The weatherstrip across the top of my 98 F150 windshield came loose and started flapping as I was driving on the freeway. I stopped and put it back in its track, but it didn't fit very well. A few days later I was trying to get it back in by tapping on it with a rubber mallet. Unfortunately when I got to the edge, I hit the windsheld, and it cracked the edge, about 1 inch in from the top left drivers side. Its not in the line of sight, and I didn't think much of it, other than I should silicone it up as soon as the weather got warmer - its was about -10C. A few days later the weather turned quite warm and we got a bucket load of sleety snow and rain. In the middle of the night, I looked out my bedroom window and saw the lights on the truck were flashing on, off, going dim, then brighter. I could see both the high and low beams were on at the same time. Very weird... I went out to the truck and as it was 3 am, the only thing I could do was disconnect the battery and troubleshoot the next day. Next day I reconnected the battery, and could not get the same results, all worked fine. A few weeks later, I went to a carwash. Next day the lights were flashing again, and I could hear lots of relay clattering near the fuse panel under the dash. I found lots of posts in this forum about the GEM module and water leaks, so I pulled the 5 amp fuse that controls the GEM module which temporarily stopped the problems. I drove around for a few days with the heater blasting in the hopes of drying it out. Put the fuse back in and no problem now for a few days.
I am going to have the windsheild replaced in a couple of days, and hope this cures it for good. I don't know about the GEM though, it seems to be working ok, and I guess if it works fine, I won't do anything about it, but has anyone else had experience with it once its been wet.. I am hoping I don't have to replace it cause its expensive not only for the part, but possibly because the dealer has to reprogram it.

 

Dealer does have to reprogram and it cost me $116. On the bright side though, atleast you don't have to replace the cluster to fix the GEM.

 

Only 116 to reprogram the GEM... sounds cheep, did that include the GEM itself or just reprogram. Incidently my GEM seems okay after a week of driving in dry weather, hope it lasts.

 

Mine had a leak in the windsheild and the GEM got wet and did the same thing yours did twice before I had the winshield replaced. It has now been two years and no problems at all.

 

If it got wet you can't reprogram it. It needs to be replaced...the GEM itself must have gotten corroded and shorted. GEM's come preproggramed so you just need to plug them in.

 

which 5 amp fuse did you pull for the gem cause there are a about 4 i got the same problem

 

Help, I believe my gem is bad. I have a 02 150 XL with a 6 cyl. Windshield is leaking filling floor with water (driver-side). Now heater fan will not shut off with the key, radio sometimes just comes on (key on or off), gauge's sweep with each start, starter cranks even when engine's running (In park or neutral), key chime sounds even when key's out... I'm sure there is more. This truck is new to me (less than 4 mos.) and started doing this stuff about 3 weeks ago. I can't find the leak any hints? If the gem dry's out is it still good? Is this common? any help at all would be appreachiated. How about the cost of repair? Once again thanks.

 

the best thing you can do is take the windshield out and reinstall it, a pro job is best cause you need the tools and no how to do it right, i got my windshield taken out and replaced and then i replaced the gem cause it had corrosion in it, i got a used one for free and all was good no more problems , i did have the same problems you have, and this is your best solution to the prob,fix window first by re glueing it in ,after that or while glue is drying take out gem disconnect battery first and then try to dry it out and then see if prob. is fixed if not you may need a new one good luck it should work it did for me i'm no tech. but my buddy is and he now's what he is talking about

 

Thanks for the info. It's 25 degree's here in Cleveland, and am not looking forward to the bear fingers under the dash process, but oh well. Sounds like a good fix to me. once again thanks.