5.1
fairly significant- Typical Repair Cost:
- No data
- Average Mileage:
- 91,450 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 15 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (13 reports)
- disassemble multifunction switch and remove excess grease (1 reports)
- turn wiper switch to the way more than off pos. till it clicks (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR COMPLAINT AND FORD JUST ACTS LIKE NO BIG DEAL LIVE WITH IT
THEY ARE NOT DRIVING ONE THAT IS F--KED UP ARE THEY
MAYBE THEY SHOULD SEND FREE WIPER BLADES BECAUSE ALL THE DRY RUNS HAVE MORE FRICTION AND MORE WEAR ON BLADES
ALSO MINE DOES IT MORE IN WARMER TEMP/SUNNY CONDITIONS
DOES NOT MATTER IF CLUTCH IS IN OR TURN SIGNALS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IT DOES IT WHEN IT WANTS TO AND HAS FOR YEARS
LIKE THE TRUCK HATE THIS PROBLEM AND FORDS ATTITUDE NEEDS ADJUSTING
- Ross D., Capitola, CA, US
ok i have a 99 ranger and love it. i need a few fixups though that mecanics say "we dont know buy new truck or live with it" i am just tired of the wipers comming on randomly. please have a recall ford and fix it or give me a svt raptor. only thing that fixes it for a little bit is that i slap the water squirter to clean windows. it stops it for a day or week or sometimes a hour. also y is there a no svt ranger yet! i want a Ford Ranger svt velociraptor put a 302 in it.
- Matt H., Owensville, MO, US
hey y.ou all this happens to me several times in all my rangers the switch is very touchy all you have to do is glance it with you hand in a turn at it turns on no big deal nothing is wrong with your truck. the milage on my ranger has always been 18 miles per gallon on the highway.the 99 is the best year to own. 1999 4wd ex cab 4,0
- Br P., Wichita, KS, US
From week one, the wipers would turn themselves on automatically and wouldn't stop until I would mess around with the multifunction device. Sometimes it would cooperate, sometimes I would get so frustrated that I would almost tear off the arm. It controls the wipers, wash, turn signals, and high beam. So, I couldn't tear it off. I have hit it several times though and it didn't help. :(
- sponsellerfd, Nashville, TN, US
the 1999 4cyl ford ranger gets piss poor gas mileage,WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?
- Joey T., Dec., GA, US
I drive a 1999 ford ranger 2WD 4 cyl. At random times my wipers turn on by them self. At first we thought it was a loose wire but checked and everything was good to go. Its not a big problem its just everytime they come on i use fluid and i have to replace the wipers more often. I used to just take the fuse out and put it back in when i needed them but that became a pain in the ass. Help me find out who the wiper ghost is. Thank you
- dubke, Camp Lejeune, NC, US
I've had the same problem with my wipers randomly turning on and like everyone else find that it's easiest to just turn the wiper switch on then off. It usually only lasts about one or two wipes worth before stopping. I don't find it all that annoying however if I happen to be driving someone in my car that's never ridden in it before and the wipers turn on while making a turn, I sure feel like an idiot as the person probably thinks I'm and inexperienced driver.
- ranger danger, Kent, WA, US
This has to be the most annoying thing I have ever experienced with a vehicle. The wipers on my truck will turn on for no apparent reason. I have noticed that it usually happens after using my turn signals. I have found that flipping to high beams (when my lights are off) will usually prevent the wipers from activating randomly. Please let me know if you have repaired this and what was wrong.
- Robby W., Rosevi, CA, US
Not only am I having problems with my wipers, my oil gauge drops or will not come up right at start up, the Tech has an attuted works only when it wants too. Also, here recently my gas mileage has dropped by half, so get ready you 120,000 miler's. I drive 71 miles a day to and from work, I fill up on friday morning the truck doesn't move all week end, go to work, by Tuesday evening I'm at a quarter of a tank. I should have bought another GMC.Jim
- Jimmy L., Amite, LA, US
Probably the most annoying problem I've ever had with a vehicle started at around 75,000 miles. Originally I removed the cap of the stem and used some electric grease which helped but now at 140,000 miles nothing helps at all anymore.
- tgf4ixl, Col. Grove, OH, US
I have a 1999 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 which I purchased from my son about 4 years ago. The truck runs well but I noticed that the wipers would come on by themselves. It seems to happen when I am making a left or right hand turn. If I turn the wipers on and off the problem stops temporarily.
- Tom W., Wilmington, MA, US
i thought i was just crazy until I read these other guys stories about their Ranger's windsheild wipers coming on at random. Mine however, only make one swipe across the windshield and thats the last I see of the problem for at least an hour, or the next time I drive it. Does anyone have any ideas why? could it be a faulty switch?
- Adam T., Welland, Ontario, Canada
I have the same problems as the other guy that reported the problem. At completely random moments, the wipers will turn on by themselves. Sometimes at different speeds. The only way that I can get them to turn off, is by playing with the wiper switch. However, mine does not always turn right off when playing with the switch, it will sometimes take up to 2 minutes to get the wipers to turn off
- jdmbird83, Columbus, OH, US
The wipers are constantly turning on/off by themselves. When it happens, if you turn the switch all the say on and then off they will stop doing it, but that works only temporally until they start again.
- Greg B., Woodbury, MN, US
This problem takes 10 mins to fix. Visit the URL below to see how.
Basically, you take off the very end of the multifunction switch, unscrew the phillips screw, slide off the ridged knob SLOWLY*, remove the silver spring and white cap. Clean out the excess grease on the circular circuit board with a Q-TIP and remove some of the grease on the white cap (there should be a thin amount to prevent any corrosion). Installation is reverse of removal. Be sure to line up the symbols on the knob to the one of the lever. Takes 10-15 minutes and can be done by any skill level. Just don't lose the parts!
*Be sure to catch the tiny spring with 2 gold ends when you remove the ridged knob. It goes THROUGH the multifunction switch (the 2 holes on the outside, 1/8" past the circuit board...looks like someone drilled a hole THROUGH it) so the Ridged knob will "click" during turning and stay in one spot.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/phantomwipers.htm
- redga, Woodstock, GA, US