NHTSA Complaint #10277540 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

PURCHASED A 2002 WINDSTAR XL FROM A DEALER FEB 2009. ALL HAPPENED IN A 12 WEEK PERIOD. ENGINE , ABS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AS I LEFT THE LOT FROM DEALER. WENT TO HAVE CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD I HAD A MISFIRE IN #5 PLUG AND REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, NEW PLUGS, WIRES, OIL CHANGED. HAD AN OIL LEAK 2 DAYS LATER AND WENT BACK AND PLUG IN OIL PAN REPLACED. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED OFF 1 WEEK AND THEN STARTED SMELLING ANTIFREEZE THROUGH A/C VENTS. HEATER CORE IS BAD IN IT TOO SO I HAD THE HEATER CORE BYPASSED AS A TEMPORARY FIX. ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT & BRAKE LIGHT WAS OFF FOR 2 HOURS THEN CAME BACK ON. FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS UNPLUGGED AND PLUGGED IT IN AND THEN IT BLEW A RELAY FUSE IN THE BOX NEXT TO THE BATTERY. REPLACED AND LEFT IT UNPLUGGED. THIS CONTROLS THE GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL, A/C, AND CRUISE CONTROL. I REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND IT BURNED THE WIRES WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED. OVERHEATING OF WIRES CAUSED THE MELTING OF WIRES. I HAD HOOD OPEN SO STOPPED ENGINE BEFORE WIRES IGNITED. *TR