Looking for some help or validation I'm on the right track. I've done a little searching and I have a feeling I know what the answer may be. Here's the story...

I've been trying to fix a few small things on my dad's old 2001 F150 to get it ready to sell. Just about where it needs to be. My mom came over and did a thorough cleaning of the interior last week, and I moved it back to where I've been parking it...thought nothing else of it. I go to get in it today, and the battery is dead as can be. I use my truck to jump start it and try to figure out what's going on. I noticed the dome light was staying on no matter what I did. Had a thought, and checked the little wheel on the dash to dim the interior lights, and sure enough, it had been clicked into the "on" position. I move it off that, and this buzzing starts coming from the dash. After listening all around and poking and things, I discover it's coming from the "interior lamp" relay in the fuse box. I pull the relay for now to keep the lights off and hopefully not drain the battery again.

After doing some reading here and seeing where people are talking about wet GEM modules, I do remember seeing a small little puddle of water on the floormat, so I assume the windshield is leaking and/or something around the wiper cowl.

So...

Do I go ahead and replace the GEM module? If so, are junkyards/ebay the only options?
Is the relay fine...is it designed to buzz like this when there's an issue?

Any insight is much appreciated.

*Note: The battery probably died from the dimmer light switch last week. Yesterday was the first time it's rained since then. Could the module just need to dry out?

*Note2: There's also a continual clicking from the ABS module area it sounds like, with the truck off.

 

Replace the relay...

 

Figured I probably would since that should be cheap.

Watching more Youtube videos that appear like it could potential be either the GEM and/or the fuse box as well.

 

I wouldn't load and start firing the parts cannon just yet. Replace the relay and see if it solves your problem. If not then you can remove and inspect the GEM. Following inspection then you will know more and can decide how to best proceed

 

Heh, parts cannon. I wasn't going to just start buying stuff considering how expensive some of this older electronic stuff is. I did start digging more and found a good Youtube video with some of the weird symptoms I've noticed. I'm wondering if this isn't the cause of a few other odd things I've noticed...particularly an ABS issue I've been chasing. (before I pulled this, with the truck off, no key in it, locked and just sitting, the ABS module was clicking nonstop).

I pulled the GEM and fuse box out to inspect. To me, the GEM looks fine inside...





What doesn't look fine, and what I expected to find after the Youtube video, is the inside of the fuse box...just a few of the layers, but you get the idea...





I might see how this cleans up and go from there. At least fuse boxes can be had for <$100 on ebay...the worry there is getting one that's the same way.

 

Posting these updates in the event they can someone in the future...

Digging further. I was going through and looking closer at the corrosion on the "layers" and found this...



That part in the middle isn't supposed to be burned in two. Not sure what that one goes to, but whatever it is isn't working.

No reason to try saving this one. Going to hunt for a decent used one.

 

How did you open up the fuse box?

 

Excellent posts Thunder, thanks for sharing!

 

I went by the methods in this video, works perfectly...


You basically drill out the back of the 'through' bolts, where the big harnesses bolt on. From there, you can use a thin screwdriver and start to pry the plastic case apart. Go slowly to avoid breaking anything. With one half of the plastic case, you'll notice some of the metal straps start to come out. They just push through the plastic, so just kinda help them by pushing the pins through. Patience and a long thin screwdriver are key to getting the layers apart. Once you see how it all goes together, it makes pretty good sense. All the straps are numbered where they fit back into their layer, so as long as you stay organized and the order things come apart, it's not too bad.

I found a replacement fuse box on ebay this morning with a GEM module still attached for $50 shipped from a reputable seller. I figure if the GEM part number matches, I'll have a spare, and if I don't need it, back to ebay it goes.

Thanks! I was a big forum guy back in the early 2000's, and it's a shame many of them have dried up with social media. Forums are a wealth of archived knowledge.

 

I chased the same problems for 3yrs and it was a bad ground on the passenger side behind the kick plate