After researching everything I am convinced that the issues I am having with my dome light, wipers, and dingers is related to my GEM. Without the dinger working, I left my lights on the other day and ran my battery down. When the guy came to give me a jump and hooked up the cables, everything started working for about 30 seconds. He mentioned that it sounds like a bad GEM to him and when he looked at my windshield he showed me where it was leaking.

That understood how hard is it to change the GEM? I have a 1997 F-150. No power windows/locks and no security system. Is it something that is easily done and when it is done does the computer need to be "flashed”?

 

Called Ford today and they can order a new GEM for $57. If it is just plug and play....I will be so happy, but Murphy tells me it can't be so easy.

 

$59???? My 98 model costs $215 from Ford...

 

Be advised that you may need a new fuse panel with that GEM module. Water leaks through the windshield and gets into the GEM, which is bolted to the back of the central junction box. There's no reprogramming or anything that needs to be done, plug it up and go. It's bolted to the central junction box with three T20 Torx screws. It's got two big bulkhead connectors on the back of it, and two or three smaller grey connectors to the side of it. It's easiest accessed by removing the lower instrument panel bolster below the steering column, removing the driver's side kick panel, and removing the 10mm nut that holds the dash to the body in the lower left hand corner. Removing this nut will give you some room to pull that corner of the dash back to snake the GEM/CJB out. Good luck.