Haunted 97 Ranger ?

[johnmw]

Hi, Trying to figure out what is going on with this 1997 Ranger, 4cyl Manual 5spd trans. Basically a striped down model, no remote entry, no cruise or power door locks. Anyway, Wipers come on when they want to, and stop where they want to ( normally in the middle of the windshield ), Fuel gauge reads between 1/4 to over full ( it has about 1/4 in it ) and the second the motor stops and you open the door, it starts chiming ( DING ..... DING .... DING and so fourth ) Keys in pocket, lights off just keeps dinging till the door is closed. Then it quiets down and kills the battery in about 2 days if you don't start it daily. Neighbor looked at it and said " it's bloody haunted, mate ".

Not sure where to start my search as to what is happening.

Ideas ?.

Thanks

John

 

[Dirtman]

Sounds like a bad GEM module to me.

 

[johnmw]

I had several local folks tell me that same thing. I scrounged up several at local salvage yards, three actually, and never seen any change, nothing, zip. Could all four of these have the exact same problem ?

 

[Curious Hound]

It’s doubtful. I usually go with “infested by aliens” instead of haunted. But both theories are equally useless.

Several, if not all of those symptoms are related to each other through the GEM. It could be a grounding issue. There may be a loose or broken ground connection that the GEM needs in order to function properly. If someone has the EVTM for 1995, they might be able to post some electrical diagrams for you and tell exactly where the GEM is connected to ground.

 

[91stranger]

Definitely GEM however the door chime could just need some wd-40 sprayed in the locks. Sounds dumb but it worked for my truck. It would act like the door was open even though it was shut. Pretty hard to drive at night in the rain when the dome light is on. Only fuse that kills the dome light also kills the wipers so it was a catch 22 for sure. Spray some wd-40 in the door locks and just open and shut the door about 10-15 times.

 

[johnmw]

OK, found the ding ... ding ... ding source, was a small plastic tab with a contact on it next to the ignition lock cylinder. Was broken loose and hanging by the little contact. A bit of J_B Weld and it is held in place and all is well with the noise problem. Take the key out and no dinging. While I had the column housing off, I looked at the turn signal/Multi-function switch. How much black tape is supposed to be on this switch ?. I removed multiple layers of tape and a zip tie and it sorta fell apart. Time for a new switch, I suppose .......

 

[Curious Hound]

New multifunction switch will probably work miracles.

 

[johnmw]

Finally replaced the switch. The wiper still do whatever they want to do when they wanna do it. Most everything is back to normal, kinda . Working on grounding issues at the moment.

 

[Ramcharger90]

“infested by aliens” instead of haunted. But both theories are equally useless.

Fake news