Power windows and electric issues

[JonK]

Been looking through some threads and I thought I might solicit some advice. I am about to inherit a 1998 Explorer Eddie Bauer with 5.0 V8.

About a year ago it had intermittent power window failure (usually when hot then rectified the next morning) now the PW are permanently kaput. The master window switch was "hot wired" to get the windows up so the switches appear to work. Neither the moon roof nor the radio/CD player is working....no lights at all. Sometimes the automatic lights do not come on when it is dark, but in manual it works not really sure if that is related. I don't have a detailed wiring diagram and read stuff about the GEM but was thinking it could be something other than the GEM as well. Any thoughts on where to start. Other questions:

• If it is the GEM, have read that it is not a plug and play operation, is that true?
• Are there any reputable aftermarket electronic repair folks that can get into and repair the GEM at a reasonable cost?
• I am new to the board so if there are any prior threads that I have missed please do not hesitate to just let me know there is a potential answer somewhere out there.

Thanks for any replies,

JJK

 

[Turdle]

Welcome.
This is a common issue. You will find discussion about broken wires in the door jamb. The wire harness in the driver door hinge area comes apart, inside I will wager you'll find a light blue with black stripe wire which is broken.

 

[J_C]

Your other issues are probably not the GEM, but it would not surprise me at all if a shop stated you need a new one then secretly fixed the (much cheaper) real problem instead.

Check fuse #20 on the interior fuse panel. It's on the left side of the dash with the driver's door open. Might as well check other fuses while you're in there, #'s 20, 29, 34, 8, and check the Battery Saver and Accessory Delay relays. You can swap them with another of the same relay type from the same relay box, up and to the right of the gas pedal, just under the dash.

If it's a fuse, then the question becomes why did it blow. Rarely an old fuse can just blow from age, but if it blows again you'll need to look at everything powered through that fuse. There are fuse panel diagrams in the owners manual, and a Google Search for 1998 Explorer Owners Manual will find a PDF version of that manual, which is often the faster way to find topics than the printed version.

Normally it is best to tackle one problem at a time. The automatic lights are probably not related to the other problems, but these vehicles and this forum have been around for a long time. There is probably one if not more topics that you can find with the forum search feature. A search term like "autolamps" or automatic and headlights might be a good start. I assume you do not have the rearview mirror slider switch set all the way to the left which turns autolamps off.

There is a link to wiring diagrams below in my sig.

 

[JonK]

Your other issues are probably not the GEM, but it would not surprise me at all if a shop stated you need a new one then secretly fixed the (much cheaper) real problem instead.

Check fuse #20 on the interior fuse panel. It's on the left side of the dash with the driver's door open. Might as well check other fuses while you're in there, #'s 20, 29, 34, 8, and check the Battery Saver and Accessory Delay relays. You can swap them with another of the same relay type from the same relay box, up and to the right of the gas pedal.

If it's a fuse, then the question becomes why did it blow. Rarely an old fuse can just blow from age, but if it blows again you'll need to look at everything powered through that fuse. There are fuse panel diagrams in the owners manual, and a Google Search for 1998 Explorer Owners Manual will find a PDF version of that manual, which is often the faster way to find topics than the printed version.

Normally it is best to tackle one problem at a time. The automatic lights are probably not related to the other problems, but these vehicles and this forum have been around for a long time. There is probably one if not more topics that you can find with the forum search feature. A search term like "autolamps" or automatic and headlights might be a good start. I assume you do not have the rearview mirror slider switch set all the way to the left which turns autolamps off.

There is a link to wiring diagrams below in my sig.

Thanks so much. This is extremely helpful. JJK