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Electrical Problem / relay clicking

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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 05:06 PM
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This is from my forscan

Also forscan

What is the smallest relay at the top for?
 
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 05:07 PM
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ok thanks Jason, I will post them here
 
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 05:14 PM
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Bewildered, it appears you are using a Windows operating system. Instead of posting a picture of the screen, try using "snipping tool" or "print screen". Then upload the image that way, it will be much clearer.

If you don't know how to find snipping tool, hit "start" and in the search bar that comes up type "snip" and it should come up.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 05:22 PM
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Sous, if you really want to kick it up a notch Alt+PrintScreen will only copy the active window. Makes for an even cleaner appearance.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 06:44 PM
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ok thanks gentlemen, Does anyone recognize that top relay? It clicks like a signalstat continuously when the key is off, but shuts up when I turn ignition on. It never did this before, but might be worth mentioning that I destroyed the original getting it out to disassemble my fuse block, and my local napa store assured me this was the correct replacement... may or may not be?
 
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by RacinJasonWV
Sous, if you really want to kick it up a notch Alt+PrintScreen will only copy the active window. Makes for an even cleaner appearance.
Yes sir, you are correct. I went with the snipping route as it is sometimes easier for the user to save the file in a desired location. Print screen often requires an additional program like Paint or PowerPoint in order to save the file. Not always the case, but sometimes.

Good suggestion though and I thank you for picking up my slack in the description above.

Originally Posted by bewildered 7.3
ok thanks gentlemen, Does anyone recognize that top relay? It clicks like a signalstat continuously when the key is off, but shuts up when I turn ignition on. It never did this before, but might be worth mentioning that I destroyed the original getting it out to disassemble my fuse block, and my local napa store assured me this was the correct replacement... may or may not be?
Go to the link below and retrieve the manual for your year truck. Around page 162 is the fuse box layout. There you should be able to identify the relay making noise. From there, we can identify the function of the relay and if you received the proper replacement.

There are various relays available, so finding out you were sold the correct one is first on the list. If it is correct, it may be faulty out of the box, it happens from time to time.

https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/owner-manuals.html
 
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 10:38 PM
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I already went there and searched for owners manual by my vin # and this is the image it shows for my truck.

This is from the manual, and it is not what I have in my truck.
The photo under my original post in this thread, is the actual fuse panel in my truck. This photo is no help at all.


[img]blob:https://www.ford-trucks.com/1e0b4bfb-0199-4a00-aca5-2818bdc88801[/img]


 

Last edited by bewildered 7.3; Jan 6, 2021 at 10:41 PM. Reason: Add photo
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 10:49 PM
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Something is amiss here... Your profile shows a 2003 MY vehicle. The panel you provided an image for is from a 2000 MY (or there abouts).

Click on the link below which is the search results for "2000 7.3L fuse box" images.

https://www.google.com/search?q=2000...=602&prmd=sivn

Did you happen to install an earlier MY fuse box in your truck? The early models have 2 fuse boxes and the later have one. The early models have a GEM and later models have a VSM. There are other wiring differences as well, but most things are interchangeable like GPR, IDM, etc. Some are not interchangeable.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2021 | 11:08 PM
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and so it seems, thanks Sous, from your link I picked an image from 1999 that looks like my panel.



it appears this clicking relay is for the dome light circuit.

at least I now have a legend of my fuse panel, this thing came to me with a branded title "rebuilt" I have no idea what is in my frankentruck!


 

Last edited by bewildered 7.3; Jan 6, 2021 at 11:10 PM. Reason: update
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Old Jan 7, 2021 | 12:41 AM
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And to keep it spicy the Forscan screenshots show the PCM is a 2002.
 
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Old Jan 7, 2021 | 07:17 AM
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Bewildered, what events took place in order for you to replace the fuse box and were you aware that what you may have purchased and installed the wrong part? I am not saying that the earlier model year box will not work, but I don't think it is plug and play in any way, shape or form. I remember recently another FTE'r (RigCity I think) was looking to swap out the 42 pin harness between a 2003 and a 2000 (I think). They are NOT the same and required several pin changes or moves. The form factor and shape of the 42 pin connector was the same, but the harness was not.

As I mentioned earlier, the newer trucks have a VSM which took the place of the GEM in the older trucks. The older trucks have 2 fuse boxes and you may just have to remove what you have done and find a plug and play fuse box if you are experiencing all sorts of electrical gremlins. I don't know that for sure, but it is a possibility. If we can figure out what was going on that led you to replace the fuse box, perhaps we can recommend a different, easier and cheaper course of action.

David, sometimes spicy is good, sometimes it is not. Thanks for pointing that detail out and now we just have to figure out if we are dealing with a jalapeno or a Carolina Reaper...
 
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Old Jan 7, 2021 | 12:06 PM
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Same fuse box, I followed the thread in tech folder, where someone took it all apart and did the salted vinegar bath with soda water rinse. I had a lot of rain water DC electrolysis in the lower third of the box. Symptoms were, no cruise control, no AC, intermittent blower motor for the heater, constant door ajar light and alarm, no ground from PCM to the glow plug relay, which I bypassed with a push button on the dash. Also from what I am reading, there is a battery save mode which wasn't happening, so I installed a continuous duty 200 amp solenoid next to the start solenoid, and moved my fusible link to the alternator over there to act as a battery disconnect switch.

I spent a day and a half cleaning up the fuse box. I did spray some corrosion X in there, and I did apply dielectric grease to the terminals and plugs. I had the windshield leaks fixed before I began this witch hunt. All of my instruments were working before I did this, so I lost the instrument cluster and I lost power windows. I did not try the 4x4 yet.

I did a lot of arm wrestling with this thing under the dash to remove it and a bit less to reinstall it. I'm wondering if I knocked something loose back there? I have tried to do some visual inspection, but it's difficult to see much when I stick my face back there.

Now the only thing I modified, I had my GEM opened up, and I saw that noisy alarm in there, and I used a razor blade to cut the small trace to one side of the alarm to get it to STFU. I wouldn't expect that to disable anything other than the alarm, and worst case, i would need to pull it and scratch a bit of varnish off the run and put a dab of solder on it, or just replace the GEM.

One other thing, I ran Forscan before I took this apart, and it had several DTC reports. One thing they all had in common was GEM, Yesterday nothing was pointing to the GEM.
 
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Old Jan 7, 2021 | 02:38 PM
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Bewildered, please tell answer the following questions.

- What year your truck was made according to the VIN and/or door sticker? FORScan screen says 2002, your profile says 2003 and you have an early year fuse box under the dash.

- Do you have a fuse box under the hood up by the brake master cylinder and somewhat above the driver side wheel well?

- Do you have a VSM or a GEM module? I see you talk about your GEM, but we need to be sure what we are talking about before offering up ideas.

The VSM can be found behind the stereo and toward the firewall.

The GEM can be found up by the parking brake pedal as seen in the image below.




 
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Old Jan 7, 2021 | 06:32 PM
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door sticker shows build date 10/2002, title claims it is 2003 F250
I have the GEM mounted to the back of the fuse block, next to the parking brake, and Forscan believes it is a GEM
I do have a fuse panel under the hood
 
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Old Jan 7, 2021 | 11:55 PM
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Glad I didn't go by the thread title, I almost moved the thread to the GNAC forum.

First two posts removed and thread title edited to get you more eyes for your problem.

Stewart
 
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