on Saturday night i was on my way from AZ to Florida and i stopped for gas and my truck wouldnt start back up. in the morning i got a tow from the hotel to an Advance Auto parts because i thought i was having issues with the solenoid. i bought a new one but when the truck came off the truck i tried to crank it to show the driver what it was doing, and it started up, but it didnt sound pretty. somewhere between electric shocking and grinding. i made it to florida but i have not had A/C, Heating, Power Windows, 4x4, or a radio since the issue on Saturday night. I just replaced the solenoid but nothing has changed. The WEIRD PART is that my windows, wiper, and radio all work when i turn the key back to ACC. i did some searching and it seems my GEM may need replacing but im not sure. wanted some additional opinions on the issue. What should i do to get my truck back!? thanks for the help guys!

 

The noise may be a starter drive while the dead electrical equipment is a power problem at the fuse or GEM possibly. I would also check the fusable_links for a damaged/open one. U are some 1000's of miles from home. I see smoke on your horizons. Best of luck with the holiday rush.

 

i made it home on time. waited til then to make the post so i could change the solenoid before asking any questions. im going to unplug the battery and check all of the fuses here ina few minutes. then im going to call my local dealership and ask about a new GEM.

 

Make sure and follow thru the battery cables for corrosion internal to its connections. Corrosion In one of these will drive U nuts until it opens completely. If U have never replaced any of them they are certainly prime suspect for UR problems. Look especially close where the cable joins each other or where it grounds/its crimp fitting internal with the wires. Many times the problem moves up the cables interior making it very hard to bend. It can actually eat the thing apart on the inside. Nasty stuff, Corrosion is. UR first clue is Blue/Green stuff. There things become bad, mostly/sometimes no hope but new stuff needed.

 

took it to Ford. Mechanic fixed the Sparkplug that shot out on my way to the grocery store. but couldnt fix the electrical issues and said the transmission was slipping. traded that bad boy in and $5K out of it, and it hardly runs. owed 7 on the loan though, so i came out with a 2008 4.0L Ranger XLT 4x4 with a few upgrades. im not mad about it, its a 5 speed, leather seats, toolbox, in dash dvd player. im satisfied for now.

 

Sounds like U slipped sideways and back a little to get affordable payments. U give it 3-4years and back into an F150.