Electrical Issues
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Electrical Issues
I have a 97 F-150, 2 wheel drive, V8 4.6 L engine with 130,000 miles. I only use the truck to haul firewood once or twice a month. A month ago I noticed my wipers wouldn't work. As I moved the arm for the high/low beam headlights they started working. I figured it was a wiring issue in the arm. Then last week my wife went to start the truck and it was dead. The battery had been fine and showed no signs of losing power. The auto parts store said it had no charge and wouldn't even take a charge. I bought a new battery and again the wipers and washer wouldn't work. The trick of moving the arm to engage the high beam headlights didn't work. I also noticed that the interior dome light didn't work, and the chimes that usually alarm when you leave your keys in the ignition when the truck is off stopped working. Research suggested it was the GEM module. I took the truck to an automotive electrical specialist and he ran a diagnostic and he said the GEM module was not the issue. Instead my fuse box was bad. He said this was not an uncommon issue. Anyone else have this issue? Is it a common issue?
Thanks for any feedback.
Thanks for any feedback.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
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There have been a few instances of issues with the distribution box, of individual feeds going open.
You have not given any specific proof of what the issue is.
If it is proven there is no power on the battery side of a fuse then it must be an issue.
Until then it's an open ?
Good luck.
You have not given any specific proof of what the issue is.
If it is proven there is no power on the battery side of a fuse then it must be an issue.
Until then it's an open ?
Good luck.
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I'm picking the truck up tomorrow and hope to have a look at the fuse box that was removed and talk to the technician as to how he determined it was the fuse box and not the GEM module. All I care about is that it is fixed. I hadn't heard of fuse boxes going bad other than through corrosion/water or a bad ground so this will be interesting.
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Well my electrical mechanic was correct, it was the fuse box and NOT the GEM Module. The fuse box was corroded and greenish on the backside from the well documented moisture issue in these trucks. He stated that in 20 years of doing electrical work on cars and trucks he has never had to change out the GEM module. Since I picked up my truck I have had no issues with the wipers, washer, dome lights, or the chimes when you leave the lights on and turn the truck off. I am glad I didn't order a GEM module and try and fix this myself. As another thread on this site smartly pointed out, it's worth the $75 diagnostic fee to take your truck to a specialist and have the GEM module tested before replacing it (as the GEM modules are non-returnable unless they are defective).
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samuel dominguez
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
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Aug 27, 2024 01:20 PM
