OK. I'm starting this thread so as to not hijack Joe's.

Vehicle: 2003 Excursion, 7.3L, Eddie Bauer trim, no electronic mods at all, but i have had to remove and re-install the alternator several times recently while upgrading the alternator on my F250 (had to run the truck several days whil waiting on all components for the alternator upgrade to arrive adn get the install completed - disconnected both batterys for each swap).

Symptoms.
1. Out of the blue, our second remote stopped working altogether. Replaced the remote's battery with another CR2032, 3v brand new battery that has not expired. Still doesn't work. The first remote still works flawlessly, but we need more than one remote since this is a family vehicle.
2. I have tried repeatedly, at least 10 times, and cannot get the vehicle to enter "program mode" to try two other remotes that I have.
3. The keypad entry system will lock the doors, but will not unlock them at all.

Actions to-date:
1. I've read through a number of threads regarding replacement of the VSM.
2. Called a local dealer to talk about the issue (frustrating conversation).
3. Tried contacting a local diesel performance shop to see if the owner can do the VSM programming for me (he is also one of my customers, so if he can, he will), but he has not gotten back from his weekend yet.
4. Verified fuses are good (academic only since one of the remotes is actually working).

Assistance requested:
From my reading here in FTE, the dealer has to do the programming on the new VSM, and that they can do so with simply having the new VSM installed and a copy of the vehicle's build sheet. My dealer is telling me that they have to first upload the info from the original VSM and then re-load that info into the new VSM. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be strongarmed into letting them do the swap if I can do it myself. Someone please steer me correctly on this issue.

Like always, I appreciate you guys' experiential knowledge and wisdom on this issue.

Thanks

 

I am assuming you have the correct programming instructions... but if not.. try these:
Ford : Car Remote, Keyless Entry Remote, Keyfob, Key fob, Remote Transmitter

 

Here is a bump for you Pete. Sorry I can't be of much help, but closest I have come would be the GEM model. I lost power windows and keyless entry on mine and got the exact same run around from the dealer. In the end I bought a used GEM for cheap and had it reprogramed by one of Ziggy's friends at RRE.

 

I am using the correct programming instructions, which is... Get in, shut doors, key on-off 8 times in 10 seconds with the 8th time being left in the "on" position. At this point, the door locks are supposed to cycle to verify that I am in "programming mode", but this cycling of the locks simply does not take place at all. I even verified this procedure with the instructions via AE's Enhanced Ford Bundle.

I've also spoken with Ed since initiating this thread, and he tells me that for the Excursion, the VSM is an integral part of the Instrument Cluster and he cannot find a separate part number for it like there is on the pickups. NOT good!!

EDIT:

More research has led me to see that the door keypad is controlled by the GEM, and the remotes are controlled by the VSM. The only thing I can find on the wiring diagrams for the instrument cluster is related to the PATS transceiver which has nothing to do with either of the other two modules. Talk about being more confused than ever!!

 

No more insights?

 

Pete, I have a hard time understanding why Ford would introduce the VSM on the 2002 and then eliminate them on the 03 Ex......

Have you tried to visually locate the VSM on the Ex? Just above the tranny hump with 3 electrical connectors.

I would say that if one FOB works and the other does not that it would not be the VSM not seeing the signal but rather a bad FOB. I had a chebby that one FOB solder joint on the battery connector broke loose and a soldering pencil fixed it up.

I know when my VSM on my 02 started going, both FOBs did exactly the same screwy stuff, both would work or not work intermittently until the VSM finally died.

None of this explains why you can't get it into program mode though..........

 

Subscribing to learn more.

 

Marv:

No, I have not looked under the dash yet, but will be doing so today if possible (intermittent rain and thunderstorms have limited my ability to work on it with the doors open).

I understand what you're saying, and have been thinking along the same lines of a potentially bad fob, but the fact that I cannot get the vehicle into program mode does suggest something vehicle-specific (shorted wire, bad module, kinked up programming on a good module, bad relay switch, etc.). It's going to take some time to track this down.

At least for now I know I can use my key without the fob and still be able to start the vehicle as well as lock it completely with the door keypad, so I can get by until I either trace down the root cause, just choose to live with it indefinitely, or just start replacing parts until it gets resolved. Once I get resolution, I'll post up my findings.

 

No solution yet, but the last working key fob has stopped working, and the door keypad no longer works at all either. For some reason, I also cannot get my F250 to go into program mode now. I'm going to have to dig these issues out from the back burner and get some resolutions.

 

The preferred method is to extract the programming from the old module first to use on the new one. If this is not possible they use the build sheet to key the programming in manually, which obviously takes longer and allows for possible errors.

 

don't know whats up with FTE today but it is dragging azz and I keep getting error messages