When I turn on the head lights, the wipers and washer come on and stay on. The wipers and washer still work normally from their switch if the head lights are off.

When I turn the lights on with no key in ignition, things are fine. Anyone have an answer? I can't drive at night or the washer and wipers go constantly. If I pull the wiper fuse, I have no wipers in rainy Florida. This started after 2 days of HEAVY rains, so heavy, some water infiltrated the cab via the vents at base of windshield.

 

you have a short it sounds like

 

That whole stalk is a unit, you have a short somewhere in it. Take apart the steering column and check the wiring. Worst case buy a new unit and problem will be solved. I beleive they run about 60 bucks.
My 01 and my friends Explorer both had problems with that unit, it's a pretty common thing.

Here's all you need....


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...+signal+switch


BTW, Ex and Ranger use different parts, I tried my old 01 in my friends Ex and it really went wild!

 

that is awesome, i wish my wipers would come on when i turned my headlights on!:P that sucks, probably a short or somethin.

 

In California, it is a law that you have to have the head lights on if the windshield wiper is on. Too bad yours isn't wired like that, you could patent it and sell it to the auto manufactures for CA.

 

I believe in NY state the vehicles are wired so the headlights come on if the wipers are on, state law. Ohio just past a law that if wipers are on lights must be on. The GM running lights meet the requirement.