Help! I blew a fuse or something?!

[Freshmo55]

Hello-

I could use a little help here...

Yesterday I was messing with my dome light wire to start hooking up my overhead console. I decided not to do all the wiring of it and just hooked my dome light back up. After I put everything back together I realized my dome light is now NOT working but also my power windows are not working and when I started to drive it this morning my 4xHigh and 4xLow lights are blinking every few minutes on my dash.

Did I blow a fuse? Anyone know what I can check or what I can fix to bring all these things back to life?

My X is a '99 SOHC 4.0

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[TPLYNCH]

Sounds like your GEM has gone screwy. Did you have the GEM recall work done several years ago?

 

[explorer4x493]

I second that!

Your Generic Electronic Module (GEM) sounds to be messed up. It happened to me, except when mine went out i lost the auto locks and windsheild wipers. Not very cheap so make this your last option.

 

[Freshmo55]

Crap... I was hoping it was going to be something easier than that.

I did NOT have the GEM recall work done several years ago so it could be something with that. It just seems weird that all these things would go wrong right after I screwed with my dome light. Do you think that me messing with it caused it?

I do have a warrenty with CarMax so hopefully they will cover it.

Anyone know how much it would normally cost and if it is a long service to do?

 

[explorer4x493]

Mine went out when I was working on my cd player! So ya something as simple as that could do it.

I couldn't find my receipt on the price. I wanna say 2-300 bucks...That was done at Ford.

Not too long on the service. Mine took 4 days from Ford, BUT that's because i had my plenum replaced and they had to take apart my whole dash. So maybe a day or so.

 

[Freshmo55]

Thanks explorer4x493!

I really appreciate your reponse.

I guess this is something that you have to have the dealership/mechanic shop fix, huh? Nothing that you can do at home....

Man! There is always something!

 

[explorer4x493]

I'm really not sure if the dealership has to do it. Check around at some local auto electric shops and see if they can get the parts and do it for a reasonable price.

I'm sure Ford is NOT reasonable. But my dad payed and he said to get it done w/ Ford.

Hopefully you can find somebody that you trust, so they will tell you the exact problem. I just figure it's the GEM.

Make sure you check all the fuses under the hood and in the fuse box in your car first. Let me know how it goes...Good Luck!

 

[Hokie]

Had the same problem

Fuse #26. Its a 10 A fuse.

Mine blew twice 2 weeks ago on my way to Duke (on the highway without screwing with anything) and I had the exact same symptoms as you. Buy yourself a pack of 10 A fuses and start screwing with stuff to see what causes it to blow. I thought that maybe mine was being triggered by the cruise control, but I can't make it blow again... Let me know what you think, my Ford parts guy is confused too.

 

[section525]

I think Hokie's right. Cept the manual says fuse 27.

Here's what it controls:
Under Hood Lamp
Map Lights
Glove Box Lamp
Dome Lamp
Visor Lamp
Accessory Delay
Dr Switch Illum
4x4 System

Power Windows is fuse 5 (30A) under the hood in the long thin recantular shaped box. I'd check that one if your windows arent working.

 

[Hokie]

#26 on my truck...

Nope, it was fuse 26 on my '99 Sport. It controlled the Battery Saver Relay, the Electronic Shift Relay, Interior lamp relay, and electronic shift module.

I replaced this fuse and the lights, windows, and sun roof worked again, and the 4 wheel lights quit flashing.
I've had it happen twice, so I'm sure it was this fuse.

 

[Freshmo55]

Thanks for that info HokieBert.

I will check on that fuse tonight after work.

I guess if that fuse is not blown I will bring it to get checked out by professionals tomorrow anyways.

I hope that it is just a blown fuse, but with my luck it will be the GEM.

HokieBert- did you do anything to any wires or electrical work before your fuse blew?

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by Freshmo55
HokieBert- did you do anything to any wires or electrical work before your fuse blew?

Uhhh, yeah... 'Bout 18 hours worth of a custom system install including custom mounted speakers, head unit, custom mounted amps, dynamat, etc... But that all worked fine.

It would always blow on the highway for me after I had been driving for a while, so I figured the cruise control module was drawing too much current, but the cruise would keep working. I can't replicate the problem now either...

 

[Freshmo55]

It was fuse #26

HokieBert-

Just wanted to say Thanks A LOT for your advice on the fuse #26.
I checked it this morning and it was that!

Popped in a new 10amp fuse and my dome, windows and 4wd starting working fine.

Thanks a lot for all your help! i appreciate it.

This message board is awesome!

 

[Hokie]

Hey, let me know if you figure out what caused this problem since I still have not been able to make it happen again nor figure out why the fuse blew. My email is bgwilson@vt.edu. Thanks man!