2003 Ford Windstar service brakes, electric problems

“FAULTY ABS SENSOR IN 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTING COMING ON THIS PAST SUMMER. I HAD IT CHECKED AT FIRESTONE, AUTOMASTERS AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE ALL GETTING A C1185 ERROR CODE AND THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THE COST AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS $495 FOR THE SENSOR AND ANOTHER $500 TO INSTALL. WHILE CHECKING ANOTHER RECALL FROM FORD, I STUMBLED UPON A WEBSITE [HTTP://WWW.FORDWINDSTARRECALL.INFO/#PROBLEM2] THAT MENTIONED THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD START A VEHICLE FIRE. IT SUGGESTED TWO SOLUTIONS: 1) REPLACE THE ECM UNIT AND WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN AT YOUR EXPENSE, SO SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS. ALWAYS BUY FORD PARTS IF THERE IS A CHANCE YOU WILL BE REIMBURSED. ALSO A FORD DEALERSHIP MAY BE THE WAY TO GO HERE. 2) DEACTIVATE THE ECM HIGH POWER BY REMOVING FUSES 101 AND 102 SO THAT THE ABS IS ALWAYS OFF AND NOT INTERMITTENT. AND WAIT FOR FORD TO LISTEN TO US THROUGH YOUR REPORT TO THE NHTSA.GOV. I AM SENDING THIS TO ADD TO ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THE HOPES IT CAN BE REPAIRED PROPERLY…”

“2003 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN, THE ABS BRAKE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN MY MINIVAN. HEADLIGHTS. WHEN IS GOING TO RECALL AND FIX THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM. THE YELLOW ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF . *TR WHEN WILL FORD CALL RE CALL ON TO FIX ABS LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THESE MINI VAN, DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING VAN GET CAUGHT ON FIRE OR DIES. *TR”

“ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT USUALLY STAY ON ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. BOUGHT USED AS FORD CERTIFIED PREOWNED AND CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AT TIMES THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BUT NO NOTICEABLE PATTERN HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE LIGHT PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS. *TR”

“JUST ANOTHER DAY OF DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ON THE BUMPY ROAD. WHEN I FINALLY PASS THE CONSTRUCTION AREA TO THE NEWLY PAVED ROAD TO COME TO A STOP AT THE LIGHT, CAR STARTED TO SKID LOCKED UP THE FRONT WHEEL. WHOLE VAN SHACK. THEN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS A LIFE OR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR ME! NOW THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT LID UP ON THE REGULAR BASES. HELP!! *TR”

“BRAKING DISTANCE SUDDENLY INCREASED. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF. ASKED FORD DEALER ABOUT RECALL OF SDCS SWITCH AND ABS LIGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VAN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST SO IT WOULD COST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I AM SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 KIDS. I HAVE LOOKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET INVOLVING OTHER 2003 FORD WINDSTARS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR”

“OWNER OF 03 FORD WINDSTAR. PROBLEM NOTICE ON THE 2ND DAY OF OWNING THE CAR BACK IN JULY 2010. AFTER PARKED THE CAR ON DRIVEWAY, NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ON. SOON AFTER, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A TOTAL SERVICE OF OIL, COOLANT, BRAKE, TRANNY FLUID CHANGE. AND HAD THE ABS LIGHT CHECKED UP. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME ABOUT THE ABS ECM BOARD COULD BE BAD. WITHOUT ANY OTHER VEHICLE, I HAD TO DRIVE IT TO AIRPORT RIGHT AFTER THE AUTO SHOP. ON THE WAY TO AIRPORT, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. CAUSING ME TAKING MY EYES OFF THE ROAD, TRYING TO RELEASE THE HAND BRAKE, WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY SWERVE FROM LANE TO LANE. IT WAS VERY SCARY! I HAD TO FOCUS ON WHETHER THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD TO DO WITH ACTUAL BRAKE, RELEASE ACCEL PEDAL, NO NOTICEABLE DECELERATION. CHECKED THE 101 AND 102 FUSE, BOTH GOOD. SO I'M PRETTY SURE THE ABS ECM CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO DO WITH IT. TODAY THE ABS AND PARKING BRAKE CONTINUES TO COME ON AND STAY ON. EVERY NOW AND THEN IT DOESN'T LIGHT ON. PLEASE HELP ME AND MANY OTHERS WHO ARE FACING THE SAME PROBLEMS!! *TR”