Ford Repair: Air bag, ghost wipers and no windshield squirters, ford explorer xlt, salvage yard


Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I have a 99 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 w/4.0 Liter SOHC. I've been told that the mentioned problems are connected to a contact plate or assembly within the steering column and that it just needs to be taken apart and cleaned/re-lubricated.

Air-bag light on dash sometimes will come on in flashing mode, then go to steady glow.

Ghost wipers are very intermittent and seem to be moisture/wetness/humidity related.

Windshield washers worked perfectly until one day - no more. I've checked the fuse, replaced the pump motor (no motor noise) nothing.

Can all this be related to a poor contact plate/assembly within the steering wheel/column? If so, how do you dismantle/disarm/dis-assemble the steering wheel, air-bag etc to get to this area?

I've been very happy with this vehicle... 166K miles, uses no oil, gets 16-18mpg city and 20 mpg highway. It's just having a stroke (of sorts) in the electrical area(s).

Any help would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance!

ANSWER: are the wipers not working or do they come on rrandomly by themselves ??? also when the air bag light flashes, is there any chance you can count the flashes ??

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry... when I mentioned "ghost" wipers, well anyway, yes they work as should but will wipe for no apparent reason when not on and this is very intermittently. Air bag flashes... didn't realize there was a code in the flashing. The code is 3-6

ANSWER: o.k., first your wiper problem, you need what is called a G.E.M. module. this was a very common concern for this year. most common complaint was the wipers would come on by themselves. probably expensive from a dealer but if you have a local salvage yard, they can probably get you one, the unfortunate part is you must bring it to a dealer to have it programmed to the vehicle. second, i need you to recount your air bag light flashes, cycle the key on and count first set of flashes then the second set- they should repeat and then stay on

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I did the air bag flash count and it is first set - 3, second set - 6 Anything on the front windshield washer dilema?

Answer
o.k., first your wiper problem, you need what is called a G.E.M. module. this was a very common concern for this year. most common complaint was the wipers would come on by themselves. probably expensive from a dealer but if you have a local salvage yard, they can probably get you one, the unfortunate part is you must bring it to a dealer to have it programmed to the vehicle. second, your air bag light concern, disconnect your battery for 10-15 minutes.. this is a MUST !!!!!  the look under the driver's seat, you will see an electrical connector, yellow in color. it should have a little red tab attached to it. slide the red tab backwards and squeeze the connector and disconnect it. this is for the driver's side air bag. apply some kind of grease to the two pin terminal, vaseline or bacetracin is best ( prevents further contamination ). reconnect and re-connect battery and get back to me.