Battery Voltage
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From: Burbank, CA
Correct pawpaw, the "problem" is what's telling the GEM to send power to the BSR. An actual test (and Ohm's law) confirms the 200mA parasitic draw is from the relay's 65 Ohm coil.
I did find abandoned speaker wires indicating the PO had been messin' in there. I'll check further into chafed/grounded wires. Thanks for all your info. I'll post results.
I did find abandoned speaker wires indicating the PO had been messin' in there. I'll check further into chafed/grounded wires. Thanks for all your info. I'll post results.
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From: SW Va
Yup. if he's cut into & tried to use that wire as ground for something else, or has left the cut away insulation unrepaired, all it has to do is ground itself & the relay contacts will always be closed, no matter what the GEM is doing!!!! If thats so, there isn't likely anything wrong with the GEM.
To find out, pull the relay & check that wires resistance to ground.
If you can get to it's GEM connector & take it loose there & check the wire & it's GEM's connection for continuity to ground, you'd know which one has a problem.
Edit: As I uderstand it, the GEM, like the ECM, just switches grounds.
SO, one side of the BSR relay operating coil will always have B+ to it & the GEM just switches the relay coils ground connection, to cause it's conacts to open or close.
SO, if that relays ground side wire has damaged insulation & is shorted to ground, or has been tapped into, in an attempt to provide a ground for something else, that something else could be providing a ground loop thats causing the relay to always be operating, no matter what the GEM is trying to do.
To find out, pull the relay & check that wires resistance to ground.
If you can get to it's GEM connector & take it loose there & check the wire & it's GEM's connection for continuity to ground, you'd know which one has a problem.
Edit: As I uderstand it, the GEM, like the ECM, just switches grounds.
SO, one side of the BSR relay operating coil will always have B+ to it & the GEM just switches the relay coils ground connection, to cause it's conacts to open or close.
SO, if that relays ground side wire has damaged insulation & is shorted to ground, or has been tapped into, in an attempt to provide a ground for something else, that something else could be providing a ground loop thats causing the relay to always be operating, no matter what the GEM is trying to do.
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Junior User
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From: Burbank, CA
Update...
Testing the BSR's socket for voltage I found the GEM sending 12V for exactly 40 minutes then shutting off like it's supposed to. With the relay back in it never goes to sleep. I then added a 5µ resistor in series with the relay's 64 coil and all was well, telling me it was faulty...but still working.
I bought a Ford relay (66µ) and a no-name 88µ relay and they both work. I left the 88µ relay in because it drew less than 200mA. (The relay with mounting tab cost $2.50 )
Conclusion; the BSR must have a few shorted windings giving it less resistance and sending false info back to the GEM. Everyone with this mysterious .2 Amp (200mA) drain can be assured it's from the relay itself, not something it's controlling.
Testing the BSR's socket for voltage I found the GEM sending 12V for exactly 40 minutes then shutting off like it's supposed to. With the relay back in it never goes to sleep. I then added a 5µ resistor in series with the relay's 64 coil and all was well, telling me it was faulty...but still working.
I bought a Ford relay (66µ) and a no-name 88µ relay and they both work. I left the 88µ relay in because it drew less than 200mA. (The relay with mounting tab cost $2.50 )
Conclusion; the BSR must have a few shorted windings giving it less resistance and sending false info back to the GEM. Everyone with this mysterious .2 Amp (200mA) drain can be assured it's from the relay itself, not something it's controlling.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: SW Va
Danged good trouble shooting find, fix & feeback & to hear the fix is so afforadable & easy to do.
This is sure to save a bunch of batteries over time.
Edit: Worthy of a sticky in the Tech Info thread imo & i'm going to recommend so.
Another thump on the head for a pesky relay.
Wonder where all these troublesome relays Ford comes by are made, far east you suppose????
This is sure to save a bunch of batteries over time.
Edit: Worthy of a sticky in the Tech Info thread imo & i'm going to recommend so.
Another thump on the head for a pesky relay.
Wonder where all these troublesome relays Ford comes by are made, far east you suppose????
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From: Lancaster, CA
93 Ranger XLT 4.0L
my son's battery gauge is pegged to the left completely out of the normal range where it should be, any ideas what would cause that? It doesn't seem to move at all. Maybe a lose ground or something?
my son's battery gauge is pegged to the left completely out of the normal range where it should be, any ideas what would cause that? It doesn't seem to move at all. Maybe a lose ground or something?
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
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From: SW Va
Could be a number of things, from no alternator output, to a gauge or circuit board or wiring problem.
Or maybe a reverse polarity jump start thats slammed the volt meter movement negative!!!!!
Maybe run this puppy by your favorite autoparts store for a no cost, in vehicle electrical system check up, via their portable electrical system tester. It can properly load test the vehicles electrical system components for performance.
Expertly used, it can spot things like alternator & battery output poblems, excessive battery cable voltage drop, or high resistance ground connections & excessive parasitic drain problems.
Let us know what you find.
Or maybe a reverse polarity jump start thats slammed the volt meter movement negative!!!!!
Maybe run this puppy by your favorite autoparts store for a no cost, in vehicle electrical system check up, via their portable electrical system tester. It can properly load test the vehicles electrical system components for performance.
Expertly used, it can spot things like alternator & battery output poblems, excessive battery cable voltage drop, or high resistance ground connections & excessive parasitic drain problems.
Let us know what you find.
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