Battery has about 1/4 amp drain with everything off. Pulling fuse #25 (Speedometer and GEM system) brings the drain down to the normal 0.05 amp level. Problem is frequent but intermittant. Auto mechanics tell me the problem is ''complicated'' and suggest replacing alternators and things that dont appear involved. Anyone had and repaired a problem like this?

SIMPLE QUESTION AND ANSWER ON ALL CARS
LEARN THE SKILL OF USING AN AMMETER.
BEST IS REAL DC, AMP CLAMP METER
FIRST FIND THE FUSES WITH PHANTOM DRAINS ABOVE 0.050 AMPS 50ma IS MAX KEY OFF DRAIN.
THE ON THAT FUSED FEED WE USE THE AMP CLAMP TO FIND WHAT DEVICES IS FAILING
JUST 1 TOOL ($50) AND 1 SKILL AND SUPER EASY TO USE.(THE CLAMP)

700mA drain is crazy too high and easy to find that bad. my guess to is car was hacked. with things like
rotten REMOTE start kits.
alien ALARM kits
bogus Audio systems install dead wrong.
trailer hitch kits wrong
had 23 years to capture up hacks gone wrong.
or collision damage not repaired or floods,
this post is to you and anyone with phantom drains.
ask how, , can do.

GEM stands for General Electronic Module and controls a lot of non engine related things, such as power windows and locks. I had a 2000 ranger the other week I was working on with a bad one. To correctly test the GEM you need to hook up an amp meter to see the current draw. It takes the GEM about an hour to full power down. If your just sticking a test light on it, it may be miss leading you. Try hooking your test light up like you was testing and leave it like that for an hour without messing with the car, to see if the light is still lite. The best honest way to test is with an amp meter though. Should have .05 amps or less on it after an hour, anything more than that is a bad GEM.

The GEM in the ranger had to be programed by the dealer.

You will need to get a wiring diagram to see everything powered off of the fuse that you pull out. You will need to start unplugging components until battery draw goes away.

1 amp over an extended period (like overnight) is an excessive draw, and would drain the battery in a few days. What happens after the one minute? Does it continue to draw, or is that as long as you checked it?
If fuse F7 is the ignition off draw (IOD), then you are on the right track. The IOD serves to feed the computer's keep alive memory, the radio presets, the clock, and the alarm system. But the draw is measured in milli-amps. About 200 milli-amps or less is normal (and that is 0.2 amps), and that would not drain the battery in such a short time.
I would have a shop check this out with an ammeter and a device called a Shunt Bar. Ask for a battery drain test, or an off-draw test; well, explain your problem and have them check for too much current being used when everything is shut off.
Good luck.

Check cells in the battery, may be one or more low cells needing to be topped with acid.

Thanks for the inquiry.







Fuse Numbers and Locations:
EXPLORER FUSE PANEL Fuse Position Rating Circuit Protected 1 10 Amp Power Mirrors/Antenna 2 10 Amp Air Bag/Blower Relay 3 15 Amp Parking Lamps 4 15 Amp Left Headlamp 5 10 Amp On Board Diagnostic II System 6 15 Amp HO2S Sensors 7 10 Amp Illumination Switches 8 15 Amp Right Headlamp/Fog Lamp System 9 10 Amp EATC Mem./Seat Mem./Mess. Ctr./Cell. Phone 10 10 Amp EATC Sys./Rear Blower/Spd. Control/GEM Sys./Brake Interlock/OH Console Adapt. Susp. 11 10 Amp Warning Lamps 12 10 Amp Front and Rear Washers 13 15 Amp PCM Sys./Stoplamps/4WD/
ABS/Spd. Control/Trailer Tow 14 10 Amp Anti-Lock System 15 15 Amp Air Bag System/Alternator 16 30 Amp Front Wiper 17 30 Amp Cigar Lighter 18 15 Amp A/C System 19 25 Amp Ignition Coil/PCM System 20 10 Amp Radio/Power Ant./GEM Sys./Anti-Theft/Cell. Phone 21 15 Amp Hazard Lamps 22 15 Amp Turn Signals 23 15 Amp Rear Wiper System 24 15 Amp Starter Relay/Anti-Theft 25 10 Amp Speedometer/GEM System 26 15 Amp A4LDE Trans/DRL Sys./Backup Lamps/4WD/Rear Defroster 27 15 Amp Under Hood LP/Map Lights/Glove Box Lamp/Dome Lamp/Visor Lamps/Accessory Delay/DR Switch Illum./4x4 System 28 10 Amp Memory Seat/GEM System 29 15 Amp Audio System 30 - Not Used 31 10 Amp Aux. Blower System 32 10 Amp Heated Mirrors/Heated Backlite 33 20 Amp High Beam Lamps 34 10 Amp Audio System/Power Antenna 35 - Not Used 36 - Not Used
Hope this helps helps. Please keep us updated and remember to rate this answer.
Kind regards,
TF

It sounds like something is drawing power with the key off. It could be the GEM module but I doubt it. There is a draw somewhere. Connect battery and pull fuses one at a time to see if curent drain stops. You will need an ampmeter in series with the battery and the postive cable. Expensive. Get one from pick n pull salvage yard real cheap.

Check the following fuse junction panel fuses: fuse 23 (5A), fuse 20 (5A), and fuse 8 (5A).

Section 13-09A: Gauges/Warning Devices, Chime/Buzzer System 1998 Taurus/Sable Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Procedure revision date: 03/16/1998
Generic Electronic Module (GEM) Removal
The generic electronic module (GEM) is connected to the rear of the fuse junction panel (14A067) .

1. Disconnect battery ground cable (14301) . Refer to Section 14-01.
   

1. Remove two nuts retaining fuse junction panel to dash panel (01610) .
   

1. Pull upper ears of fuse junction panel down out of retaining bracket.
   

1. Disengage locking tangs and disconnect three harness connectors from bottom of GEM.
   

1. Turn fuse junction panel over and remove screw retaining GEM to fuse junction panel .
   

1. Disconnect and remove GEM from fuse junction panel .
   

Installation

1. Follow removal procedure in reverse order.
   

1. Tighten GEM to fuse junction panel screw to 1-2 Nm (9-17 lb-in).
   

1. Tighten fuse junction panel retaining nuts to 4-6 Nm (36-53 lb-in).
   
   
   
   
   
   Item Part Number Description 1 14B205 Generic Electronic Module (GEM) 2 - Mounting Ear (Part of 14A067) 3 14A067 Fuse Junction Panel 4 - Screw (Part of 14A067) 5 - Generic Electronic Module (GEM) to Fuse Junction Panel Connector A - Tighten to 1-2 Nm (9-17 Lb-In)

The gem is shorted out replace it.

RANGER FUSE PANEL Fuse Position Rating Circuit Protected 1 7.5 Amp Power Mirror 2 — Not Used 3 15 Amp Parking Lamps 4 10 Amp Left Headlamp 5 10 Amp On Board Diagnostic (OBD) II System 6 7.5 Amp Air Bag System/Blower Relay 7 7.5 Amp Illumination Switches 8 10 Amp Right Headlamp/Fog Lamp System 9 10 Amp ABS System 10 7.5 Amp Speed Control/GEM System/Brake Interlock 11 7.5 Amp Warning Lamps 12 10 Amp Front Washer System 13 15 Amp PCM System/Stoplamps/
4WD/ABS/Speed Control 14 10/20 Amp ABS System 15 7.5 Amp Air Bag System/Alternator 16 30 Amp Front Wiper 17 15 Amp Cigar Lighter 18 15 Amp A/C System 19 25 Amp Ignition Coil/PCM System 20 7.5 Amp Radio/GEM System/Anti-Theft 21 15 Amp Hazard Lamps 22 10 Amp Turn Signals 23 — Not Used 24 10 Amp Starter Relay/Anti-Theft 25 7.5 Amp Speedometer/GEM System 26 10 Amp 4R44E/4R55E Trans./Backup Lamps/DRL System 27 10 Amp Underhood LP/Map Lights/Glove Box Lamp/Dome Lamp/Visor Lamps/4x4 Sys. 28 7.5 Amp GEM System 29 10 Amp Audio System 30 — Not Used 31 — Not Used 32 — Not Used 33 15 Amp High Beam Lamps 34 — Not Used

Number Fuse Amperage
Rating
Circuits Protected
7 7.5 amp Illumination switches
8 10 amp Right headlamp, fog
lamp system
9 10 amp Autolamps
10 7.5 amp Rear blower, speed
control, GEM system,
brake interlock,
overhead console
11 7.5 amp Warning lamps
12 10 amp Liftgate wiper/washer,
front washer
13 15 amp Brake on/off switch
14 10 amp Anti-lock system
15 7.5 amp Air bag system,
instrument cluster
16 30 amp Wiper run relay
17 15 amp Cigar lighter
18 15 amp A/C system
19 25 amp Ignition coil, PCM
system
20 7.5 amp Radio, power antenna,
GEM system,
anti-theft
21 15 amp Turn/hazard flasher
22 10 amp Turn signals
23 10 amp Rear wiper system
24 10 amp Anti-theft relay
25 7.5 amp Instrument cluster,
GEM system