Battery Draining - Possible GEM module(s)

[fornarog]

My battery has been draining.

My mechanic buddy told me that the front GEM module appears to be the problem, but the rear module might also be involved.

He says there is no way for him to repair this because it is a ford programmable part and I will have to take it to the dealer.

Is there a way to do without / bypass this part and have the vehicle operational?

Anyone have any experience with one of these things crapping out?

Are there any "warnings" I need to know about before taking this to the dealer?

Thanks!

Greg

[12Ounce]

If this is a new problem for you, the cause is probably something simple.

A little trial and error ...unplugging various relays and fuses may find it for you. Obviously, it would be much easier if you had the wiring diagram.

One poster found his rear wiper couldn't get back "home" and this was killing his battery.

[fornarog]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

If this is a new problem for you, the cause is probably something simple.

A little trial and error ...unplugging various relays and fuses may find it for you. Obviously, it would be much easier if you had the wiring diagram.

One poster found his rear wiper couldn't get back "home" and this was killing his battery.

Thanks, I mentioned this possibility to my buddy. He was able to track the drain down to the module(s). Because this is my wife's van and she needs it quickly, I am dropping it at the dealer tomorrow, but it helps to have some insight into what is wrong before you go in there.

[Drewan35]

QUOTE=fornarog]My battery has been draining.Greg[/quote]



Just spent around $800 at the dealer, went in for a battery drain. Van would not start in the mornings, but would hold a charge all day. The dealer first tracked it to the cluster, which I now know is all of the instruments and gages on the dashboard. All one part. Well that helped some of the drain. The Van also had an after market alarm/remote start, which I was told that was the other problem. They wanted $300+ to have it fixed, said it need a new brain. The Item only cost $280 to have put in 3 years ago. So I had them just bypass it. I hope Its not the cluster big Item $. Has been two weeks no more problems.



Ps. Took the dealer, 12 days to fix the problem.

[fornarog]

dealer called at 5:00 last night to tell me nothing was wrong. go figure.

I told him to hold it over night and test it again. I asked him why he would even bother telling me nothing was wrong, when I wouldn't have brought it in if nothing was wrong. Instead, he should say that they hadn't found the problem, YET.

If he tells me again, I'll suggest he let HIS wife and kids drive it for a few days.....

I hate dealers!

[fornarog]

Update - Fri. 2/17

Well the dealer called this morning, they finally saw evidence of the battery draining, but while they were tracing the wires, it stopped, so they said they can't do anything else unless it starts draining again???

Now the weekend is here, I'm stuck in my office 40 miles from home with no vehicle capable of carrying my whole family anywhere, and I have a big Boy Scout function comming up tomorrow.

[12Ounce]

There are so many "hot at all times" circuits on this vehicle now... all the exteriior lamps for instance... there are many little things that can cause battery drains. Of couse, there are some hi-tech reasons also...computer controls that are suppose to "sleep" after the car engine has been shut down a while.

Some year ('99 +) models have a fuse to pull for long term parking... the fuse sits in a special holder to make it easier. See the glove box manual.

When my battery was draining badly... things got so bad, I bought a new battery just to keep tied down in rear end... along with jumper cables. You may find this workable for you ... and not so expensive when you consider the possible savings.

[Drewan35]

Originally Posted by fornarog

Update - Fri. 2/17

Well the dealer called this morning, they finally saw evidence of the battery draining, but while they were tracing the wires, it stopped, so they said they can't do anything else unless it starts draining again???

Now the weekend is here, I'm stuck in my office 40 miles from home with no vehicle capable of carrying my whole family anywhere, and I have a big Boy Scout function comming up tomorrow.

Battery drains are hard to pin point and can be costly to repair. You need to give them the time to get it right. Its one of the things, that may not be a constant drain. They may need to check your van every hour, to find out when it is happening.

Like I said in an earlier post it took 12 days for the dealer to find the drain with my van.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

There are so many "hot at all times" circuits on this vehicle now....

That's what I've come to understand... yet I don't really understand it!?! What do you figure the purpose of this system design is? is it cost savings? simplcity? Seems like a big PITA to me. Would pulling one fuse at a time until the condition stopped help to pinpoint the 'bad' circuit?
Thanks!
Joel

[12Ounce]

I can't make sense of the electrical scheme either. And on top of that, there are some "power relays" that stay energized any time there is a ground path... I have a vague idea of what the designer was after ... but it ain't justified in my book. If you ever try to hook up a trailer, without the towing package, you'll discover some real confusion "opportunities".

My advice to anyone with electrical problems is buy the diagram for your particular model from Helminc.com. Otherwise you're just going to be guessing ... or paying someone else for their guessing.