VSM
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 9
From: Minnesota
Thank you!
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Good info guys, thanks again. I'm looking at the 160HD from here:
1999- Ford 7.3L, 6.0L, 6.4L, 6.7L Power Stroke Diesel Heavy Duty 6G Series 160 Amp Alternator Upgrade
Hopefully they can ship quickly.
1999- Ford 7.3L, 6.0L, 6.4L, 6.7L Power Stroke Diesel Heavy Duty 6G Series 160 Amp Alternator Upgrade
Hopefully they can ship quickly.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 2
From: Bend Oregon
I had to get pretty pissy to get my money back
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
That's the same one I bought, Joe. Like I said in my alternator thread where I included a complete writeup of my install (which includes some things that you don't necessarily learn from Quick Start directly)... you can expect up to a 2-day delay before the alt will ship, depending on the time of day when you make the purchase.
Might speed it up a bit if you place the order over the phone.
Also, Joe, if you get the remote rectifier box, the install gets more complicated and expensive because of the need for a 200amp inline fuse between the bridge recitifer and the battery. You will certainly need to upgrade your cable, and the simplest way to do that is to leave the existing OEM cable in place and simply run a second pair of cables to the driver side battery which will effectively give you the same benefit as a larger single cable. I would run a 4AWG series, and a 2AWG series cable would be the most ideal.
Jim... Joe's link is to the place where I bought mine.
Here's the link to the thread with my install writeup... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post9198653
Might speed it up a bit if you place the order over the phone.
Also, Joe, if you get the remote rectifier box, the install gets more complicated and expensive because of the need for a 200amp inline fuse between the bridge recitifer and the battery. You will certainly need to upgrade your cable, and the simplest way to do that is to leave the existing OEM cable in place and simply run a second pair of cables to the driver side battery which will effectively give you the same benefit as a larger single cable. I would run a 4AWG series, and a 2AWG series cable would be the most ideal.
Jim... Joe's link is to the place where I bought mine.
Here's the link to the thread with my install writeup... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post9198653
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 8
From: Hutchinson, KS
Joe-
I had issues with mine when I bought the truck. It was like the crew cab doors didn't exist. Everything else worked fine though. I finally traced it to the VSM not being programmed correctly or it was bad. Bought a brand new one on a Sat. from Ford only to find out that it HAS to be programmed for the pickup by Ford. Took the rig in to have them program the new one only to find out that the old one was fine. It could have likely been reprogrammed and I wouldn't have even needed the new one.
I've still got my old one I could ship you. It will need reprogrammed for the crew cab eventually, but it'll work just fine for everything else now. At least get you back on the road without spending alot of time and money at the ford dealership.
To get to it, it's mounted on the interior side of the firewall. Dead center of the cab. You need to remove the big bezel that covers the instrument cluster and where the radio mounts. I found it best to also remove the lower center section of the dash (where the cupholders, trashhook, and cig lighter are). Gave me WAY more room.
Let me know if I can help. Been holding onto it, but since I don't have my '02 SD anymore, I really have no use for it.
I had issues with mine when I bought the truck. It was like the crew cab doors didn't exist. Everything else worked fine though. I finally traced it to the VSM not being programmed correctly or it was bad. Bought a brand new one on a Sat. from Ford only to find out that it HAS to be programmed for the pickup by Ford. Took the rig in to have them program the new one only to find out that the old one was fine. It could have likely been reprogrammed and I wouldn't have even needed the new one.
I've still got my old one I could ship you. It will need reprogrammed for the crew cab eventually, but it'll work just fine for everything else now. At least get you back on the road without spending alot of time and money at the ford dealership.
To get to it, it's mounted on the interior side of the firewall. Dead center of the cab. You need to remove the big bezel that covers the instrument cluster and where the radio mounts. I found it best to also remove the lower center section of the dash (where the cupholders, trashhook, and cig lighter are). Gave me WAY more room.
Let me know if I can help. Been holding onto it, but since I don't have my '02 SD anymore, I really have no use for it.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Replaced my VSM
I JUST REPLACED MY VSM ON MY 2002 CC DUALLY, AND IT TOOK CARE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS (radio, door locks, door ajar lite, auto headlights on, power windows, etc. associated with the VSM.)
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New User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
So, is this VSM the likely cause of my dome, cargo and coutesy lights not coming on anymore, suddenly and w/o warning.?
I check all bulbs, fuses and connections. Cleaned and lubed all four door latches...
Any insight?
I check all bulbs, fuses and connections. Cleaned and lubed all four door latches...
Any insight?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
That depends 99-01 had a GEM and 02-03 had a VSM
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Middleburg , Fl
hi jim. sorry to butt in! the gem module was from 97 to 01. where in fl is he? i have a vcm and access to oasis. if he is anywhere on the east coast i can check it for him, if it needs to be reprogramed i can do it as well. i transport cars from jax and orlando down south. let me know if i can be of assistance. if it is bad there is a company in ft. lauderdale that you can get a rebuilt one for 200. i will find the contact info when i get home.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
hi jim. sorry to butt in! the gem module was from 97 to 01. where in fl is he? i have a vcm and access to oasis. if he is anywhere on the east coast i can check it for him, if it needs to be reprogramed i can do it as well. i transport cars from jax and orlando down south. let me know if i can be of assistance. if it is bad there is a company in ft. lauderdale that you can get a rebuilt one for 200. i will find the contact info when i get home.
It is all good. I am not to sure where Joe is in FL now. He is on vacation. I can try to give him a call. Once again thanks for your more than genrous offers to help!!
I'll get all caught up when I get settled....