This was a problem on these and other Ford products for a long time. The fix was to
replace the multi function switch and/or the GEM module depending on the year and
model. There are a number of TSBs addressing this concern. Check with your dealer.
Unfortunately your car is out of warranty and TSBs aren't Recalls. The switch is
roughly $100 and the GEM is, I'm guessing, ~$250. A replacement GEM needs to be
programmed after installation.

According to Ford, this is a "functionality" and is not a defect.

.....  windshield wipers on my 1999 Taurus come on, make one
or two passes and then stay off.  There is no way to control
this as they are switched off.    .....tonight did this 4 times in
the first hour and then no problems for the next two hours.

Thanks for any input.
_______________________________________________________

The windshield wiper motor may contain a defective parking switch.

If the parking switch is stuck open, the wipers will stop wherever
they are when the multifunction switch is turned off.

If the parking switch is stuck closed, the wipers will operate
continuously even if the multifunction switch is off.

If the parking switch is intermittent. the wipers could come on at
random and stop at random even if the multifunction switch is off.

OR, the problem may be in the multifunction switch.

Good luck.

Rodan.
_____________________________________________________

Windshield wipers start occasionally while switched off.  

Group: alt.autos.ford Date: Sun, Feb 19, 2006, 9:41pm From:
bernsax@yahoo.com (bernsax)
For about the past 6 months the windshield wipers on my 1999 Taurus will
come on, make one or two passes and then stay off. There is no way to
control this as they are switched off.
It was the worst tonight. It did this 4 times in the first hour and then
no problems for the next two hours.
Anybody else ever had this problem? If so, what was done to fix it?
Thanks for any imput. <<<<<<<<<<

Had the exact same problem with my '99. I found out that by rotating the
wiper control knob thru all the positions a few times cured the problem
for me.

Eric

Sounds like a typical multifunction switch problem.  Mine is not as
bad: sometimes when I've got the wipers on, in slow speed, they'll
switch to intermittent by themselves.  Sometimes it stays like that,
sometimes just for a couple of wipes and then back to normal.  Fiddling
with the switch through all the positions seems to help for a while.
If you need to change out the switch, it's a pretty simple job.