97 F150 Total Instrument Failure
 

All instruments quit working at once on my 97 F-150 - speed, tach, fuel, volts, temp, odo, trip odo, oil. All idiot lights have failed except battery and seat belt. Indication for Overdrive is not working.

I have checked all other equipment and can find nothing else that is not working. I have checked the 50 A fuses (20 and 21) under the hood and also the 5 A fuse (2) under the dashboard, all are ok. Fuse 18 is also good, and the dashbard illumination is working. All fuses checked visually and with a meter. The annoying chimes are all working. The hi-lo beam indication, auto down feature for the drivers side window, and all features associated with wipers are working.

Checked for OBDII codes, passed with no codes listed, although the idiot light is not working.

I have been searched this site fand read many posts. I think I saw a thread somewhere that stated that this was probably a GEM problem, any ideas?

I had started a thread in the electrical forum but response was light, thought I would try here, seems like there is more traffic here.

no power to dash when the key is in the on pos.? cuz same thing here!

GEM cost about $300 can.

Take a look at this thread, it gives a rundown of what the GEM does.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/185379-how-many-gem-systems.html#post1195869

97 F150 Total Instrument Failure
 

I had the same problem with my '97 F-150. I replaced the GEM and that fixed everything (including the fuel gauge which had always been somewhat erratic). No reprogramming of the new GEM is required with the possible exception of reprogramming the remote door lock transmitters.

I have finally tired of wondering how fast I am going and how much fuel is left. I am going to tackle the GEM. Finally found the information below in an old thread. Looks like it will benefit many others to have some directions when replacing the GEM. I will let you now how it goes:

After rereading your post I should say that I dont think your radio problems are caused by your GEM. Chances are the problem is in the radio unit itself. The other problems could easily be the GEM or fuse box though.
The GEM is attached to the back of the fuse box or as the manual calls it the "instrument fuse junction panel". I guess "fuse box" was too easy :)
Look carefully above the fuse box for any signs of water that has dripped down....stains, clean lines in the dust etc.
I've never had any luck drying out fuse boxes but some people have.
As for what manuals are good.....some people here highly recommend Haynes manuals but I always use genuine Ford ones.
Apparently the Ford cds and dvds can be found easily on Ebay and sell for not too much money. The Ford cds usually cover only one year of either car or truck while the dvds covers many years of all lines.
Also take a look at motorhaven.autoanything.com and see if you can find a manual for your truck there.
A site with some online manuals that isnt too bad is

As for what the GEM controls here is what the manual says....

GEM Features and Functions
The GEM controls the following features:

Wipers/washers (front/rear).
Warning chimes.
Battery saver.
Illuminated entry and courtesy lamps.
Driver power window.
Accessory delay.
4- Wheel drive.


I cant post the pictures from the manual here but the instructions for replacing the GEM/fuse box are.........

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Generic Electronic Module (GEM)

Removal

Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301).

Remove the cover from the instrument panel fuse junction panel.

NOTE: On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, move the shift lever to the 1 position to ease removal.

Carefully press the (A) clips and remove the (B) steering column opening cover.

Postion the hood latch release handle aside.
Remove the screws.
Position the hood latch release aside.

Position the parking brake release handle aside.
Remove the screws.
Position the parking brake release handle aside.

Remove the lower instrument panel steering column cover (044F08).
Remove the six lower instrument panel steering column cover bolts.
Remove the lower instrument panel steering column cover.

Remove the two (A) bulkhead electrical connectors from the (B) instrument panel fuse junction panel.

Remove the two (A) instrument panel fuse junction panel bolts and remove the two (B) interior fuse junction panel nuts.

Disconnect the three (A) GEM/CTM electrical connectors from the (B) GEM/CTM.

Remove the three GEM/CTM screws and the GEM/CTM.


Installation

NOTE: When the battery (10655) is disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the vehicle relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 mi) or more to relearn the strategy.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.
Check for proper operation.



Install the lower instrument panel steering column cover.
Position the lower instrument panel steering column cover.
Install the six bolts.

Install the parking brake release handle.
Position the parking brake release handle.
Install the screws.

Install the hood latch release handle.
Position the hood latch release handle.
Install the screws.

NOTE: On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, move the shift lever to the 1 position to ease installation.

Carefully press the (A) clips and install the (B) steering column opening cover.
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Gem
 

Got the GEM off, took and hour plus. Where can I but this GEM. O'Reillys and Autozone do not know what it is. Dealer? NAPAs are all closed.

:-bangheadCaught the Ford parts guy at quitting time, bought his only one in stock -$270. Installed new GEM. Nothing has changed. No gauges, no idiot lights except seat belts and battery. Double checked all fuses and swapped them around just to triple check (swapped 5s with known working 5s and 50s with 50w).

Everything else still works.:confused:

Any suggestions.

Might seem like a stupid response but it could be the cluster is shot. Proper wiring diagram and diagnostics would be needed, or any other suggestions will be nothing more than a guess.
And of course we can only guess that you received the correct GEM.

Did you check F29 under the dash? It's the one that supplies the cluster along with F2 for the lights and electronics.

Steve

I am having the same problem with my 98. Speedo, tach, odometer,and all the other gauges not working. All the warning lights are ok.

I have checked the fuses and connections to the cluster.

I never did get my instuments working. I changed the the GEM but really there is no way Icould be sure that the parts guy gave me the appropriate part. But I would have thought something would have started working, even if the module was not the correct one for my truck.

I am still doing without. Been a long time since superbowl Sunday, the day that my instruments quit working.

I have not really considered changing out the instrument cluster. Seems like a lot of work and money to just perform more research and development work. The GEM changeout is difficult, but doable if you got patience and beer.

The instrument cluster is actually fairly simple to remove and replace(10-15 minutes), You can probably find a used one for a reasonable price at a local wrecking yard, The light switch must be removed to get to a screw that is located behind it which is probably the hardest part of the remove/install, There are three wiring harnesses that plug into the back of the cluster , Check these to make sure that one has not come loose then move on to the cluster itself.

If your cluster is bad you will need one from a 97 model year, If you can not find one with a tach you can use one without a tach as they are interchangeable.

My truck is a 97 and came with the standard cluster without tachometer, I wanted a tach and bought a cluster from a wrecking yard and installed it and it works perfectly , You must get a cluster from a 1997 if your truck is a 97 , The 97 and 98 both have analog odometers and look identical but they do not interchange as the wiring harness are pinned slightly differently(oil pressure gauge & coolant temp gauge).

The replacement cluster will most likely have different mileage on the odometer and you can either leave it without changing it, You can put your old speedo/odometer in the new cluster or the easiest is to change the mileage on the replacement cluster to match the one you are replacing, To change the mileage you simply remove the clear plastic front cover and using two small flat screw drivers reset the mileage to that of your original odometer, Using one screwdriver to seperate the number cogged wheels and the other to turn the one you need to reset, repeat this on each digit you want to reset.



Just a reminder here that your trucks actual mileage is stored on your trucks computer so keep this in mind when changing the mileage.

The computer will not upgrade the reading on the replacement cluster but when you go to inspection and they plug your truck into their equipment it may show the actual mileage stored in the trucks computer and they may question any difference shown on the actual odometer so I would not recommend setting to lower than your actual miles on truck. I would also recommend getting and keeping the receipt for the replacement cluster

Val

Ok, that is what I will do next.Thanks. Great info, would not of thought that the 97 and 98 were different.

cmorningstar01 - Thanks
 

"The instrument cluster is actually fairly simple to remove and replace(10-15 minutes)" -

That seems amazing. It took a whole lot longer just to remove the fuse block to allow GEM replacement. Does the whole dash have to be pulled. If I search this site will I find a thread that has the directions to do this.


"The light switch must be removed to get to a screw that is located behind it which is probably the hardest part of the remove/install" -

What light switch- headlights?

Do you have an idea what the instrument panel sells for?

I thought they were the same myself and found out the hard way that they were different, he hardest part is the headlight switch removal and it has to come out as there is a screw behind it that holds the bezel in place, You can actually gently spread the bezel away from the dash in that area and slip a screw driver in and depress the detent that holds the headlight switch in place .

The whole dash not have to be removed, Just the bezels surrounding the cluster

Yes the headlight switch is the switch I am referring to as there is a screw behind it that has to come out

I paid $60.00 for a 98 cluster only to find it was wrong then hunted around and found a 97 cluster for $35.00


VJ

I found this link to a thread about getting the instrument cluster out. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ent-lamps.html Not the greatest amount of details, but it is a start. I will start searching for a cluster.

A link with Pictures!
 

The photos will def help, It is not a hard job and unlike the GEM you do not have to lay upside down and backwards to get to it, You can do it all sitting in the drivers seat, I forgot to mention that I would recommend disconnecting the battery cables and that it helps if you put the truck in 1st gear(if its an automatic) which helps lower the shifter out of the way and don't forget to set the parking/emergency brake, I would also recommend replacing the bulbs with new so you do not have to take it apart again to replace a dead bulb later down the line, Overall it is one of the easier projects I have had to do on my truck, Once you have done it once(or twice in my case)it can be done in less than 15 minutes when you have the correct tools handy.
Good luck and let us know how you make out

Val

Success--partially. Replaced the cluster, all the gauges work now, except the tach. I will live with that.

Tach working--needad a "tap "on the cluster to get going.

No instrument readings and no overdrive. Looked at all the fuses, looked good. Took to Ford dealership, $106.00 later fuse f29. Change your fuses that are involved with instrument panel and save some money.

That is incorrect. Only the 99-up F150s got PATS, 97 & 98 did not. The Super Duty line (except Excursion which always had it) didn't get it until the '08 MY.