!998 4.6 Lund Stepside Sport
Good truck and no real problems, except....

1. Windows will operate normally- UNTIL they don't.
This almost seems to be on some sort of timer... wait 8 minutes or so and they will work again AND it appears to be tied to.....
2. The interior lights (doors, and dome), they follow the same sort of pattern.
They work... and then they don't... and then they do. If they are on the windows will work
3. The "relay clicking" can be heard from below the steering column, in the area around the fuse panel/pedals.

Not related to interior, but...
4. It sounds like the A/C compressor is cycling on and off about every 20 seconds, when turned off at the panel.
Have not had a chance to verify, yet, but there isn't much that can engage - disengage under the hood, except the compressor (?)


After reading the manual a couple times, and everything I've searched and found - this sounds like the mysterious GEM?
And if so, what the heck is a GEM? What's in there?

 

It's Ford's mystery box that controls a number of things. I don't know what all but I had to bypass it to get my window to roll down and I took the interior lights out, don't need them anyway. It doesn't look like much fun to get to so I took the easy way out.

 

Well, Ive figured out what it is supposed to do, and where it is, now that I know it exists.
Im one of those kooks that wants everything to work LOL, and since nothing is ever any fun to get at, I will have to just roll with that.
I hope someone can go someway towards confirming the likelihood of the GEM being the problem.

Thanks for your feedback!

 

Mine was doing all the things yours was, plus some. GEM module on mine got wet from the dreaded leaks getting in to it. Replaced with known good unit and everything is fine. Key fob will not work now though. Which doesn't bother me. Cracked mine open and had definite water damage. Think I fixed leaks , but silicone the top and connectors water tight on GEM and fuse box. Working good still after 1 year. You can find plenty on here searching for GEM.

 

thanks for the feedback. They arent hard to find and not really bad expensive. Ill pick one up - and have at it

 

Check out the windshield leaking water onto your GEM...

 

yeah that is a possibility. It doesnt appear to be a problem but I havent had it all the way off yet
Thanks for you help

 

Your Symptoms seem similar to mine when my GEM went bad as well. On top of what yours is doing, I also had issues with wipers and 4x4 due to it. I do believe the GEM you buy needs to have all the same functions as your truck originally did or else it wont work right. For example, If your truck has the electric 4x4 switch on the dash, and you get a GEM out of a truck with the floor shifter for 4x4, then your 4x4 wont work. the same applies to power seats/windows/pedals/ etc...

When I replaced mine, I talked to a parts department representative at a dealership and told them my VIN, and they told me the exact part numbers I needed to look up to find my new GEM and it worked out great.

Good luck on finding and replacing it! its always fun trying to be a contortionist under the dash.

 

My window (driver door only, Std. Cab) does not go down while in R or D, but works properly in P and N. My dome light, and the door open light, remain on for extended periods of time occasionally. The dome light usually turns off quickly, but sometimes remains on. When you get out and shut the door, the light remains on for several seconds, then fades to off, the problem I have is that the light remains on after Engine Start but behaves like the truck is parked. Combined with the window behavior, I'm just learning about the GEM module, and I think I need a new one.

 

Just pull the two connectors on the keyless entry module and see if it persists, maybe water is getting into this its above your left drivers foot under the dash.
Who needs all that fancy stuff anyhow?