Help needed Front Electronic Module FEM 2002-2005 | Page 3 | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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Help needed Front Electronic Module FEM 2002-2005

Doing an update check: Who do you recommend for FEM repair? Mine seems to be on the fritz but differently than many others. I lose speedometer, power steering boost, get faults for ABS and brake function. I can drive the car and when I turn off / turn back on the faults have gone away. Only to return again. I replaced the 7 year old battery in case that was the culprit, but the faults came back. I have not run codes because it doesn't seem likely that all the codes would throw at once and they go away. Any thoughts before I pull out the FEM? thanks in advance.

Moderator Note: This is already posted.

Get it rebuilt here- https://ebay.us/oqzjki which currently has 4.9 stars and 2,324 Google reviews on Google.

Link to rebuild- https://ebay.us/oqzjki

This page contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
The REM receives inputs from the FEM and delivers outputs to a majority of the electronically controlled features which reside primarily in the rear of the vehicle, including the RH power window. Since when you pull the fuse the passenger side window will work normally, that tells me that the problem is most likely with the FEM or the REM. Have you checked for fault codes in the FEM or the REM? Does the passenger window not operate with either window switch?

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
 
The driver door window is currently not working at all. Passenger side is working fine. This has been progressively getting worse. On occasion, the window will not move the small space to allow it to get past the top when the door is opened or closed. Yesterday, the window would not work at all but started working after I rolled the passenger side down and back up. Today it will not work at all. I have checked the appropriate fuses and they look okay but I have not actually tested them yet. It seems odd to me that it would work sometimes if the fuse is the problem. Looking for suggestions as I continue to look into this. About a month ago, the convertible top would not close but started working a while later. I am assuming there is a short somewhere but I am not sure where to start looking. Thanks
 
Onpaper said:
The driver door window is currently not working at all. Passenger side is working fine. This has been progressively getting worse. On occasion, the window will not move the small space to allow it to get past the top when the door is opened or closed. Yesterday, the window would not work at all but started working after I rolled the passenger side down and back up. Today it will not work at all. I have checked the appropriate fuses and they look okay but I have not actually tested them yet. It seems odd to me that it would work sometimes if the fuse is the problem. Looking for suggestions as I continue to look into this. About a month ago, the convertible top would not close but started working a while later. I am assuming there is a short somewhere but I am not sure where to start looking. Thanks
Click to expand...
If the problem is your FEM, get it rebuilt here- https://ebay.us/oqzjki
which currently has 4.9 stars and 2,324 Google reviews on Google.

Link to rebuild- https://ebay.us/oqzjki
 
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Steering is stiff on my 2004 T-bird. Took it to a dealership and they replaced the steering pump, said it was weak. No help, still stiff.
 
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My wife has been complaining that the squirters and wipers won't work. Every time I try, they work fine. Yesterday, I tried them while driving up I-95: neither worked. I left the switch on and a few minutes later the wipers came on and the squirters worked! Today, she was caught in the rain, and they didn't work.

What should I check besides the fuse?
 
Since you stated that at times the wipers and the washers do not work, I would start by checking the power and ground circuits for the windshield wiper motor, the windshield washer motor and the multifunction switch.

Power is supplied to the wiper motor from the 30 amp fuse (F1. 24) in the Auxiliary Junction Box under the hood and the 3 amp fuse (F2. 26) in the Central Junction Box in the passenger compartment kick panel.

Ground point G203, is located below the right side of the dash panel, ground point G202, is located at the left A-pillar and ground point G101, is located at the left front of the engine compartment.

Inside the wiper motor is a microprocessor, along with the wiper and washer relays. There are pinpoint tests that can be performed to determine if the wiper motor or the multifunction switch is defective.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird blue

Wiper 1.jpg

Wiper 2.jpg
 
Well my well cared for 38K bird has developed intermittent electrical issues. They come...they go...just like that.
Here is what fails ......and now this stuff fails more than works-
  • Drivers Window quits (passenger never fails)
  • Horn
  • Headlights
  • Auto window lower/raise when door opens
  • Wipers
  • Radio does not shut off with car
    • Must manually turn off radio after car is shut off
  • Remote trunk release (inside car on drivers door)
  • False door ajar light on dash
    • sometimes with Claxton (chime)
    • When Claxton sounds….. after turning off car - I disconnect/reconnect battery and this stops that sound for next drive cycle
  • False low oil warning light on dash
    • Oil level is fine
    • Newest item - Power top not operating when having "issues"
      • In down position
With all this ….the car ignition system works and car drives fine.
Then like magic...everything begins working again....all of it kind of at once.
Front Electronic Module or perhaps a Ground???? Any Insight out there?
Dealer is no help here...says have no expertise or any parts. Appreciate any advise beyond selling the car. Want to get this fixed.
 
edsweetwood said:
Well my well cared for 38K bird has developed intermittent electrical issues. They come...they go...just like that.
Here is what fails ......and now this stuff fails more than works-
  • Drivers Window quits (passenger never fails)
  • Horn
  • Headlights
  • Auto window lower/raise when door opens
  • Wipers
  • Radio does not shut off with car
    • Must manually turn off radio after car is shut off
  • Remote trunk release (inside car on drivers door)
  • False door ajar light on dash
    • sometimes with Claxton (chime)
    • When Claxton sounds….. after turning off car - I disconnect/reconnect battery and this stops that sound for next drive cycle
  • False low oil warning light on dash
    • Oil level is fine
    • Newest item - Power top not operating when having "issues"
      • In down position
With all this ….the car ignition system works and car drives fine.
Then like magic...everything begins working again....all of it kind of at once.
Front Electronic Module or perhaps a Ground???? Any Insight out there?
Dealer is no help here...says have no expertise or any parts. Appreciate any advise beyond selling the car. Want to get this fixed.
Click to expand...
All of this is answered in this thread already. Start reading on post one.

Gus Gutz

Thread 'Help needed Front Electronic Module FEM 2002-2005'

My lights went off and my drivers window would not go down. The radio would not turn off when the door was opened and the windows do not drop. this happened twice in two days.

I am sure it is the front electronic module. Anyone know what to do and where to take it?


MODERATOR NOTE 2020- We've found a direct source for the FEM's!
You can now purchase a remanufactured FEM directly from a Ford dealer with a 2 year warranty! These FEM’s we are remanufactured by Ford and are covered by the nationwide Ford warranty for 2 years/unlimited mileage. The part numbers listed below are all...
  • Gus Gutz
  • 2002 2003 2004 2005 circuit cranks but won't start dash died dead car dtc electrical problems fem fem electronic module front electronic control module fuse help horn instrument cluster kick panel lighting problems radio quit short window
  • Replies: 87
  • Forum: 2002 - 2005 Retro Ford Thunderbird
  • Like/Thanks
 
Hello! Bought a yellow 2002 thunderbird a couple of months ago and couldn't be happier. I've never been a "car guy" but I've been trying to fix some minor issues myself. So far so good, except the horn doesn't work. It's not just from the steering wheel but it doesn't sound when I lock the car, so I figured it was electrical. I check the front fuse box and a-ha, the fuse for the horn was blown. So I replaced it, and... nothing. Next, I went to the relay - it must be the relay. I replaced that and, again, nothing (I ended up putting the original relay back in because it seems fine).

When I have the hood open and I lock the car repeatedly I hear an extra little click by the fuse box, so there's some sort of communication happening there. My next place to check, I believe, is the horn itself, but I wanted to post on here first and see if anyone had any advice.

Thanks in advance!
 
When the horn switch is pressed, a message is sent from the instrument cluster via the network communication link to the FEM. The FEM receives the message and energizes the horn relay by grounding the horn relay coil, allowing the dual note horn to sound.

You stated that you found a blown fuse, was it fuse #4 in the under hood auxiliary junction box or fuse #10 in the central junction box behind the right kick panel? Did you check for stored faults in the instrument cluster or the FEM?

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

Horn.jpg
 
Directional lights are not working, they suddenly stopped. Earlier symptoms was the right direction was intermittent when moving switch to the right and had to hold it up as if a bad contact. Left directional always worked no problem when moving lever downward. Now nothing works. Changed out the Multifunction switch and it did not fix the problem. Do not know where the directional relay is located so I haven't changed it yet. Does anyone know where the relay is located, amd is there a scematic somewhere so I can find the wire trail. Emergency Flasher does not work either so I am leaning toward the relay if I can find it.

Appreciate any info.

Mike G.
 
doug7740 said:
Since you stated that at times the wipers and the washers do not work, I would start by checking the power and ground circuits for the windshield wiper motor, the windshield washer motor and the multifunction switch.

Power is supplied to the wiper motor from the 30 amp fuse (F1. 24) in the Auxiliary Junction Box under the hood and the 3 amp fuse (F2. 26) in the Central Junction Box in the passenger compartment kick panel.

Ground point G203, is located below the right side of the dash panel, ground point G202, is located at the left A-pillar and ground point G101, is located at the left front of the engine compartment.

Inside the wiper motor is a microprocessor, along with the wiper and washer relays. There are pinpoint tests that can be performed to determine if the wiper motor or the multifunction switch is defective.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird blue

View attachment 32047

View attachment 32048
Click to expand...
Everything else is working. Any chance is it just the wiper motor, itself? I found a new one on Ebay for $43. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1742741627...pid=5338236430&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
 
FYI, used the link for the refurbish on eBay https://ebay.us/oqzjki for the FEM for my 2002 (171,000 miles) worked like a charm. Solved my following problems.

Headlights would completely turn off by themselves
Windshield Wiper settings all out of wack Low was off, intermittent was high, Off was intermittent. Wipers would turn on by themselves randomly
Driver window would sometimes not go up
Horn would not work intermittently, Horn would not sound when hitting the door lock button on remote twice
Power Steering not there (mentioned in this thread)
 
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2005 TB drivers window will not lower when opening and closing the door
 
The driver’s side window not dropping when the door is open is one of the most common problems caused by a defective F.E.M. Check for faults stored in all of the control modules before condemning the FEM.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
 
Hi there!

I am in the process of removing my FEM for reprogramming, I disconnected the battery in the trunk and got all the plastic trims out of the way -- but I cannot remove this weird black plastic piece I don't know the name for that has wires going into it? How do I take this off so I can get into the Front End Module? I need to get this FEM out of my car to ship it out by tomorrow since I'll be on vacation 10 days and have time to wait for it to be repaired. Please help! The piece I need to take off to access the bolts is in the red circle. ?

1732156494886.png
 
Figured it out, it is just a simple cable retainer. It just slides over the top of a bolt to hold the harness in place. To remove it, I just pulled it straight up and off the stud it's attached to.

The FEM is officially out of the car! Now off to be reprogrammed so I can have working dashboard backlighting! 🙂
 
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