How do I remove the GEM from 95 EB

[plex4r]

I am having a lot of electrical problems. For example wipers and radio both quit at the same time and stay off for several minutes until the car interior is heated up.
I think the GEM needs replaced but I cannot get it out.
First, it is behind the interior fuse box for my '95 EB Explorer? (I see a bunch of wires going into a small box there with a handle.
Second, how do I remove it? It looks like there are 3 clips but I am having trouble freeing this.

 

[96eb96]

I am having a lot of electrical problems. For example wipers and radio both quit at the same time and stay off for several minutes until the car interior is heated up.
I think the GEM needs replaced but I cannot get it out.
First, it is behind the interior fuse box for my '95 EB Explorer? (I see a bunch of wires going into a small box there with a handle.
Second, how do I remove it? It looks like there are 3 clips but I am having trouble freeing this.

It is actually behind your radio, at least its that way on my 96 which should be the same:

Generic Electronic Control Module (GEM), Central Timer Module (CTM)
Removal and Installation

Disconnect battery ground cable (14301).

Remove radio, refer to Section 15-00 . (You need 2 coathangers bent into a U, push into radio holes.)

Remove radio bezel. (two screws that point down)

Remove retaining screw.

Slide GEM/CTM toward front of vehicle, off retaining tabs.

Disconnect electrical connectors

 

[gijoecam]

Yup... Pics are in the gallery linked in my sig... If you look at the BWM pics, you'll see the pictures of the GEM coming out... It's on the left side of the opening behind the stereo. Remove the bezel, remove the stereo, and it's right there.

Oh, and it's easier to access the connectors if you remove the HVAC duct too... it's only held in by one more screw...

-Joe

 

[plex4r]

Thanks for the help. I hate to have to take the radio out. Even though I bought the u-shaped tools, I always have such trouble with it. Mabye I am using them wrong, any suggestions here?

Joe, could you guide me through your list of pics to the specific pics that show the GEM. That would be a great help.

Does anyone know what I have been looking at near the driver's left foot and behind the interior fuse box. A ton of wires from the fuse box go to that item.
Maybe I should post a pic of it tonight if there are no ideas.

Thanks!

 

[96eb96]

Thanks for the help. I hate to have to take the radio out. Even though I bought the u-shaped tools, I always have such trouble with it. Mabye I am using them wrong, any suggestions here?

Joe, could you guide me through your list of pics to the specific pics that show the GEM. That would be a great help.

Does anyone know what I have been looking at near the driver's left foot and behind the interior fuse box. A ton of wires from the fuse box go to that item.
Maybe I should post a pic of it tonight if there are no ideas.

Thanks!

Radio trick: insert the the tools at a slight angle so the closed ends are a bit closer to each other. Then move the tools apart so they are square to the radio. This depresses the tabs inward so the radio can slide out.

I believe what you are talking about is a wiring harness that connects wiring from inside of the truck to the outside.

Enclosed is a picture of the GEM location.

 

[Joe Dirt]

If you have a '95, you don't need the tools. Just remove the two screws/bolts that go upwards through the bezel above the HVAC controls. Then pull out the bezel, radio and all. You will need to remove the bezel anyway to get room in there to work.

 

[plex4r]

Everyone thanks for the help, advice, pics, and explaination of the wrong part I was looking at. I can't wait to go home, or maybe I'll sneak out on a break from work. I'll post back my results.

Thanks!

 

[gijoecam]

If you have the radio removal tools, (available at AutoZone for like $4), push them in about 1.5" until they click in place. Then, pry OUT on the two loops and that'll release the clips that hold the sterero in place. The clips spring out away from the sides of the radio to lock it in its place, so by prying out on the stereo tools, it pries the clips back into the sides of the stereo. Make sense?


Pics:

The GEM is the black box on the left side of the opening.

Same image with the GEM removed:

 

[Joe Dirt]

Or, if you pop off the bezel as shown before removing the radio, you can push the spring clips in by hand from behind and slide the radio out and spend your $4 on beer! Woo hoo!!! LOL!

 

[Kyle0614]

hey joe sorry i'm hijacking this thread but I have a harness for the radio absolutely destroyed because of previous owners wiring...trying to get the factory i got from the junkyard today but what in the world do i do about taking out the radio harness u know the one with the 2 plugs and replacing it with a good one...thanx joe

 

[Kyle0614]

"factory radio back in i mean" sorry

 

[plex4r]

Get the GEM out. It looks brand new. I was hoping to see some corrosion around the pins or something off I could address.

Is there anyway to test this module to be sure it is bad?

If not, from my issues, does everyone think this is the likely problem?
1. wipers and radio quit working together, then come on later when the car is warmer
2. several lights on the dash, like behind the radio, are working Intermittently

The part is F57B-14B205-GB which I have not found on the internet. I did find F57B-14B205-CK which is for a 96 Sport modle while mine is a 95 EB.
At $40 should I take a chance with this?

 

[Joe Dirt]

I was trying to pull an EB harness out of a '97 for my truck, and I think the radio harness is a massive one that runs the entire dash. I gave up on it- I can probably get you some new ends if you need them, but the entire harness is a pain in the tail from what I saw, unless I'm totally missing a connector that pops it out. I think it's a pain since the radio harness runs to the back. The only connector I saw was the one by the kick panel on the passenger floorboard, it looked like the harness that ran from there, behind the passenger airbag, along the dash to the radio and to the cluster was all one piece.

Anyone have other ideas?

I can also check for you plex4r at the junkyard and see if they have any GEM's there for yours if the unit will not interchange. If you want to PM me your phone number, I can call you from the junkyard with pricing and if they have one.

-Joe

 

[budwich]

well plexr4.... it ain't your gem (there was a "few" post of people saying the same thing about their vehicle). get yourself a meter and start checking for voltages... its either loose wiring or blown fuses (check them with a meter... don't just look at them.... its like looking at a woman... she might look okay but it comes down to it, she might not be any good... )

 

[96eb96]

well plexr4.... it ain't your gem (there was a "few" post of people saying the same thing about their vehicle). get yourself a meter and start checking for voltages... its either loose wiring or blown fuses (check them with a meter... don't just look at them.... its like looking at a woman... she might look okay but it comes down to it, she might not be any good... )

I saw something on a lincoln forum where it turned out to be oxidation/corrosion on a fuse. The driver power door lock(controlled by a module and relay) would not work, and he ended up replacing 2 modules, switches, motors, etc and nothing worked. The tricky part was there was some or intermittant voltage in the circuit. He pulled the fuse and it looked a bit corroded. Sanded it up and the locks worked fine. The woman analogy is true too!

 

[plex4r]

Got my new GEM and still have the same results:
Wipers/Radio don't work when the car is cold. When it heats up after running it for awhile it works, but eventually will go off again; maybe when something gets too hot.

After I put the replacement GEM in, at first it did not work. Then after it sat in the garage for 20 minutes, while I scratched my head, they just came on.
I used to think it was the GEM temp, but that was warm when I put it in so something else is failing when it is cold.

Maybe 96eb96 is onto something when he says it could be a fuse. The trouble here is the wipers and radio are seperate, but maybe it is one of the 3 other fuses that power the GEM. The car is outside getting cold now. After a few minutes I go outside, verify they are not working and clean the fuses.

What other electrical components could be effected? The battery, some relays (probably not a common relay source for wipers and radio though).
Please keep the suggestions comming.

 

[plex4r]

With the car warm and the Wipers and Radio both working I looked at the fuses.

None of the fuses on the driver's side fuse box both controlled the Wipers and Radio, but I took out all that supplied anything on the GEM, Wipers, or Radio components. They all looked bad before I cleaned them.

Then I started to pull fuses in the Power Distribution Box under the hood. One of the main 60amp fuses stoped the wipers and radio. It was dirty and after I cleaned it everthing is working, even after being out in the cold all night. If this is it, I'm surprised that I didn't notice a lot more not working (windows, locks, cabin lights, rear wiper), but maybe these are not on this.

I'm still not 100% convinced, but we are getting more cold weather this weekend. If it still works after that I returning the GEM (minus a 25% restock fee of $11.25 :-()

 

[96eb96]

Glad to see you are making progress.
A voltmeter can be your friend here, checking voltage delivered to all the accessories when cold and hot.

Off topic...
Also, While you are playing in that fuse box, replace your computer and fuel pump relay. I had one crap out on me, and when I was at the dealer buying another a master tech told me that relays wear down over time, create excess resistance due to carbon on the contact and slightly reduce voltage to the fuel pump especially when they are ready to fail. Low voltage for a motor is bad and hastens its demise. Also, they have a chance of failing and leaving you stranded. Not to change it every year, but say 75K-100K miles is a fair bet. They are like 5-6 bucks.

 

[plex4r]

Problem solved

After a weekend of cold weather, everthing is working fine after I cleaned one of the main 60amp fuses. Thanks to everyone for the help!