Maybe I posted about this last month, maybe I only thought I did but this trucks been doing some weird chit. Started several months ago with the batteries randomly going dead over night. Then the speedo and some other related stuff started going haywire. Was getting ready for my trip north to get the Skyhawk from Denny and things got worse. Chimes coming and going, lights flashing , radio on and off weather im in the truck or not. The door locks popping up and down at will. Strange. Based on research I came to the conclusion the GEM was bad or going bad. Couldnt get one in the time I had before my trip so I ordered it and just hit the road. Soon after all the problems cleared themselves up and all was well. had 0 issues on the trip and no problems until yesterday. Out and about doing my daily work thing and get a call from the wife. "where are you?" At work. " your trucks in the back yard trying to start itself" She says she opened the hood and the starter was just grinding away. keys laying in the cup holder. She has enough know how to disconnect both batteries. After I get back, place the pos connection back on and there it goes. Starter relay on the fender is hot. pull the wires off and the starters quiet. put it back in line and still nothing. connect the other battery, turn the key and she fires up although the starter sounds like crap. File it under the I'll look at that later category. So I'm working in the yard nearby and the seat belt chime starts going off again. door locks up and down then the radio plays. Now im thinking Christine. So anyway, I have the 650.00 GEM with a 150 core and shipping still in the box. Will install that. Gonna replace the solenoid. Dreading buying another starter. Will be the 3rd/4th in 15 years. not cheap.
I had some similar symptoms with a 2012 Malibu. Cranking starting on its own, Cranking when the engine was already running. Horn Blowing on its own. I found a corroded and slightly melted starter Relay (Fuse) in the fuse box under the hood. I changed it out put dielectric grease on all the fuses and relays. Never had the problem for the next year I owned it. Felt grateful I found it. (Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then) Good luck finding your problem.
I dont think theres any mini starter replacements. The 7.3 needs that big ole starter and 2 batteries to spin it over fast enough to start Picked up and installed a new solenoid. Checked if it would start and it did. Pulled the fuse block down and removed the GEM off the back of it. No sign of any corrosion, water intrusion or shorting. Looked clean and dry There was a sticker on it with the mfg date and the Mod / Ser numbers. 6/2005. Its a 01 truck and I bought in the last 1/4 of 05. so that had been replaced once before. Truck had 90K when purchased and shows 290K now. Plugged in the int light relay I had removed cause it was buzzing like a angry bee, put the dome and cargo lights back in place. We'll see what happens.
My 2002 7.3 diesel excursion has a mini starter, I know that ford used the bigger starters in some diesel motors, I know that my 7.3 has a mini starter , because I replaced it about 5 yrs. ago took about 20 minutes to change it. Had my excursion going on 14 yrs now, replaced my starter twice, since I owned it.
We had wierd stuff going on with our company trucks, they are GM’s but turned out to be loose ground clamps on the battery, these new fangled ground clamps are junk and we’re coming loose and were playing havoc with the computers in the vehicle
Probably the best forum second to V8Buick. Some of the moderators are Ford Tech with exceptional information: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php
Many of the youtube vids I watched said exactly that. They mentioned that this generation of truck was prone to have a leak at the base of the windshield or cowl area that would let water drip onto the module. Was fully expecting to find some sort of indication that the area had been wet but all looked clean and dry and had always been that way. The Vids showed corrosion on the plug terminals and boards. Mine had none of that.
Check the alternator voltage output. My Focus had a bad alt and for a few days before it went out completely I was experiencing some weird stuff.
Did you leave your " stash " in the glove box? maybe the car is doing weird stuff because of that, I know I do weird stuff when I Uhh? Never mind, forgot what I was thinking!
Ummmmmmm no. gave up the chronic years ago. Once had a car impounded on a traffic stop and when I got it back from the impound my fully loaded bowl was as I left it and my stash still in the glove box untouched after a week of sitting out there.
Gotta say one of the great things about 0 his site is we can come here and ask virtually anything and someone will have an answer. Bring up a question about a problem with another make vehicle, no problem, answer or here's a link to the people that can solve your problem. Problem with a house maintenance issue, same thing. It's a credit to JW and the community here.
Update. Was out working the scrap pile yesterday. Day 3 of breaking down old A/C units and loading the tin/ steel on a trailer. there was about 40 of them. Scrap is way down but its gotta go!. Had left the truck and trailer hooked up over night. We had a good rain and then on and off during the day. Going out there and I hear a noise like a mud dobber makes when he's building a nest in the bolt hole of my stored engines and transmissions. Look in and the dome light is on, oh crap, Open the door and it stops. close the door and its starts again. Then the seat belt chime dings once every 10 seconds. Open the drivers door and I see there's 3 water drops on the floor just under the fuse panel. I know whats up now. Just puled the battery cables and went back to filling the trailer. Today after church I pull the fuse block and GEM It looks dry. I can see a place just above it with a rust stain but no sign of water above that. Put a hose on the windshield and look again, no water. Broke down the parts and a few drops of water came out of the fuse block. inside the GEM was dry. Drilled 2 small holes in the lowest part of the fuse assmb housing then cut a hefty trash bag and gift wrapped the entire thing using duct tape. cut out the areas the plugs go and taped up the edges. Used Dielectric grease on all the spade connectors and put the truck back together. So far so good its working and no weird stuff ...... yet. Did replace the starter. Opted for the store brand "New" with lifetime replacement over the reman Motorcraft with a 3 yr warranty. She spins over way better now.
