Where is Keyless Entry Module Located? 98 Taurus SE

[loobett]

My keyless entry suddenly does not work and I'm wondering if maybe the module went bad. The manual doesn't indicate where it is nor does it show the remote entry system has a fuse that has possibly blown. Does anyone know why the keyless entry malfunctioned? Also, I tried cycling the ignition on and off to reset the remotes but the locks didn't lock and unlock like they were supposed to. So, obviously something is going on with the system. Something else weird and probably unrelated has happened as well; My radio now stays on with the key out of the ignition whether or not the door is open or closed. I can turn the radio off but the clock still stays on when it normally shouldn't. When I press on the brake, turn on a light, or anything that draws power while the car is off, it temporarily shuts the radio and clock off for at least as long as power is being drawn away from it. Can anyone help Please? Thank you.

[shorod]

Originally Posted by loobett

My keyless entry suddenly does not work and I'm wondering if maybe the module went bad. The manual doesn't indicate where it is nor does it show the remote entry system has a fuse that has possibly blown. Does anyone know why the keyless entry malfunctioned? Also, I tried cycling the ignition on and off to reset the remotes but the locks didn't lock and unlock like they were supposed to. So, obviously something is going on with the system. Something else weird and probably unrelated has happened as well; My radio now stays on with the key out of the ignition whether or not the door is open or closed. I can turn the radio off but the clock still stays on when it normally shouldn't. When I press on the brake, turn on a light, or anything that draws power while the car is off, it temporarily shuts the radio and clock off for at least as long as power is being drawn away from it. Can anyone help Please? Thank you.

On my 98 Taurus SHO the keyless entry module is located under the dash, above the accelerator pedal. On mine, there is a sticker on the side of the module with the factory keypad code. Do you have the keypad on the door for remote entry as well? If so, does that work?

As for the goofy electrical issues with the radio, the delayed entry functions are controlled by the Generic Electronic Module (GEM) which is located between the firewall and the interior fuse panel under the dash. The GEM also monitors any ajar doors, key position, door lock request, seat belt connected, provides warning chimes, alarm status, etc. Sounds like the GEM module might be the place to start. Are you good with a multimeter? I could post the wiring diagrams for the GEM module if you would like.

-Rod

[loobett]

Originally Posted by shorod

On my 98 Taurus SHO the keyless entry module is located under the dash, above the accelerator pedal. On mine, there is a sticker on the side of the module with the factory keypad code. Do you have the keypad on the door for remote entry as well? If so, does that work?

As for the goofy electrical issues with the radio, the delayed entry functions are controlled by the Generic Electronic Module (GEM) which is located between the firewall and the interior fuse panel under the dash. The GEM also monitors any ajar doors, key position, door lock request, seat belt connected, provides warning chimes, alarm status, etc. Sounds like the GEM module might be the place to start. Are you good with a multimeter? I could post the wiring diagrams for the GEM module if you would like.

-Rod

Thanks for responding. OK, I don't have the door keypad entry I was referring to the keyfob when I mentioned remote entry...sorry. Is there a module for that which may have malfunctioned? And I mentioned that I could not reprogram my keyfob because when I cycled the ignition from run to on 5 times in rapid succession like the manual states, the doors didn't lock and unlock like they were supposed to.
I've never used a multimeter....Is it something I could quickly learn and use? If so you could go ahead and post the wiring diagrams.
Does the GEM control the keyless entry as well?
Another weird thing happened today....twice today....When I pushed the unlock button on my door (driver's side) the trunk popped open at the same time. Weird huh?
Thanks again, hope you can still help me out.

[shorod]

Originally Posted by loobett

Thanks for responding. OK, I don't have the door keypad entry I was referring to the keyfob when I mentioned remote entry...sorry. Is there a module for that which may have malfunctioned? And I mentioned that I could not reprogram my keyfob because when I cycled the ignition from run to on 5 times in rapid succession like the manual states, the doors didn't lock and unlock like they were supposed to.
I've never used a multimeter....Is it something I could quickly learn and use? If so you could go ahead and post the wiring diagrams.
Does the GEM control the keyless entry as well?
Another weird thing happened today....twice today....When I pushed the unlock button on my door (driver's side) the trunk popped open at the same time. Weird huh?
Thanks again, hope you can still help me out.

If you don't have an anti-theft system, then the trunk release is simply a relay and a switch to activate a solenoid in the trunk powered through a fuse. If you do have anti-theft (blinking "Theft" light on dash when key is removed from ignition) then the trunk release can also be activated through the Remote Anti-theft Personality (RAP) module in parallel with the switch and relay setup. If your car has the RAP module, the RAP module interfaces with the GEM.

The GEM controls the keyless entry functions.

-Rod

[Micaron]

This could also be a problem with the Key Fob itself.
If you pressed the Door Unlock button and the truck released, this could be a sign of a faulty fob. Any Ford dealership has a ton of these in a box in someones office. If you use a dealership and have a relationship with anyone working there, they will most likely give you a new fob. It's worth a try.

As for cycling the key switch on and off, try it again, but try it 6 - 7 times instead of stopping at 5 to see if the door locks work...

Not sure about the "radio" problem though. Is this vehicle equipped so that the radio stays on after you normally turn off the ignition? My Explorer does, but when I open a door, everything shuts off... if your'sis equipped this way, then there could be a Relay problem...

[loobett]

Originally Posted by Micaron

This could also be a problem with the Key Fob itself.
If you pressed the Door Unlock button and the truck released, this could be a sign of a faulty fob. Any Ford dealership has a ton of these in a box in someones office. If you use a dealership and have a relationship with anyone working there, they will most likely give you a new fob. It's worth a try.

As for cycling the key switch on and off, try it again, but try it 6 - 7 times instead of stopping at 5 to see if the door locks work...

Not sure about the "radio" problem though. Is this vehicle equipped so that the radio stays on after you normally turn off the ignition? My Explorer does, but when I open a door, everything shuts off... if your'sis equipped this way, then there could be a Relay problem...

Thanks for replying. When I pressed the door unlock button it was on my door itself, not the keyfob. I also tried the key cycling thing a different number of times and it still did not work. My 98 Taurus isn't designed to leave the radio on when I turn off the ignition. Everything is supposed to shut off when I turn off the ignition. I eventually brought the car to a Ford dealership and you would think they could figure out the problem . They did diagnostics and came up with nothing. So they told me they would have to take apart the whole dashboard which would cost me about $600 and then they can TRY to find out what the problem was whether it could be a short somewhere or a bad module of some kind. So they quoted me anywhere from $602-1000 out the door! The car is a 1998 and the repair cost is about half the cars worth. So I'm hoping it's something simple I can fix myself. Are you familiar with the GEM Module and what it does? If you are maybe you can reply in detail wheteher or not that could be the problem.