Hello everybody, I am new to the forum and not too familiar with how to work everything so please have some patience with me.
I have a 2003 F150 supercrew and decided to go off roading with a friend the other day. I don't know what he was thinking but he came speeding through a mud puddle I was parked next to. My window was open, and I was hit by a tsunami of water and mud. The water came in the driver side window and went all the way over to the passenger side door panel, soaking everything in its path.
Needless to say, I now have some problems...
1. The odometer, oil light, gas gauge, and service engine soon light stay on even when there is no key in the ignition.
2. On my way home, the 4x4 light along with the window switch lights kept clicking on and off.
3. When I turn the automatic headlights on, they click on and off almost to a beat.
I'm sure there are other problems I haven't noticed yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

probably will need a new BCM and possibly new PCM.

Have you checked any fuses in the interior fuse panel under the steering wheel?

 

It sounds like you have some big time electrical problems that you need to have a professional sort out. You will probably need to contact your insurance company as it should be covered under comprehensive. How much water entered the cab? Depending on your states rules and the amount of water, they may total the truck. Water and electrical stuff can wreak havok.

 

No. He should contact his buddy's insurance company.

 

I would check and see if the Passenger Comaprtment Fuse panel / GEM got wet.

A lot of the symptoms sound like the lower left hand corner of the windshield leak.

The GEM on the back of the fuse panel controls a few of the items you are talking about.

The 4x4 light could be damage to the vac solenoid, but start with looking for water damage behind the passenger compartment fuse panel. Check the carpet to see if it is wet.

BTW : No BSM / VSM in that MY truck, that is a GEM.

 

Thank you everybody for your input. I will have to check everything out, I'm not very mechanically inclined but I have a buddy who will help me. I'm not too sure what is going on but it seems like alot of the problems fixed themselves. I don't know if everything just dried out or what but I guess time will tell

 

I can absolutely guarantee things have dried out, and, that may fix your problems.

True story: I was out mowing the little patch of lawn we have next to our swimming pool earlier this year, and, I sort of forgot where I was as I pulled the mower back and ... splash!

So, I pulled myself out and got everything out of my pockets - my wallet stayed amazingly dry, but my cell phone! Well, let's just say it looked absolutely "sodden".

In fact, the screen seemed to have water in it, the battery was, of course, completely shorted and the rest was full of water.

I took the battery out, and tried to dry the keypad area with Janet's hairdryer. The screen still looked "funny". After drying it this way, I reinstalled the battery and it seemed to be charging. Once charged, I tried to turn it on - still no go. The screen still seemed to be full of water.

So, I put the phone out in the Tucson sun for a few days (we have plenty of sun) and guess what? The screen looked normal again and, the phone worked!

So, I imagine your truck may make a full recovery, once it dries out.

- Jack

 

I agree. Park it outside in the sun with the doors open. Put a fan in the floor, blowing underneath the dash. Let it cook all day. I bet it will fix it. Oh, and I'd unhook the battery. You already know it has electrical problems. Leave it unattended with the solenoids clicking etc. and you risk burning the truck up.

 

Great advice, Chester!

- Jack

 

The problem is that once things get wet, you will likely have corrosion issues later. This is why people aren't interested in buying flood vehicles.

 

There IS that possibility, but a quick wetting/drying is not as bad as prolonged submergence and a delayed drying period. Additionally, you didn't get seawater in your truck, which would have been far worse. You may come out of this fine.

- Jack

 

bingo, salt and anything metal, wires or body panels dont mix

 

As a minimum the circuit panel behind the IP Module is wet and contaminated. This can be resolved, but you really must go at it. What definitely will need service is the module under your dash called the GEM. The GEM is a module that sits above your IP Fuse/Relay panel. There are several high impedence points within the box and connectors that has contamination and will need through cleaning and drying.
I don't think that your PCM is as affected as your GEM, but you should check it as well. Since you cannot fully remove the GEM you will be forced to clean and dry it where it is.
You should first get access to it through removing the the knee bolsters under the steering wheel. You should also access and remove your IP panel and clean and dry it too.
The removal of the IP panel will get you better access to the top of the GEM for service too. You should be using an electrical contact cleaner that has been proven to be neutral to ALL plastics.(No throttle or carb cleaners ever) You will need to access the top of the GEM where wires cables and plugs lead into the box. You will be using a very good hair dryer (preferrably) or a Hot-Air Gun to provide a drying air current following the cleaning spray at the GEM. There is a circuit board containing Integrated Circuits, and Relays in the top of this box. What you are trying to do is to get as much contact spray into the top of the box where this circuit board is located. You will also be required to either remove the plugs/jacks leading into the GEM, or get cleaning spray into the plugs there to remove dirty water. After that you will need to throughly dry (gently) that box and plugs. I do not recommend using a Professional Hot Air Gun since it can generate too much heat on points which could damage components of the GEM. When you try this you must or should remove all battery power from the circuits; since misc. logic circuits will attempt to energize.
Its not easy, but it is possible to repair such problems yourself
Good Luck
98Ex.