Front Electronic Module | Page 2 | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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Front Electronic Module

  • Thread starter Thread starter Elsie
  • Start date Start date
When I visited with the retired Ford mechanic, he described the FEM as a computer controlled switching box.
When low level signals are sent to the FEM, which then turn on transistors, which then turn on switching
transistors or relays to turn the proper item on, or off. After many years the capacitors inside dry out, and
the transistors, or small processors no longer get the right amount of voltage to operate, that is when you
notice lights operating erratically, or other things. This started becoming an issue when the hazardous
chemicals were removed from electrolytic capacitors, the new chemicals do not last near as long.

Also sometimes the chemical in the capacitors leak out, and will damage the circuit board, this is when
your FEM can not be repaired.

I be they can be rebuilt for $10. I have fixed many power supplies simply by changing 2 or 3 capacitors.

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edward301 said:
When I visited with the retired Ford mechanic, he described the FEM as a computer controlled switching box.
When low level signals are sent to the FEM, which then turn on transistors, which then turn on switching
transistors or relays to turn the proper item on, or off. After many years the capacitors inside dry out, and
the transistors, or small processors no longer get the right amount of voltage to operate, that is when you
notice lights operating erratically, or other things. This started becoming an issue when the hazardous
chemicals were removed from electrolytic capacitors, the new chemicals do not last near as long.

Also sometimes the chemical in the capacitors leak out, and will damage the circuit board, this is when
your FEM can not be repaired.

I be they can be rebuilt for $10. I have fixed many power supplies simply by changing 2 or 3 capacitors.
Click to expand...
That is the most detailed description that I have heard of what is going on. Thanks for that. Explains why all the garage queens and low milage cars have the same problems.
 
edward301 said:
When I visited with the retired Ford mechanic, he described the FEM as a computer controlled switching box.
When low level signals are sent to the FEM, which then turn on transistors, which then turn on switching
transistors or relays to turn the proper item on, or off. After many years the capacitors inside dry out, and
the transistors, or small processors no longer get the right amount of voltage to operate, that is when you
notice lights operating erratically, or other things. This started becoming an issue when the hazardous
chemicals were removed from electrolytic capacitors, the new chemicals do not last near as long.

Also sometimes the chemical in the capacitors leak out, and will damage the circuit board, this is when
your FEM can not be repaired.

I be they can be rebuilt for $10. I have fixed many power supplies simply by changing 2 or 3 capacitors.
Click to expand...
Yes, change all the 5 small electrolytic. When some are bad, erratic behavior can damage the power MOSFET transistors.
 
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The description of the problem makes me think looking for NOS FEM's would be a problem as well. If the capacitors age is the problem the old stock will be problematic, too. I am liking the rebuild idea more based on this and think I would recommend rebuild over trying to find NOS. Anyone have any idea when the last FEM replacement part was made?
 
jamel95 said:
The description of the problem makes me think looking for NOS FEM's would be a problem as well. If the capacitors age is the problem the old stock will be problematic, too. I am liking the rebuild idea more based on this and think I would recommend rebuild over trying to find NOS. Anyone have any idea when the last FEM replacement part was made?
Click to expand...
March 2018
 
My '02 has just started showing signs like those described above. The lights for the radio and climate control and odometer will sometimes not come on after the vehicle has been started. The radio and climate control work, just can't see the control lights. Sometimes it comes on after driving a bit, sometimes not, and then sometimes I comes on when first turned over and there is not problem. So do I wait until it's gone for good, or do I order the FEM part now, and just wait until it is needed?
 
Elsie said:
After being on this website the last few months I've seen a lot of problems being attributed to the "Front Electronic Module" and the scarcity of the part - now discontinued. I've had a lot of problems with my "Bird" and figure sooner or later with my luck this will go out. I thought I might buy the part to have on hand when mine goes out.

I've been playing around on the web and found a few places that say they have the part for a 2002 Tbird, but say it doesn't fit a 2003 like mine.

Can't believe the part wouldn't work on an 03. I thought the only difference between an 02 - 03 was the variable timing on the 03, and the Selective shift. Front Electronic Module "SHOULDN'T" have anything to do with that would it?
Click to expand...



What is the latest info for the FEM— reading through the post I see reference to part 1w6t13b252 af and 1w6z14b205aa. My FMO dealer provided part 6w6z13c788ab for my 2005 bird. I would like to buy one for backup in case mine fails. Fordpartworld.com has on for $472.88 plus tax and shipping. Can anyone confirm the part number for a 2005?
 
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Bottom line,,, has anyone have a report for Automotive Modules in Allen Park MI?
I need one FEM rebuilt. So many options...I looked up the address of the above on Google Earth..looks like a Print Shop ???, I want to make sure they are as good as their advertisement

Thanks
 
jjtbird said:
Bottom line,,, has anyone have a report for Automotive Modules in Allen Park MI?
I need one FEM rebuilt. So many options...I looked up the address of the above on Google Earth..looks like a Print Shop ???, I want to make sure they are as good as their advertisement

Thanks
Click to expand...

I recently used them to repair my FEM and am very pleased with the results. Fixed all the issues I was having. I haven't seen any complaints in this forum. The whole process will take about 2 weeks including shipping to and from.
 
I was just on the phone with a tech from Automotive Modules in MI this morning; very nice and knowledgeable guy and he walked me through some troubleshooting techniques to determine if my FEM is bad... Did it off the cuff without referring to anything or putting me on hold, including voltages to expect on particular wires and what their color code should be. Impressive. They'll be getting mine for repair...
 
This is the third step in the instructions to remove the FEM, after removing the sill plate and kick panel cover. I don't know what this is. Is it the junction block with all the connectors attached at the upper left of the FEM ? If so I don't see how you get to the nuts..
 

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That is the junction box to the right of the FEM on the front wall of the cabin. It needs to be moved because it gets in the way when trying to remove the FEM.
 
Thanks much - that makes sense now...
I didn't see it at first because of the carpet..
 
Elsie said:
After being on this website the last few months I've seen a lot of problems being attributed to the "Front Electronic Module" and the scarcity of the part - now discontinued. I've had a lot of problems with my "Bird" and figure sooner or later with my luck this will go out. I thought I might buy the part to have on hand when mine goes out.

I've been playing around on the web and found a few places that say they have the part for a 2002 Tbird, but say it doesn't fit a 2003 like mine.

Can't believe the part wouldn't work on an 03. I thought the only difference between an 02 - 03 was the variable timing on the 03, and the Selective shift. Front Electronic Module "SHOULDN'T" have anything to do with that would it?
Click to expand...
Where did you find the Front Electronic Module for the 2002? I need one.
 
Many dealers just send the modules off to this place: http://www.automotivemodules.com/Thunderbird.html
once they isolate a fault to a particular component; they have my instrument cluster right now for the '02. I have NO idea of the quality of their work but my fingers are crossed... You can remove modules and send them to this outfit yourself as well. I'm a new retro T-Bird owner but many have said you'll have more luck with Lincoln dealers for fault isolation as they've dealt so much with the Lincoln LS that shares much of the same design.
 
My 2 cents about Thunderbird Specialties and Philip Wegener - cheat and crook, don't by anything from this company!

Our 2002 T-Bird wouldn't start this spring, it would just crank over but not start. I just thought it was a low battery even though the tender is on and it shows it was charging just fine. I began some self diag thinking it was maybe a fuse or relay, have spares on hand, replaced each that it could be but still nothing. I looked around on the internet and after lots of reading it sounded like it could the REM module. Figuring it was beyond what I could fix, I put the T-Bird on the trailer and took to Bison Ford in Great Falls Montana, my local dealership who I have bought many many cars from. They diagnosed it and said it was either the REM or fuel pump, it acted just like the owners 2 T-Birds and his daughters T-Bird when their REMs went out. I said lets start with the fuel pump and that wasn't it so it looked to be the REM was bad. They used to send to a place in Detroit but they don't fix these anymore and at the time there wasn't any available from Ford. So we began a horrible route of trying to contact this company to fix. We sent the REM to Philip in agreement he could repair it, for an original cost of around $1100 though his website said charges began at only $250. Here is where everything went south...... After he received the REM in early June he didn't try to fix or repair, we mailed him multiple times and received no reply, we began to worry if this was a legit company, more on that later. Finally in late July/early August he replied saying he couldn't fix it but gave no answer as to why, don't think he even tried to repair it, he said for another $200 plus additional costs he could get a reman REM from Ford, now we were really confused, as Ford said none where available. Bison looked at their site and oddly they showed some were now available, we tried to order one, but couldn't as Philip locked up my VIN with a dealership in NC trying to get one ordered. We contacted dealer and said here is what Philip is trying to pull, they agreed that once they received my REM from him, they would ship the new REM directly to us, well he never sent my original REM to them and still has it. After some time of working with Ford, they released my VIN so we could do an order for a REM through Bison, after a few weeks we received the REM and our T-Bird is running again, with no help from Philip Wegener or Thunderspecialties.com. We have sent messages to him only to have him state that during the summer he sent mails to Bison and they never replied to him, he considers the matter closed but I have communicated with him that how can you consider it closed when you are still holding onto my REM and won't return it.

Long and detailed but after this encounter and hearing of others who have had similar encounters, I'd steer clear of Thunderbird Specialties and Philip Wegener, he will cheat you out and never get you your parts you paid for.
 
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