Horrible electrical issues

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ccattie

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Specs up front:
2005 Ford Expedition NBX

My sunroof drain got clogged and somehow water leaked down the tube and all over the fusebox (wonderful design). I only found out it was leaking down there once I started having problems and put it all together. It was very gradual. Once in a while I would get a "door sensor data error". No big deal, it would go away and things still worked. Then the auto headlights stopped working. Then the power 3rd row seats stopped, then the power locks stopped (really sucks because there is no key for the rear hatch). It would come and go. Sometimes I could go a month without an issue or somethings 5 seconds of it working then not working. I would hear a funny ticking/shuttering noise from someplace under the dash (probably by the fuse panel, but while driving it is hard to triangulate).

So I hit the forums and described the issues and started to work on the problem. I purchased a new VSM because that was the one thing everybody seemed to agree wasn't working. That turned out to not be the problem because the VSM isn't even detected by the car (old one or new one). The Ford tool could not detect it. They were able to say my old one most likely was working, just not able to talk to the car for some reason. A scary thing is that you can remove the VSM and the car starts and drives fine with the exception of the errors above (some security). I then purchased a new fusebox and all new fuses and relays because they said "the fusebox probably has a short inside it". I replaced the fuse box today and I still have the same problems. Now the suggestion is to buy new connectors because there could be corrosion on them. I have spent a small fortune with this problem. I wouldn't mind spending the money if I knew it was the solution. I feel like I've wasted good money towards nothing. New connectors are going to cost a few hundred bucks. I cant find a single one in the scrap yards or ebay. Does anybody have any experience with this issue or a suggestion of how to even track down the issue? I wish I knew all the wire outs on the fuse panel that go to the VSM so I could worry about only replacing those at least. Thanks for listening and any help would be great.

-Chris
 

stamp11127

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Before throwing any more parts at it get a wiring diagram and a good digital volt meter if you know how to use them. If not let us know and we will start "Auto Electrics 101".

Any time someone says "it has a short in it" I ask for the blown fuses. When they don't provide them I ask them what their definition of a short is.
 
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phatbob

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Electrical issues

Hi,
I have the exact same issue, loss of power to folding seats, door data sensor, tire monitor issue and door locks not working. Problem was intermittent. I cleaned battery terminals and this helped for awhile but the problem is back. Seemed to happen after rain and car washes. Thoughts?
 

FordandPolaris

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Hi,
I have the exact same issue, loss of power to folding seats, door data sensor, tire monitor issue and door locks not working. Problem was intermittent. I cleaned battery terminals and this helped for awhile but the problem is back. Seemed to happen after rain and car washes. Thoughts?

Do some searching on the GEM module. That sounds like the problem you are experiencing.
 

bobbyd38

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Specs up front:
2005 Ford Expedition NBX

My sunroof drain got clogged and somehow water leaked down the tube and all over the fusebox (wonderful design). I only found out it was leaking down there once I started having problems and put it all together. It was very gradual. Once in a while I would get a "door sensor data error". No big deal, it would go away and things still worked. Then the auto headlights stopped working. Then the power 3rd row seats stopped, then the power locks stopped (really sucks because there is no key for the rear hatch). It would come and go. Sometimes I could go a month without an issue or somethings 5 seconds of it working then not working. I would hear a funny ticking/shuttering noise from someplace under the dash (probably by the fuse panel, but while driving it is hard to triangulate).

So I hit the forums and described the issues and started to work on the problem. I purchased a new VSM because that was the one thing everybody seemed to agree wasn't working. That turned out to not be the problem because the VSM isn't even detected by the car (old one or new one). The Ford tool could not detect it. They were able to say my old one most likely was working, just not able to talk to the car for some reason. A scary thing is that you can remove the VSM and the car starts and drives fine with the exception of the errors above (some security). I then purchased a new fusebox and all new fuses and relays because they said "the fusebox probably has a short inside it". I replaced the fuse box today and I still have the same problems. Now the suggestion is to buy new connectors because there could be corrosion on them. I have spent a small fortune with this problem. I wouldn't mind spending the money if I knew it was the solution. I feel like I've wasted good money towards nothing. New connectors are going to cost a few hundred bucks. I cant find a single one in the scrap yards or ebay. Does anybody have any experience with this issue or a suggestion of how to even track down the issue? I wish I knew all the wire outs on the fuse panel that go to the VSM so I could worry about only replacing those at least. Thanks for listening and any help would be great.

-Chris
Did you ever resolve this? I'm having the EXACT same issue?

Thanks,
Bob
 

bobbyd38

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Hi,
I have the exact same issue, loss of power to folding seats, door data sensor, tire monitor issue and door locks not working. Problem was intermittent. I cleaned battery terminals and this helped for awhile but the problem is back. Seemed to happen after rain and car washes. Thoughts?
Did you ever resolve this? I'm having the EXACT same issue?

Thanks,
Bob
 

stamp11127

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Since the original post is dated from 2012 and they never posted the solution, he will not answer you back.
You can start another thread and maybe someone else has run into the same problem and will offer a solution.
 
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