It is hooked to and behind your fuse panel. I know all 7.3L have them. Ford calls them a body control module. GEM stands for generic electric module. It is "programmed" specific for the features your truck has, and "runs" (sends power to) most of the electric components like windows, 4x4, radio, lights, door dinger ect.

 

Is a 4 wheel drive module same as gem module

 

I always reference this sites info


Ford GEM Modules Auto Parts Cheaper Blog

but this is not an endorsement for them

they are located up high under the dash where a leaky windshield seal can get them Wet LOL

 

02-03 does not have a GEM....I believe its called a VSM (stands to be corrected) located behind the radio on the fire wall....The GEM in the earlier models is located behing the fuse Box under the dash....

 

This is the correct answer. 02-03 have VSM located behind the radio mounted to the firewall.

 

Has anyone actually had theirs(not working/causing issues) had it tested, failed test and replaced with a new unit from Ford? I think I need to have mine tested

 

I thought the VSM was behind the glove box?

 

The one behind the glove box is the 4 wheel drive module. The VSM is behind the radio and was new starting with the 2002 MY.

 

I have nothing behind my radio in my 02 club cab my vsm is located up above the glove box under the dash after you swing the glove box down it up on the right side. There is no other vsm/gem in my truck. Ive searched this long and hard when I was having problems with my vsm (gem).

 

They stopped mounting the vsm/gem behind the fuse box in late 01 due to the water problems shortening them out. The 4x4 along with the windows, power door locks, and everything else it controls is all in one box.

 

I am new here and trying to troubleshoot my husband's truck. I have more time on my hands I guess than he does. Maybe I should have started a new post but his reply was kind of what the problem is all about. 4x4 is not working on our 2002 F250 7.3L and there is no light on the dash switch, key fob doesn't work, put key in to unlock door and alarm goes off, radio stays on, there has been times the windows wouldn't work in the heat of the summer and the dome light was staying on after starting for about 15 minutes. From reading info on other sites (didn't find yours til now) he had swapped the relays and checked the fuses. After swapping the relays the dome light now works as it should. He also took to a friend of his brothers who is a mechanic and ex ford tech. He tested everything & ran diagnostics and thinks the problem is a wire somewhere. He did find a corroded wire in the instrument cluster and replaced it but it didn't fix anything. He said he could not test the gem/4x4 control module though. We had read numerous posts stating on the 2002 f250 4x4 7.3L they had replaced their gem and fixed some of these 4x4 and electrical problems. The part number behind the dash on my husband's truck is YL34-14B205-BA and is referred to as a GEM/4x4 shift control. The replacement part we purchased is 3C3Z-14B205-AA. The mechanic and a tech from Ford that I called stated that the module is just a 4x4 control module and doesn't control anything else. He plugged it in and didn't program it and said it did not fix the 4x4. Any thoughts on something I read that stated "in 2002 the GEM was no longer used and it's functions were split up by three separate modules: the instrument cluster (IC) the vehicle security module (VSM) and in 4X4 equipped truck, the 4X4 module.."
Just hoping for a fix using a part already purchased. Like I said he did not program it & I don't know if that would have made a difference or not. I was also told by the store that sold me the part that it may not be programmable now that he installed it without programming & "as built" data may be required to complete the programming sequence.

 

I had my 4x4 not working ran the test and ford said the GEM/VSM was bad. In process of replacing it noticed a wire had rubbed and shorted out. Repaired the wire and plugged the old module back up and no more problems. So before dropping the dough on the module make sure to check all the wires.

 

I pulled my GEM yesterday just for grins before I order one from Sunrisefordparts (site sponsor and best price I have found for a GEM) i opened it up and am pretty sure mine has a problem lol Im looking forward to having 4x4.

 

Ya Id say your is toasted there pungohboy. Ive saw them look like that before but not that bad. I bet ya smelled a bit of smoke when she went lol. Mine had white carbon tracts threwout so I replaced it and its nice to have everything work as it should. I did a couple of others this year and only one looked burnt like yours and his 4x4 didnt work so that part of it must short pretty good. Id believe these modules are controlling more then they should be. Instead of putting it all in one module maybe they should have atleast had 2 seperate modules.

 

Are ya getting a new one there pungohboy cause some of the new ones I replaced had to be flashed by the dealer for the specific truck it was going in. I found out the hard way and put a new one in and the first two trucks worked great and the 3rd truck everything worked backwards so the dealer had to reflash it and all was good. I put a good used one in my truck and works great but the other guys wanted new ones. I couldnt see paying $425.00 for the vsm/gem then another $75.00 to have them flash it.

 

I bought the truck with the 4x4 broke so its been that way a while. Yes it is a new one my plan is get the new one plug it in and hope it works if not I will swing by twisted diesel and have them flash it for me it is under $200 for the gem which is cheap especially from a ford dealer.

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Thats a damn good price there. You might get lucky and have it work right out of the box and save ya a trip to get it flashed.

 

Brittain @ Sunrise has gotten me a bunch of parts for about 50% of what my local dealers quoted.
No affiliation just a happy customer.
:ford:

 

He's always fair...plus I live 10 mins from them so I always use them for stuff.

He told me that the VSM info needs to be pulled from my truck prior to removing the old one and then flashed into the new one once its installed. Is that not the case?

 

I got my GEM today was upset because it was raining like crazy when i left work when i got home it had stopped i decided to give it a try let down the glove box disconnected old GEM pulled it out and it was WET! Confirmation of what happened to the other one. I have decided to hold off on putting the new one in till i get my leak fixed.

 

Hey Guys,

My VSM is shot as well.... found the part at the dealer for $116.32 and after talking with them one of the techs said as long as the key didnt have a chip in it they wont have to be programmed.....im really hoping this is the case, but any confirmation?

 

I plugged my GEM in out of curiosity and tested 4x4 the transfer case motor moved and the 4x4 lights lit up so I'm happy I tested power windows and radio forgot to test the wipers I had heard the GEM does not always need programming I was told try it if everything worked then don't pay to have it programmed.

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Can you post a pic of its location in your truck please? I am going to order mine today.

 

get back to gd.com, lmao!! Hey Rich, that thing will be rebuilt before you know it!!!

 

That's it, sweet...ill pick mine up tomorrow.

 

No, different Richie Rich


Did this VSM swap actually fix your problems? I'm going to finally pick mine up tomorrow

 

I still haven't installed permantly since I need my windshield leak fixed but have verified the new one makes my 4x4 work.

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Just to be sure, this is behind my glove box...why are some trucks behind the fuse box, some are behind the radio and some are behind the glove box???

 

Yep that's the part I'm replacing. Not sure why/when they moved them.

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I'm totally confused now! I went to Sunrise Ford to pick my VSM up and it looks completely different...the picture I posted has two plugs on one side and a third on another side. The VSM that Sunrise had, had a sticker on it that said its the security lock module. I showed the guy the picture I posted here and he pulled up the part number and it shows it as a GSM!!! I thought 2003 trucks didn't have GSM?!?! The GSM is $198 plus fax and the VSM was $112 plus tax. I don't mind spending the extra money, but I need to be sure I'm replacing the right part because they told me that electronics are non returnable once they leave the door!