem with the headlights the car runs find but when you start the car the lights come on and flicker ? when i turn on headlights they work fine. Help

[TurboTimmy]

my mom has bought a 98 taurus and has trouble starting sometimes. has all power everything works but the damn thing just won turn over. I'm thinking that it is a lose connection on the starter when you go to turn the car to start position there is NOTHING.... please help.
where is the starter located????

[Mark Pawson]

C Spencer wrote:

HELP i have a 99 ford taurus that is having a problem with the headlights the car runs find but when you start the car the lights come on and flicker ? when i turn on headlights they work fine. Help

PLEASE LET ME KNOW what the solution was, I have the same issue and quite honestly it's bloody annoying!

[wayne]

day time running light wont come on and my car wont start half the time some day it will and other day it wont i have 99 taurus

[wayne]

wayne"]day time running light wont come on

[Laci SD]

Denise,
My car has been doing the same. Back in December my car just stopped running as I was driving down the hwy. I was told by the ford dealership that my car needed a new alternator, I had them change the alternator and It continues to lose power and the battery light turns on when I speed up to pass someone. My door ajar light now stays on for a week at times and no matter how much we close all the doors the light stays on. Some where there is some problems in the electrical.

denise wrote:

My son purchased a 1999 Ford Taurus a few months ago. A few days ago, we noticed that when he runs the air conditioner or seemingly the accessories on the car, his battery runs down. We have taken the alternator to be tested, have run a voltage test on the alternator with the car under load, and have replaced the battery saver relay with no result. Anybody out there got any ideas on this or ever had a problem like this?

[Sheri]

Mark Pawson wrote:

<quoted text>PLEASE LET ME KNOW what the solution was, I have the same issue and quite honestly it's bloody annoying!

I WAS THINKING THIS CAR WAS POSSESSED!- ALSO THE SAME PROBLEM; for everyones info we had our daylight running lights flashing (like a strobe light) for awhile and the new problem is that our headlights won't shut off! A few weeks ago we had our wipers turning on and off intermittently when we hadn't touched them (it's not doing this now). Have also had the door ajar light on when no doors are open and of course the interior light then stays on. HELP! Someone must have an answer....

[Jason]

I also have a 1999 Taurus. Just bought it. At one point the door locks continued to lock rapidly. Weird, then they just stopped. Hopefully this doesnt happen again. I'll end up getting a dead battery. If anyone knows solution please respond thanks.

[MAD AS HELL]

Man shit..I have a 98' Ford Taurus THE DOOOR AJAR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 2YEARS NOW!! At first it used to piss me off. But now i try to ignore it. It goes on and off depends on the weather i think..If it's Hot it stays on. If its cold..sometimes it's off. Now! i have a problem with my Lights, they wont SHUT OFF! and my battery has died one time from this. my ABS light flickers on and off WHAT THE HELL DID THEY SELL ME!! this car has issues..sensors, electrical? what the hell!! TAKE YOUR SORRY ASS CAR BACK! my heater won't catch! when i turn it on...i have 2 put the mark either 2 places forward or backward of where it needs 2 be. And i've had this replaced already at the dealership. Same shit! no wonder this car was so damn reasonable. by the time i've calculated all the expenses man, shit u can keep this car!

[crystal]

i have put a new battery in my car and i sat for 3 days and i have had to have a jump 5 times in the same day and i took it to the shop and i was told that it was the theft system and then the dealer told me that that is not the problem and i pulled out a fuze from under the dash and it runs fine with no problems is there any one out there had the same problem

[Anthony]

Laci SD wrote:

Denise,
My car has been doing the same. Back in December my car just stopped running as I was driving down the hwy. I was told by the ford dealership that my car needed a new alternator, I had them change the alternator and It continues to lose power and the battery light turns on when I speed up to pass someone. My door ajar light now stays on for a week at times and no matter how much we close all the doors the light stays on. Some where there is some problems in the electrical.
<quoted text>

Laci to fix the Door ajar problem spray some WD-40 in all the door catches and lock catches, on the inside of the door. I did this to mine and it works fine since.

[Cedric]

crystal wrote:

i have put a new battery in my car and i sat for 3 days and i have had to have a jump 5 times in the same day and i took it to the shop and i was told that it was the theft system and then the dealer told me that that is not the problem and i pulled out a fuze from under the dash and it runs fine with no problems is there any one out there had the same problem

Which fuse did they pull....these cars SUCK! I have gotten my third battery and when I got in the car today it started abd idled fine, but once I put it in gear and tried to take off it died. I tried to start it again and it started fine but everytime I put it into to gear the car dies. The only thing I can think of is the fuel filter and it is a cheap thing to try. Anyone else have any suggestions?