>First when I turn on my Head lights my instruments panel goes out; >speedometer, gas gauges and everything else. >And secondly My wipers don't cut off unless I cut off my van. >are these related? >and does anyone know what the problem is? Yes they are related. It sounds like you have an earth missing on the electrical system. Clive

I bet this is a battery problem. You've probably got a 'dead cell' in the battery. The reason why it fails in the wet is simple: In the wet you switch on extra equipment, like the wipers, lights, screen washers being used, rear screen demister (LOTS of current in that), heater blower on full, possibly the air con working as well, for demisting . . . all that extra demand, the battery can't supply it. It's likely that your alternator needs checking. I'd run a LOAD TEST on the alternator and a CURRENT DEMAND TEST on the battery. Probably the battery is on the way out and likely the alternator might not be capable of supplying the maximum output any longer due to wear. - Clive > The electrical system on my 92 aerostar has failed the last few times > when it was driven in moderate to heavy rain. It runs well until it > is shutdown. After shutdown for a few minutes all electrical appears > dead! everything including lights, horn, starter, door locks ... > the works. > > One time I was fortunate and was able to measure battery voltage in > this condition. It was less than 4 volts but with the neg terminal > disconnected it showed that the battery was fully charged. > Reconceting the terminal and the voltage would drop to less than 4 > volts, but it did not appear to be drawing a high current. > > After setting a short time the system recovers. Starts right up and > all circuits are working.