I bought my '04 Navigator as a project and electronic gremlins are (so far) the most frustrating.


1) The car sat for close to a year
2) Battery was flat, but is holding a charge.
3) Door locks ONLY work with the exterior keypad; no response from lock buttons or remote.
4) At the same time, the non-navigation radio will light up, show station but not play, or respond to volume control.
4a) But the subwoofer works
4b) And the rear controls seem to work, but still no sound through main speakers
5) Fuses all OK


So, are these quirks related? Can they be reset by disconnecting/reconecting the battery? Any other advise?


Thanks in advance.

 

Okay I've done some more reading on the various related forums and since then I've done the following:
1) lubed the heck out of the door latches
2) charged the battery thoroughly 12.7-13.0 v even after a day or two
3) read about GEMs and driver's door grounds....but haven't checked them yet
Any ideas?

 

The GEM, if wet as many have noted before with the windshield issues, the door locks, window power, radio, and dome lights can develop a mind of their own when it starts to get wet or go bad. Also, it can drain a battery very quickly too.
Just maybe?

 

Thanks, I'd sure like to check out the GEM but I'm still not sure of its location. I know it's under the dash near a possible windshield dripping site. Drivers side or passenger? And does it have to be reflashed after replacement at a dealership?

I've heard that it's not easy to reach, but I'm used to wrenching on difficult vehicles (old 911s, Alfas, etc.). I just did a total front brake and hub replacement on the Navi and it was really easy!

 

Driver's side right above the parking brake pedal. Hmm, does the 04 still use a GEM?

 

"The GEM, if wet as many have noted before with the windshield issues, the door locks, window power, radio, and dome lights can develop a mind of their own when it starts to get wet or go bad. Also, it can drain a battery very quickly too."

And 1-1/2 days later the battery is down to 12.06. Well that would be okay, but........

Quote:
Originally Posted by S2per
Thanks, I'd sure like to check out the GEM but I'm still not sure of its location. I know it's under the dash near a possible windshield dripping site. Drivers side or passenger?
Driver's side right above the parking brake pedal. Hmm, does the 04 still use a GEM?

And I looked under the dash and alloro is right; there's no GEM! Just an air suspension control module (3L74-3C142-AA).

Ideas????

 

I replaced the head unit with one from an '05....stereo problem solved! Actually a pretty good factory sound with the sub. I'm also wondering if the bad head unit was drawing down the battery.

Now onto the lock problem (and the seat heaters, and....)