Hello,

I tried to start my truck this evening and it would not start.
When I turn the key all my dash lights come on but when I turn it
enough to start the truck all the lights go out and I hear a clicking sound from my kick panel fuse box and also from the fuse box under the hood.
Nothing will work (horn, headlights, windos, radio...) for about 10-15 seconds then my interior lights and dash lights will come back on. I checked all my fuses and they were all ok, could this be a GEM module that got wet? It rained very hard on Saturday night, but my truck has worked fine until today.

 

Hey there.....I am thinking that your GEM got wet....mine did some wild things electrically including not wanting to start....if you take a look at some of my posts under wheeler55 you will find that my problems all began after it had one hell of a major rain storm with high winds and other things....Anyway I talked to them when this first started and told them it was the GEM but they insisted it was something else...The neurtral switch...they changed that....then it was the key modular switch and finally the mechanic physically got into the underside of the dash and found where water was leaking in throught the windshield and dripping on the GEM....the leak was so small it would not cause wetness on the floorboard because it evaporated from the heat prior to getting down the carpet....They removed and resealed the windshield and replaced all the GEM and the electronics associated with the module...We had one hell of a wind storm last night again and still today and no problem...before when it rained even a little bit it was screwed....Hope this helps....good luck..Steve Wheeler

 

Is there a way to dry the GEM? or do I need to get a replacement?

 

Hi Guy....I don't know how to do the drying of the GEM because mine was under warranty so I just took it to them...If you are out of warranty then you may want to try to find a repair manual..Chiltons or something like that and do the job yourself because it was about a 3 hour job and at 50 bucks an hour for shop time youch.....but all is well with mine now....and works good....good luck

steve

 

Wheeler55

Glad they finnaly got you going, I knew it had to be a wet GEM.

Triton4.6,

I know it will cost so money but replace the GEM don't dry it. You will be better off in the long run, trust me.

 

I had the exact same problem 2 weeks after I bought my truck. Make sure it isnt your battery. My truck was cranking fine and everything was working one day, the next morning, completely dead. The accessories and everything turned on so it looked like it wasnt the battery, but when I tried to crank it heard that rapid clicking under the hood. Check the terminal and solenoid connections for tightness and corrosion too if its battery related.

Laurence

 

I am back behind the wheel, I replaced the GEM and everything
is working properly.
I may have my battery checked to just to make sure that it was not behind all my problems. It is the battery that can from the factory 4.5 years ago, so it has to be fairly close to giving out.

Thanks for all the responses