Hello all,

For starters, I have a 99 Lightning. Anyhow, my driver window went down but failed to go up the other night and I decided to try jumping the driver window switch myself. Being the electrical "savant" that I am, I succeeded in knocking out the dash lights (fixed by a fuse), all of the rear lights (brake, regular "on" lights at night and back up lights, and yes I checked the bulbs) and finally, I think what I did affected the alternator as well, because it is not charging the new Bosch battery I installed 3 weeks ago. New battery was needed because of not driving truck regularly.

Is this possible?

I was almost sure it was the window switch because it had been giving me trouble for a long while, so that is why I tried to jump it in the harness (where the window switch plugs in). I tried top to bottom on both aligned posts but when I went top to top (remember...savant!) I heard a slight click.

What I know for sure now. It's not the window switch (bought a new one from Ford), I need a driver side window motor (Confirmed), no rear tail lights at all, and alternator not charging battery (confirmed).

Is there a main fusible link or something else that might be bad before I go out and buy a new alternator and find out that I didn't need one?

Thanks in advance.

 

I don't know how I can help you without insulting you.
You absolutely have no idea what your doing as evidenced by creating even more trouble and expense by trying what you did.
First, the window is controlled by a separate module, not just from power off the battery. Could be the module is now OD.
Second , if the tail lights are out, you lost power be either blowing a fuse or burning a wire in the harness, damage to the headlight switch due to placing a short at some point.
Third, you or some one needs to place a voltmeter on the battery after starting to monitor the voltage. If it does not rise after starting, the charge system is not working. Place a voltmeter across the battery to monitor the voltage after starting. it should rise to near 15 volts then taper back to about 14 volts in a few minutes if the charge circuit is working
I can assure you that if the main 175 amp fuse link is blown you did some pretty heavy duty shorting that could have resulted in a fire, because a small wire will burn before a fuse link that large will blow.
Check all the fuses with an Ohmmeter not just look at them.

Your guessing to much and lacking on what to do and how to do it.
Sorry to say it that way but you have to hear it or get deeper into trouble until you either stop or let some one repair all the issues.
If you feel ill willed toward me over this reply, I will understand.
Good luck to you..

 

Thank you for your reply. and no I'm not offended.

I would never have tried jumping the window switch if it wasn't for the fact that it was 2:30 in the morning and I was going away for the weekend on a camping trip and the weather forecast called for rain. I remember thinking " what's the worst that could happen? Blow a fuse?"

Obviously, my question was answered.

I guess I'll have my mechanic take over.

Thanks.