Some components work only when car is in "park" or

GHVZ1

MEMBER
FORD TAURUS

On my 1996 Taurus station wagon (120,000 miles; unsure of engine size), the radio and electric windows will only work when the shifter is in park or neutral (automatic column shifter). At the same time, I also find the steering a little hard, like the power steering pump isn't 100%. When I put the car in park or neutral, all the above return to normal operation, including the steering. I should point out there is power to the radio, just no sound. Also, as I'm driving along, I hear clicking sounds from the fuse box. When this happens, the gauge cluster indicator lights come on like I'm just starting the car (Door Ajar, ABS, Seat Belt, etc). It started doing this only this week.

3 Replies

MATHIASO

MECHANIC
1,209 POSTS

You will definitely need wiring diagram and a DMM to go hunting for the short in the electrical system within the components that are acting weird

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Saturday, January 27th, 2007 AT 6:31 PM

TAURUSWHEEL

MECHANIC
718 POSTS

Sounds like the mlps sensor, otherwise known as the neutral safety switch, could possibly be raising havoc. It's on top of the trans, under the airbox hose, bunch of wires running thru it, along with the shift linkage relatively easy to replace, there is some sort of alignment tool your're supposed to use to set it up correctly, this sensor has been known to create really weird goings-on when it fails.