1997 F-150 electrical issues
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Joined: Jun 2011
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1997 F-150 electrical issues
I bought a 1997 Ford F-150 regular cab 2WD for my son who is about to start driving. It has 171,000 miles on the clock. Interior is excellent and the body perfect. It also just got a new coil pack, alternator and battery checked and torque converter.
To start the engine the factory fitted alarm (no auto door lock) had to be disarmed or the engine will not turn over.
In the last month the car battery was found dead. TWICE. The alarm would not disarm and clearly there was no dashboard lights. Easily started by jumping the battery and had no problems for a couple of weeks. During this time I noticed the park lights came on twice by themselves. They would go off when I press arm on the key fob.
Occasionally the sound of the arm/disarm alarm could be heard but the keys were hanging on a key hook so it wasn't accidental.
I would be happy to simply remove the factory fitted alarm system or permanently disarm the thing. Perhaps it may be something more sinister. I have checked lights, radio etc.. to see if something is drawing power but with no luck.
I know this problem sounds unique and could be a nasty electrical issue but someone else out there could have had the same problem. Possibly the GEM module or something else. Just don't want to spend a fortune if it's possibly something simple.
Just want a safe vehicle for my kid and not worry about him stranded somewhere in the woods and can't start the truck.
Thanks.
Tony
To start the engine the factory fitted alarm (no auto door lock) had to be disarmed or the engine will not turn over.
In the last month the car battery was found dead. TWICE. The alarm would not disarm and clearly there was no dashboard lights. Easily started by jumping the battery and had no problems for a couple of weeks. During this time I noticed the park lights came on twice by themselves. They would go off when I press arm on the key fob.
Occasionally the sound of the arm/disarm alarm could be heard but the keys were hanging on a key hook so it wasn't accidental.
I would be happy to simply remove the factory fitted alarm system or permanently disarm the thing. Perhaps it may be something more sinister. I have checked lights, radio etc.. to see if something is drawing power but with no luck.
I know this problem sounds unique and could be a nasty electrical issue but someone else out there could have had the same problem. Possibly the GEM module or something else. Just don't want to spend a fortune if it's possibly something simple.
Just want a safe vehicle for my kid and not worry about him stranded somewhere in the woods and can't start the truck.
Thanks.
Tony
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 39
From: Easton, Pa.
I waited awhile for some other input so here is a place to begin eliminating.
The alternator may have a shorted rectifier stack. This fault will drain the battery depending on the extent of the shorting resistance as to the length of time it takes to run it down.
check the charge system for full operation. After jump starting the voltage at the battery should be something over 15.5 volts and taper down as the battery charge recovers.
Low voltage affects a lot of electronic circuits even when the truck in not running.
An example depending on the age of the battery and it's quality, a truck left setting for much more than 3 months will have a battery below min to keep the computer alive.
If no issue is found then continue on looking at other possibilities.
Good luck.
The alternator may have a shorted rectifier stack. This fault will drain the battery depending on the extent of the shorting resistance as to the length of time it takes to run it down.
check the charge system for full operation. After jump starting the voltage at the battery should be something over 15.5 volts and taper down as the battery charge recovers.
Low voltage affects a lot of electronic circuits even when the truck in not running.
An example depending on the age of the battery and it's quality, a truck left setting for much more than 3 months will have a battery below min to keep the computer alive.
If no issue is found then continue on looking at other possibilities.
Good luck.