Electrical Problem
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Electrical Problem
I have a 2002 F350 CrewCab Dually 7.3L and my alternator went bad. I went to AutoZone to purchase new one and I was going to change it out in the parking lot. I started to undo the VBelt when one of the AutoZone employees came out and said he would give me a hand. Before I could get the battery cable unhooked, this guy started to take the positive nut off the back of the alternator and grounded out the wrench on my alternator which sparked and caught the positive wire on fire. I jumped up and blew it out. Make a long story short - I have noticed some things don't work now like my dust to dawn setting for headlights, open back set of doors and the interior light won't come on, when I lock the doors with my key fob the doors lock but when I click it the 2nd time the horn doesn't beep which means the security isn't set. I have cked all fuses and they are good. Does anyone have any suggestions in what I should ck. Thanks - sorry for the long post!
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Forest lake minnesota
First off let me be the first to welcome you to the forum. As far as your problem thats not good to short out wiring like that. My first guess would be a problem with the GEM module. But I am sure somebody with a little more electrical knowledge will be along with more insite.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
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From: Burnsville, MN
I'd say the first thing to try is to remove the ground cable from the battery, wait 10 minutes, and then re-connect with a good sharp motion. If you're lucky - very lucky - the problem may just be a bad re-boot after replacing the alternator.
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response
I pulled the ground cable from both batteries for about 30 minutes and then connected both with a sharp motion but nothing changed. Opened to any additional ideas. Does anyone think if I purchase the AE scan tool it would help to narrow this issue down?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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Fuses 19, 50, 7, 17-recheck those.
If they are all good, I think he fried your VSM vehicle security module or possibly its network to the instrument cluster. Every single complaint you have goes through that module.
If they are all good, I think he fried your VSM vehicle security module or possibly its network to the instrument cluster. Every single complaint you have goes through that module.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Slatington, PA
99-01 have a GEM 02 and up have a VSM and like Carlton said, its possible that that short at the alt screwed it up. All of those items acting funky are controlled by the VSM. Did you mention the goof to the manager at autozone by any chance? If it ends up being the VSM, they should get it for you since their guy messed it up.
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Thanks for the info carlton!!
twags6 - I think it could be one of these. I need to go get it checked. I had another issue that I just fixed but I had both batteries unplugged for awhile and when I connected both of them back up, I noticed that my key fob won't work. I tried to reset it per the manual instructions, turn the key on and off 8 times, the horn beeps and then you are to hit a button on the key fob and then the horn is to beep. Everything works up to the point after I hit the key fob button and the horn won't beep. I have tried this several times and tried both key fobs. The key fobs worked up until I unhooked both batteries. Is this also something that is tied to the VSM or GEM? I also noticed that if the truck is running, opening the back doors doesn't cause the open door light on the instrumental panel to come on. Also, how much is your GEM & VSM.
twags6 - I think it could be one of these. I need to go get it checked. I had another issue that I just fixed but I had both batteries unplugged for awhile and when I connected both of them back up, I noticed that my key fob won't work. I tried to reset it per the manual instructions, turn the key on and off 8 times, the horn beeps and then you are to hit a button on the key fob and then the horn is to beep. Everything works up to the point after I hit the key fob button and the horn won't beep. I have tried this several times and tried both key fobs. The key fobs worked up until I unhooked both batteries. Is this also something that is tied to the VSM or GEM? I also noticed that if the truck is running, opening the back doors doesn't cause the open door light on the instrumental panel to come on. Also, how much is your GEM & VSM.
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