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Electrical gremlin, trying to identify if GEM or not.


BriceRanger

New Member
EMT / Paramedic
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Dec 31, 2024
Messages
4
City
Oregon
Vehicle Year
1997
Transmission
Automatic
I have a lovely low miles '97 4L 4x4 that has intermittently functioning wipers/washer. I've replaced the multifunction switch to no avail. What I've noticed is that the wipers and washer either both work or neither. I also noticed that when I sit in the truck unbuckled, the dash seatbelt warning doesn't always come on, when it does, the wipers work and vice versa.
I pulled the gem out and inspected it, I didn't notice any obvious corrosion or damage. Any ideas?
 
I read another thread somewhere on here that bad ground on GEM had a lot of those same symptoms...
 
I read another thread somewhere on here that bad ground on GEM had a lot of those same symptoms...
I'll take a look at that next then. I haven't found a good diagram for the GEM on one of these, so if anyone could point me to one, it would be greatly appreciated!
 
After carefully examining the GEM, I'm not seeing an obvious ground. Any ideas or photos that could point me towards that connection? Thank you!
 
One of the pins on the GEM goes to a ground nearby, so the wire joins the harness and then leaves it after 6" (that 6" is a guess, I have a 2nd gen not a 3rd gen and haven't really dug behind the radio area in a 3rd gen)... look for the wire that is completely black, no stripe just plain black - that is typically ground everywhere.

I found this diagram for a '97 explorer... I think the 94-97 explorer is the same as the 93-97 ranger ... pin 14 and the shell of the connector:



and if I read it right that is black/white stripe not solid black....
 
An EVTM would be best, but you might look at this:
Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.
 
An EVTM would be best, but you might look at this:
Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.
Thank you for this, I have been looking for something like this for awhile now.

One of the pins on the GEM goes to a ground nearby, so the wire joins the harness and then leaves it after 6" (that 6" is a guess, I have a 2nd gen not a 3rd gen and haven't really dug behind the radio area in a 3rd gen)... look for the wire that is completely black, no stripe just plain black - that is typically ground everywhere.

I found this diagram for a '97 explorer... I think the 94-97 explorer is the same as the 93-97 ranger ... pin 14 and the shell of the connector:



and if I read it right that is black/white stripe not solid black....
I think I ID'd the correct wires based on this.

In any case, I reseated all the connections for a second time, and the machine seems to be working perfectly now, with no more issues observed. Thank you all for all of your help!
 
Congrats on getting it fixed. I know exactly how aggravating an intermittent electrical issue is.
 

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