Hello.

I'm trying to figure out what is draining my battery.

I've been working on this for the past 2 weeks and here's where I'm at right now.

Key off , No radio , door closed I have something that is pulling 0.223 Ampere all day long.






This picture is inside the cab , driver side , right next to the steering column , you see 3 Black relay.







If I remove the top left one ( as seen on the pics. )









I'm down to 0.060 Ampere that is a little over the maximum of 0.050 Amp draw with key off .








Now if I remove fuse #26 I'm down to 0.003 Ampere.













I don't have a shop manual but I did Google for 2003 Ford Edge 3.0L fuse box and what I found is not really helping me.

I haven't drove the truck with the relay off but I have notice the "thief" Red light in the dash is not blinking anymore.
Any of you knows what exactly each relay do ?
Is there a factory anti-Theft system on a 03 Ford Ranger Edge ?
I know my key isn't a P.A.T.S key so I'm a little confused .
This is a used truck I just bought that has a rebuilt title from Ohio if that matter.

I bought a brand New battery Saturday because I killed the other one with my multiple battery draining flat dead issue.

Hope one of you can can give me some tips where to look at .

I’ve found that if you hook up your meter this way in the video, that's it a lot easier to trouble shoot a abnormal drain in the system as opposed to looking at current draw...

__________________
2011 Ranger XLT 2x4,4.0 SOHC, 5 Speed Auto, 3.55 Rear. Oxford White.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Torque it down till it breaks off, then back it off 1/4 turn.

that relay is bat saver see if with the relay still connected if pulling fuse 26 kills the drain? fuse 26 goes to the gem

might get a hint from this

Battey goes dead looking for battery saver relay

__________________
2011 XLT 4.0

I've done the test already and with all 3 relay in place I'm pulling 0.220 and if I leave the relay in place and just pull the fuse #26 I'm down to 0.003 ampere.

Now comes the stupid question.
What is a GEM , what it does and is it a common failure ?

Thanks for your help .

GEM = generic electronic module

What it does is to incorporate the functions of many different, separate modules into one package. Yes, they have been known to fail on occasion. If you have to replace it, I'm *fairly* certain that you will have to have a dealer program it for your vehicle, unless somehow the donor has exactly the same programing as your does now.

__________________
2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

Got it.
I'll dig that tonight .
Is there a way to make sure it is the module without buying another right away ?

I don't have the appropriate diagnostics and service procedure for your model year, but if you could get your hands on the Ford Factory Service Manual for your model year I'd expect that there are diagnostics specifically for the GEM. OR if someone has the manual, it would be awesome if they posted the diagnostic procedure. Also, there's a few sellers on ebay that seem to offer the manual in a .pdf format (try ebay search "2003 Ford Ranger Factory Service Manual") and they claim you can have it now, for uber cheap. Just an option to evaluate and maybe consider.

__________________
2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

Ok so I'll see if I can run for a little while without fuse # 26 and if not I'll pull the relay that drain more current and drive the truck like that ( if possible ) until I put my hand on a GEM module from a truck that has same option as mine.
Basically I have "0" option , manual window , no door lock , no fancy stuff but I do have A/C .

Thanks for all the help and I'll update my thread later on with my final fix ( I hope ) .

well fuse 26 controls the gem module and that controls the bat saver relay. IF i remember correctly.. it takes about 40 mins for the gem to shut down the bat saver relay.

The GEM receives inputs and delivers outputs to a majority of the electronically-controlled features of the vehicle. The GEM constantly monitors the systems under its control and reports a concern in the form of a diagnostic trouble code (DTC). The DTC can be retrieved with a diagnostic tool through the ISO 9141 communication network. The GEM controls the following features:

front wiper and washer
warning chime
battery saver
illuminated entry and interior lighting
driver one-touch down power window (optional)
battery saver relay
door ajar warning indicator lamp
safety belt warning indicator lamp

__________________
2011 XLT 4.0

Do you what the normal current draw is with Key off ,engine off ???
I only know ball park voltage in milivolts draw, like in the video I posted

__________________
2011 Ranger XLT 2x4,4.0 SOHC, 5 Speed Auto, 3.55 Rear. Oxford White.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Torque it down till it breaks off, then back it off 1/4 turn.

I knew about that one , did the test and no still my 0.220 amps draw.

Very good info.
I've called my dealer and a GEM module is $375.00 CDN + dealer programmation ( don't know the cost of that ) and + taxes so I'll try to make sure it is really my problem but so far it sounds like it is.

I knew some of them ( the obvious one )
Didn't know the wipers were controlled by that module. ( I'll try it tomorrow because I have removed the fuse # 26 not to kill my brand new battery .

What about a GEM module from another truck with more option then mine , is it still gonna work ?
I think if I had a truck fully loaded with factory gadgets and I was swapping my actual module I know most of the gadgets will probably not work but what about the other way around ?

I think it will be very easy to find a truck with more option then mine since I have "0" option but A/C.

Very good info so far.
Glad you guys take some of your time trying to trouble shoot my problem + giving me a Ford Ranger 101 course.

The following are also fair game for being in the GEM:

*Tire size

*Axle ratio

*Wiper delay function

I can tell you that the Ford Factory Service manual for my 04 (uses SJB) says to wait 40 minutes for modules to power down and to then note the current draw, it will be the same for your 03 regardless of it having a GEM or SJB or whatever. They repeatedly tell the reader that the current draw after that time is not to exceed 50mA; this is the upper end for current draw AFTER the wait time has passed.

Really, before jumping into consideration of a new GEM, I would encourage you to get your hands on the diagnostics for it as mentioned earlier, then do it. Throwing parts at problems and hoping and preying that it will fix it isn't much of a repair strategy, but it can be expensive and frustrating.

__________________
2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

Like he said x 10.. you need to be absolutely sure it is bad before you replace it. It will need to be read before you remove it and then written into the new module. diagnostics are check for bat hots and bat Grounds and hook up the tester I think I would try a different relay first. Make sure it cycles after the 45 mins or so also SOMETHING may be keeping it awake preventing shutdown.

ok see if you have a glove box light if so make sure it goes off also. Try pulling the black relay next to the battery saver leave the battery saver in and fuse in and see how much draw you have

"If the concern remains after the inspection, connect the diagnostic tool to the data link connector (DLC) located beneath the instrument panel and select the vehicle to be tested from the diagnostic tool menu. If the diagnostic tool does not communicate with the vehicle:
check that the program card is correctly installed.
check the connections to the vehicle.
check the ignition switch position.
If diagnostic tool still does not communicate with the vehicle, refer to the diagnostic tool manual.
Carry out the DATA LINK DIAGNOSTICS test. If the diagnostic tool responds with:
CKT914, CKT915 or CKT70 = ALL ECUS NO RESP/NOT EQUIP, refer to Section 418-00 .
NO RESPONSE/NOT EQUIP for GEM, go to Pinpoint Test A.
SYSTEM PASSED, retrieve and record the continuous diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), erase the continuous DTCs and carry out self-test diagnostics for the GEM.
If the DTCs retrieved are related to the concern, go to the GEM Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Index to continue diagnostics.
If no DTCs related to the concern are retrieved, refer to the appropriate section of the Workshop Manual to continue diagnose

__________________
2011 XLT 4.0

Problem solved.

I went to my local Pick & Pull junk yard and found a Mazda B3000 2002 with matching GEM part number so I bought it , gave it a try and problem solved.






1st I plug it and DC amp are at 0.194 switching to 0.224 back and forth.










And after ( 1 ou 2 hours ) not sure exactly the GEM shuts almost everything off to finally get 0.008 DC amp draw.





I've done the test 3 times since yesterday and always the same result.
I pluged back to old one just to confirm the problem is really solved and yes my Old GEM Module never turn off the battery saver relay.

I'm very happy right now and thaks to everyone who helped me and thanks to Google + all info we can find on forums.

Ah , one more , I paid the GEM module $2.99 CDN + taxes at my local junk yard.