Truck tried to start itself?!?!
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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Truck tried to start itself?!?!
Hi guys. I owned my 2002 4.6L XLT for 5 years. It has 137k miles. Some months ago it developed a problem where if it rained and I left it overnight, the battery would drain. If I took out the 5amp fuse under the wheel that locks the gear shifter and doesn't let power windows open when removed, then rain was no longer a problem.
We've had very heavy rains last few days (San Diego). Today, I sat in my truck for a few hours under the rain sometimes turning it on and off. I was on my phone (Internet) and was also drying my socks on the dashboard, napping, and planning my week, plus enjoying the rain.
I drove normally a few miles to a store and a few miles back.
I parked in our office building garage and stayed in my office for a few hours. When i was leaving, security told me my truck tried starting itself. I found it with its lights ON though the switch was OFF. Lights were mostly in but flickered a bit.
I could start it but it periodically made a horrible whining sound similar to it trying to ignite even though it was already running. I took out that fuse but it didn't help. I finally disconnected the hot power from the battery.
I put it back on, tried starting it one more time and I think I killed the battery bc it clicked once and died. Could turn on head lights.
It being close to midnight at that time, I left it at that. But I need it for work.
What feedback can you give me?
Thank you!!
We've had very heavy rains last few days (San Diego). Today, I sat in my truck for a few hours under the rain sometimes turning it on and off. I was on my phone (Internet) and was also drying my socks on the dashboard, napping, and planning my week, plus enjoying the rain.
I drove normally a few miles to a store and a few miles back.
I parked in our office building garage and stayed in my office for a few hours. When i was leaving, security told me my truck tried starting itself. I found it with its lights ON though the switch was OFF. Lights were mostly in but flickered a bit.
I could start it but it periodically made a horrible whining sound similar to it trying to ignite even though it was already running. I took out that fuse but it didn't help. I finally disconnected the hot power from the battery.
I put it back on, tried starting it one more time and I think I killed the battery bc it clicked once and died. Could turn on head lights.
It being close to midnight at that time, I left it at that. But I need it for work.
What feedback can you give me?
Thank you!!
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,511
Likes: 10
From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Check for signs of water on the driver's side floor. Usually by the top of the carpet on the fire wall, and behind the driver' side kick panel.
The symptoms sound like the GEM ( Generic Electronics Module ) getting wet.
The source of the leak is usually the driver's side of the windshield or a few cases have been the power roof panel ( if equip'd ).
1st thing to do is to dry out the interior, one member closed the truck up, and ran the AC on a high temp ( as in high heat ). The heat with the humidity function of the AC dry everything out.
I usually suggest a space heater up under the driver's side ( truck is not idling that long ).
The symptoms sound like the GEM ( Generic Electronics Module ) getting wet.
The source of the leak is usually the driver's side of the windshield or a few cases have been the power roof panel ( if equip'd ).
1st thing to do is to dry out the interior, one member closed the truck up, and ran the AC on a high temp ( as in high heat ). The heat with the humidity function of the AC dry everything out.
I usually suggest a space heater up under the driver's side ( truck is not idling that long ).
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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Thank you.
Driver's side floor actually does get wet. I have several possible problems in that area:
- I took the plastic cover off the engine compartment fuse box by the driver's side. That cover is long gone and that area isn't covered.
- There's a hole (meant to be there?) in the firewall between the engine compartment and the driver's side area, above the pedals. As I was drying my socks, I originally wanted to dry them using floor-blowing heaters but realized the floor was wet and I couldn't rest my socks on it to dry them. I then put them on the windshield-pointed air vents.
The FLOOR being wet must be a symptom, not the cause. There's nothing electrical on the floor. But if the rain goes through the hood and either into the open fuse box OR like you said the Generic Electronics Module, or both. If so, how do I keep them from getting wet?
Our Southern California rains are subsiding but I can't risk a dangerous truck every time it rains; it doesn't do it often but it happens, especially in wintertime.
Driver's side floor actually does get wet. I have several possible problems in that area:
- I took the plastic cover off the engine compartment fuse box by the driver's side. That cover is long gone and that area isn't covered.
- There's a hole (meant to be there?) in the firewall between the engine compartment and the driver's side area, above the pedals. As I was drying my socks, I originally wanted to dry them using floor-blowing heaters but realized the floor was wet and I couldn't rest my socks on it to dry them. I then put them on the windshield-pointed air vents.
The FLOOR being wet must be a symptom, not the cause. There's nothing electrical on the floor. But if the rain goes through the hood and either into the open fuse box OR like you said the Generic Electronics Module, or both. If so, how do I keep them from getting wet?
Our Southern California rains are subsiding but I can't risk a dangerous truck every time it rains; it doesn't do it often but it happens, especially in wintertime.