Ok here it is. The system when sitting is drawing 240 ma and it is only suppose to be 50 ma at the most. When I get to pulling the #26 fuse which is for the gem modual it goes down to 69 ma. Still high but not as bad.
Has anyone had these gem moduals go bad? Or can you point me in the right direction for disecting it to prove it bad?

This is on a 2000 rager 2wd 5 speed

Thanks, Dave

 

As stupid as it sounds, check things like the glove box light, lighter and bed light, if equipped. Had a cigerette lighter stuck in, shorting out and killing the battery.

 

I have checked all those things. I wish this time that it was that simple.

I have been reading a bit here and I wonder if the rangers had the leaking water on the gem box too. I bought this truck used with 90k on it so who knows what I am in for with the leaks and electrical probs.

 

You may have more than one problem.

You didn't indicate how the problem began, suddenly after some event, or slowly over time, nor long it takes to discharge the battery, a few hours, a day or two?????

Also where are you connected, while monitoring the parasitic drain????

If discharge is a few hours, maybe it's leaking or shorted diodes in the alternators regulator, or plates in the battery shorting from sulfation build up.

If draining the battery takes a day or two, then maybe as you suspect it's a GEM problem, or something controled by it, or some aftermarket equipment has a problem, so keep pulling fuses as you monitor battery drain at the B- cable.

If you find a sizeable current draw at the B- cable, disconnect the alternator & see if you get a big drop, if so suspect leaky or shorted alternator diodes.

If you suspect it might be internal battery leakage, try disconnecting the battery over night & rechecking it the next day. If it's down the next morning, it has internal problems.

If you don't have a multimeter to do the current leakage tests, or just don't want to fool with it any more, run the vehicle by your favorite autoparts store & let them do a no cost, electrical system check up, with their portable tester.

It can properly load test all the vehicles electrical system components, as well as monitor for excessive parasitic drain.

It'll likely sniff out the culprit/s.

Let us know what you find.

 

Are you sure that the GEM is the ONLY thing thats wired to fuse 28?

The factory wiring diagrams for a 97 Explorer show 4 fuses wired to the GEM.

Fuse 10 GEM & blend door actuator, speed control, brake pressure switch etc..

Fuse 20 GEM & power antennae, RAP module.

Fuse 25 GEM & instrument cluster

Fuse 28 GEM & memory seat module.

So your fuse 28 might be wired to more than just the GEM.

 

I am pretty sure I found the problem here.

To answer a few questions first so others when they read this for further probs like me will maybe under stand clearer.

-For how long it would take to kill the battery, it would take about 4 days of no driving and it would crank slower and not enough juice for the fuel pump and spark.

-Since I bought it used I had no idea of how many after market things were on the truck.

-I had a brand new battery to do these battery drains over the 4 day period.

-When I pulled the #26 fuse it pretty much killed the interior lights and the GEM-(for the delay relay for battery saver, it would time out in about 45 minutes. I wanted to eliminate this so I could do my fuse pull testing without the draw of the GEM and what it draws)


What I it was is the after market tach that was put in. Instead of using a hot lead that goes off with ignition, it was powered up on a hot all the time and was drawing almost 80 ma!!! This is a normal draw for it but wrong place to wire it up.

After wiring it correctly the draw is only 7.5 ma
I put the #26 fuse back in to do the GEM timeout and while waiting it is drawing 190 ma. After it timed out it is now 8.04. I love it!!!

I want to thank all that pointed me in the right directions.

Dave

 

Good find, fix & feedback Dave.

The after fix parasitic drain numbes you've posted, now look normal.

So it sounds like your good to go!!!!

 

Thanks Pawpaw. I know how easy troubleshooting can go if you have all the good imformation to get started. It also helps to know how it works so you can fix it too.

Thanks again, Dave