Electrical system has become possessed
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Electrical system has become possessed
Please bear with me, this may take awhile to explain!
'97 F150 4.6 liter 182,000 miles.
I bought the truck about 6 yrs ago, Since the day I've owned it, it has had a few minor electrical issues that didn't bother me too much, mostly dealing with various switches:
1. Intermittent wipers switch was always erratic
2. Overdrive switch on shifter didn't work, but remained in overdrive, so that was ok with me
3. Blower switch only works on position 3 & 4, replaced switch to no avail, but no big deal.
Now the interesting part, Battery, although old, has worked strongly up until now. Truck was parked for 2 days, went to start it and battery was 100% completely dead (not even a dome light) put a charger on it, was able to get it started, but just barely, Drove truck for about half an hour and parked it. Next day it was completely dead again. Replaced battery with brand new one. Drove to work in the rain with wipers working fine. When i got to work, put truck in drive and I noticed the "OFF" light for the overdrive button was blinking, this light has never worked since I owned the truck, Turn key off and revomed from ignition, light kept blinking, radio kept playing! Re-started truck and turned back off, everything went off as it was supposed to. Came out from work, started to drive home in the rain, wipers did not work at all, power windows did not work at all either. stopped at parts store to buy some fuses. Come out, start truck, wipers are working, windows are working! On the way home, driver window stops working, passenger window still works. Park truck in driveway, remove key, blower motor keeps running!! 5 minutes later all exterior lights start flash rapidly (similar to a strobe light) then they stopped. I also noticed drivers window works fine when in park, but not when in drive. Blower motor was still running, so I disconnected battery and came in the house to write this long drawn out question! All these issues have started in the last 2 days and each one is itermittent and independant of the other. Does anyone out there know WTF is going on here????
Sorry again for the length of the question.
'97 F150 4.6 liter 182,000 miles.
I bought the truck about 6 yrs ago, Since the day I've owned it, it has had a few minor electrical issues that didn't bother me too much, mostly dealing with various switches:
1. Intermittent wipers switch was always erratic
2. Overdrive switch on shifter didn't work, but remained in overdrive, so that was ok with me
3. Blower switch only works on position 3 & 4, replaced switch to no avail, but no big deal.
Now the interesting part, Battery, although old, has worked strongly up until now. Truck was parked for 2 days, went to start it and battery was 100% completely dead (not even a dome light) put a charger on it, was able to get it started, but just barely, Drove truck for about half an hour and parked it. Next day it was completely dead again. Replaced battery with brand new one. Drove to work in the rain with wipers working fine. When i got to work, put truck in drive and I noticed the "OFF" light for the overdrive button was blinking, this light has never worked since I owned the truck, Turn key off and revomed from ignition, light kept blinking, radio kept playing! Re-started truck and turned back off, everything went off as it was supposed to. Came out from work, started to drive home in the rain, wipers did not work at all, power windows did not work at all either. stopped at parts store to buy some fuses. Come out, start truck, wipers are working, windows are working! On the way home, driver window stops working, passenger window still works. Park truck in driveway, remove key, blower motor keeps running!! 5 minutes later all exterior lights start flash rapidly (similar to a strobe light) then they stopped. I also noticed drivers window works fine when in park, but not when in drive. Blower motor was still running, so I disconnected battery and came in the house to write this long drawn out question! All these issues have started in the last 2 days and each one is itermittent and independant of the other. Does anyone out there know WTF is going on here????
Sorry again for the length of the question.
OVERTHINKER
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 9
From: Lebanon, TN
It's a GEM failure 
You have probably got a leak in your windshield at the base on the driver side and water is getting into the GEM. Very common F150 problem. Hit the search button and read for days about it.
I have A.D.D and almost didn't make it thought this one!
You have probably got a leak in your windshield at the base on the driver side and water is getting into the GEM. Very common F150 problem. Hit the search button and read for days about it.I have A.D.D and almost didn't make it thought this one!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 168
Likes: 3
From: northern MN
the GEM failure kinda popped into my head too when you mentioned it happened when it was raining.
your origional post, although long, did have a bit of humor to it when i visualized all this stuff happening though!
your origional post, although long, did have a bit of humor to it when i visualized all this stuff happening though!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Thanks guys, and again I apologize for the length of the post.
And now for the really stupid questions:
What is a GEM ( I assume it's "blank" Electronic Module)
Where is it located (again, I'm gonna guess, under hood, LH side near firewall??)
How much do they cost?
Is it a fairly simple install? (Plug and Play?)
Believe it or not, I used to be a mechanic, but that was over 25 yrs ago and since then I've tried at all costs not to get too involved fixin' cars, as you can tell.
Thanks again.
And now for the really stupid questions:
What is a GEM ( I assume it's "blank" Electronic Module)
Where is it located (again, I'm gonna guess, under hood, LH side near firewall??)
How much do they cost?
Is it a fairly simple install? (Plug and Play?)
Believe it or not, I used to be a mechanic, but that was over 25 yrs ago and since then I've tried at all costs not to get too involved fixin' cars, as you can tell.
Thanks again.