Strange ground issue between ignition and wipers.

[FordF’ingRanger]

Hello all.
Anyone with a 93-97 Ranger ever experience the windshield wipers, door chime and certain dash indicators like “4wd” and “door ajar” only working when jiggling the ignition? I’ve swapped out the ignition switc and multifunction switch and the issue remains.

 

[Brain75]

All of those things run through the GEM and other than the fact they all have a ground somewhere it is about all they have in common (and those are separate grounds) - I would start my hunt by looking at the GEM, either it itself might have a bad ground or it might have blow capacitors or something else gremlin in that area.

 

[FordF’ingRanger]

Thanks! I’ll check into that.

 

[SenorNoob]

I thought that the GEM didn't exist till 98?

If 96 is like the earlier trucks the cab ground runs from the engine block to a clip on the firewall. It'll be a flat cable. IDK why jiggling the switch would affect that though.

 

[FordF’ingRanger]

Thanks, Seniornoob! I was actually just about to reply saying I looked in my Chilton manual and couldn’t find a gem anywhere. So that makes sense now. Thanks for the advice. I will take a look for that wire.

 

[Curious Hound]

There is a ground connection (G201) on the side wall, just above the parking brake assembly that all those things go to. Make sure that connection is clean and tight.

 

[FordF’ingRanger]

I will check that out. Thanks!