New Problem Today
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
but I had to replace my batteries and voila, chattering went away. I've read elsewhere that bad batteries and/or connections can cause your problems. good luck
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
From: South-Central Kentucky
John, if you will take out the 4 bolts holding the fuse panel on and then remove the two main harnesses that plug into the fuse panel you should be able to see two plugs on what looks like the side of the fuse box. There may be three, but most have two. Unplug those and then the whole fuse box will come out. There are three torx screws that hold this module onto the fuse box, pull those out and lift up on it. It is plugged directly into the fuse box so don't panic when it doesn't come right off. That is your GEM/VSM, or whatever you want to call it. The bolts and nuts are a 10mm and I believe the torx is a T25? Good luck.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Again A New Problem
This just gets more interesting. Have been busy and just got around again to see if I could get the radio out again. I have tried 4 different stles of removal tools and have had no luck. also the batteries a completely draining and are dead in about a day. Today after charging the battaries and starting the truck the 'ABS' on the dash is staying on. Does anyone have an idea? I am still a little confused here. One thread says it is the'VSM" behind the radio and another says it is the 'GEM' behind the fuse panel. I am getting real disappointed in this FORD (Fix Or Repair Daily). I really need some suggestion here.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
This just gets more interesting. Have been busy and just got around again to see if I could get the radio out again. I have tried 4 different styles of removal tools and have had no luck. also the batteries a completely draining and are dead in about a day. Today after charging the battaries and starting the truck the 'ABS' on the dash is staying on. Does anyone have an idea? I am still a little confused here. One thread says it is the'VSM" behind the radio and another says it is the 'GEM' behind the fuse panel. I am getting real disappointed in this FORD (Fix Or Repair Daily). I really need some suggestion here.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
The U shaped removal tools either work like a charm, or you have to fight them. On mine it alters back and forth from easy to a pain. Insert both u shaped clips, pry outward (away from each other) slightly and try and slide the radio out.
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 2
From: Concord NC
Starting to wonder if you have a bad battery or two. I shorted cell will play hell on your electrical system.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
New Batteries
Pulled The Batteries; Had Them Load Tested And They Were Fine. Barrowed And Put In New Batteries To See If They Would Make A Change And It Made No Change What So Ever. As I Said Before Some Threads Say That It Is The 'gem' And Others Say It Is The 'vsm'. Still Confused On Which One I Have.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Still Need Suggestions On Problems
Truck Is Not Dependable. Never Know If Will Start Or Not. Even With New Batteries It Will Be Dead If It Sits For 2 Days. Look Thru My Other Threads Posted Here And Offer Any Suggestion. Have Been Thinking I My Have To Sell The Ford And Go Another Way For A Truck. Thanks For The Help.
New User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
This just gets more interesting. Have been busy and just got around again to see if I could get the radio out again. I have tried 4 different styles of removal tools and have had no luck. also the batteries a completely draining and are dead in about a day. Today after charging the battaries and starting the truck the 'ABS' on the dash is staying on. Does anyone have an idea? I am still a little confused here. One thread says it is the'VSM" behind the radio and another says it is the 'GEM' behind the fuse panel. I am getting real disappointed in this FORD (Fix Or Repair Daily). I really need some suggestion here.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 167
Likes: 1
If the VSM has a bad connection it could cause these problems. In the mornings everything on my truck would work perfectly. After the engine would warm up it would start having problems and radio would not turn off, window didnt work, power door locks wouldnt work.
My batteries would die in one night. I hooked up my multimeter to test for parisitic draw and started pulling fuses. When I pulled the fuse for the radio, I dropped a little amperage, but when I pulled the 5amp VSM fuse, I dropped all parisitic draw except .2amps.
I put it back in and the draw came back and radio came back on. I pulled the radio out and inspected the connection on VSM. It looked like there was something on pins. I cleaned the connection and used a pick to bent the sockets in the connector a touch to make sure it made a good connection. I put some dielectric on the connector and reinstalled. Havent had a problem since.
I think it may have been getting a little heat from the engine and caused the sockets to expand a little so it would mess with the connection.
May be something to try, and it wont cost anything but time.
My batteries would die in one night. I hooked up my multimeter to test for parisitic draw and started pulling fuses. When I pulled the fuse for the radio, I dropped a little amperage, but when I pulled the 5amp VSM fuse, I dropped all parisitic draw except .2amps.
I put it back in and the draw came back and radio came back on. I pulled the radio out and inspected the connection on VSM. It looked like there was something on pins. I cleaned the connection and used a pick to bent the sockets in the connector a touch to make sure it made a good connection. I put some dielectric on the connector and reinstalled. Havent had a problem since.
I think it may have been getting a little heat from the engine and caused the sockets to expand a little so it would mess with the connection.
May be something to try, and it wont cost anything but time.
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tomf250
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
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Apr 28, 2005 05:23 AM
