well I Think I'm having VSM problems.....no entry dome lights,day time lights won't come on,key fobs/alarm don't work,door ajar light stays on,radio/lights stay on after opening door with truck off.
I done a little research and everything points to either a bad VSM,have it reprogramed or both.
my question is,could I just buy an after market VSM? You know one that has the keyless entry,power locks,alarm,remote start?
And if so,what would be a good recommendation?
Thanks in advance.

 

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Can you let us in on it? Just curious as I recently had to replace my VSM to the tune of $550.
For a while I was able to reset mine by pulling the #19 fuse, but eventually even that wouldn't work.

 

I replaced mine a couple of years ago, and now the problems are back. I don't know of anything aftermarket, but I really want to get rid of it all together. I'm thinking the trucks that came without the vehicle security group (auto head lights, keyless entry, etc) didn't have a VSM? Anyone have a wiring diagram for the trucks that came with or without the vehicle security group.

 

I do know that the VSM works with the Hybrid Instrument Cluster on some functions like accessory delay and the cluster runs over $1K at the dealer

 

By any chance do you have 1. A battery Tender?
Or 2. A Cyclops TAM?

 

No, I don't

 

I just recently replaced my vsm because i was having all the same problems you are and it fixed them all. The vsm was $140 and the local ford dealer charged $30 to program it. I had already unbolted it and had it laying in the floor for them. I'm not aware of anything aftermarket to replace it. But maybe you could shop around the local ford dealers and find one that would give you a better deal. I thought $170 was pretty reasonable.

 

To Rpayne: I just bought an '02 F350. When I was inspecting the truck, I just thought the fobs needed a battery. Silly me...new batteries....no workie....new fob....unable to program, thus still no workie. I bought the new VSM for about 140, plugged it all back in my self. It allowed me to program the fobs, BUT....wait for it.....now my door ajar indicator comes on and my lights work like the door is open when its closed and vice versa....I took the truck to the dealer and had them flash the VSM, but still have the same problem....I'm thinking of plugging back in to the old VSM and see if it puts me back where I started. I'd rather have inop fobs than lights and indicators that work backwards.

 

then it may be just your door ajar switches,now that i've had it like this awhile,sometimes it works after resetting the VSM,then sometimes it works for awhile then back to the start,sometimes it works till certain doors are opened.
I found door switches for 15 bucks a piece so I'm going to start there,60 bucks ,beats 130-150 for VSM and 150 for program,

 

We tried swapping out a few of the switches and it did not seem to help. The fact that the switches work, but opposite of how they should concerns me.