1999 Ford Windstar Front Electronic Module replace/repair?
Falk Willberg
The right front turn indicator went on once, then off and a problem with
the bulb was displayed, even though it was ok. Connecting front and side
indicator lamp "solved" the problem.
Later more electric devices, all controlled by this "FEM" went "mad":
Interior lights flashed, windscreen wiper turned on and off randomly,
theft protection sounded alarm without a cause.
Almost all 2pin SMD-Components are slightly misplaced, probably causing
bad soldering: (http://www.falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-1.jpeg).
While removing the FEM from the car, the interior lights started
flashing. It stopped, when I knocked on the Module...
I would prefer to get a "FEM" from a junkyard, but the Ford dealer says,
that the module must be "clear", because otherwise the central computer
would refuse to communicate with the module. Any way to "clear" the module?
I could re-solder bad junctions, if I had an idea, where to start (I
don't want to do all of them).
Grateful for any advice,
Falk
Meat Plow
If the module has data stored in volatile RAM then removing the voltage
source responsible for holding that data in RAM would flush it. You did
talk to the person who advised you to clear the module on a way to do it?
PeterD
>A friend's 1999 Ford Windstar started to cause trouble a year ago:
>The right front turn indicator went on once, then off and a problem with
>the bulb was displayed, even though it was ok. Connecting front and side
>indicator lamp "solved" the problem.
>Later more electric devices, all controlled by this "FEM" went "mad":
>Interior lights flashed, windscreen wiper turned on and off randomly,
>theft protection sounded alarm without a cause.
>Almost all 2pin SMD-Components are slightly misplaced, probably causing
>bad soldering: (http://www.falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-1.jpeg).
>
>While removing the FEM from the car, the interior lights started
>flashing.
You tried to remove a module without first disconnecting the battery?
Absolutely the wrong thing to do, will typically damage the module.
Never, ever work on anything electrical/electronic with the battery
connected.
>It stopped, when I knocked on the Module...
>
>I would prefer to get a "FEM" from a junkyard, but the Ford dealer says,
>that the module must be "clear", because otherwise the central computer
>would refuse to communicate with the module. Any way to "clear" the module?
With the tool(s) from Ford.
>
>I could re-solder bad junctions, if I had an idea, where to start (I
>don't want to do all of them).
Do them all.
Falk Willberg
> On Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:40:46 +0200, Falk Willberg ??o??:
...
>> I would prefer to get a "FEM" from a junkyard, but the Ford dealer says,
>> that the module must be "clear", because otherwise the central computer
>> would refuse to communicate with the module. Any way to "clear" the
>> module?
...
> If the module has data stored in volatile RAM then removing the voltage
> source responsible for holding that data in RAM would flush it.
I was told that disconnecting the power does not do the job.
> You did
> talk to the person who advised you to clear the module on a way to do it?
I talked to the owner of the car who talked to someone, who told him
that. I also found some hint on the web, saying that some Ford-tools
need to be used to replace the FEM with a "blank" one.
It is said to be some kind of theft protection.
Falk
Falk Willberg
...
>> While removing the FEM from the car, the interior lights started
>> flashing.
>
> You tried to remove a module without first disconnecting the battery?
No, not really. We only wanted to hear some music while we were
searching for screw #3 ;-) Before disconnecting the module, I
disconnected the battery.
...
> With the tool(s) from Ford.
The workshops my friend asked said, that they no longer have those tools...
>> I could re-solder bad junctions, if I had an idea, where to start (I
>> don't want to do all of them).
>
> Do them all.
I even refuse to count them:
http://falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-Loetseite.jpeg
http://falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-Bauteile.jpeg
Falk
Gnack Nol
Some deleted:
> I talked to the owner of the car who talked to someone, who told him
> that. I also found some hint on the web, saying that some Ford-tools
> need to be used to replace the FEM with a "blank" one.
>
> It is said to be some kind of theft protection.
>
> Falk
That is true. Almost all late model automotive computer modules store the
important basic operating data in non volitle EEPROMs. So it would still
retain its old data even with power disconnected. Tis is why the car
doesn't go compleatly out of operation when the battery dies and has to be
replaced.
The dealer has a computer designed to interface directly with the car's
computer and reset the data in the modules directly. There may be some
interface tools and software available to do it yourself with a laptop but
it could be risky since finding the right data to reset may be a hard
challenge.
Gnack
Meat Plow
Theft protection for an FEM? That doesn't make sense. Talk to a Ford
dealer who repairs vehicles of that age and they will tell you how to go
about clearing an FEM if they are willing to take the time. I'm sure they
would have the procedure somewhere just in case they needed to clear one.
If it involves a factory proprietary tool you might have difficulty
getting ahold of one.
Charlie
>>> I could re-solder bad junctions, if I had an idea, where to start (I
>>> don't want to do all of them).
>>
>> Do them all.
>
> I even refuse to count them:
> http://falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-Loetseite.jpeg
> http://falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-Bauteile.jpeg
>
> Falk
If you can get to the card as shown in the pictures while the car is
running, take a small piece of wood or plastic where you can trim the end to
look like chisel shape and run it across the solder joints as if you were
painting them and watch for anything strange to happen. Not too hard and try
both directions. It just might catch a poor solder joint.
Charlie
PeterD
wrote:
>On Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:40:46 +0200, Falk Willberg ??o??:
The module will have non-volital information such as the VIN number
and vehicle options stored in it. This information must be updated to
match the vehicle, or the module will refuse to work.
Ford has diagnostic tools that do this. All Ford dealers have these
tools. Despite what the OP says, they (the tools) are not obsolete and
the dealers do have them. Whether the dealer will want to use the
tools is a different question.
Tim Schwartz
Hmmm,
I'd also suspect the 2 OMRON relays. Can you tap on them with the car
running and see what happens?
Also, this board looks like it has a conformal coating on it. Not so
easy to resolder.
Regards,
Tim Schwartz
Falk Willberg
...
>> http://falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-Loetseite.jpeg
>> http://falk-willberg.de/Windstar/FEM-Bauteile.jpeg
> If you can get to the card as shown in the pictures while the car is
> running, take a small piece of wood or plastic where you can trim the end to
> look like chisel shape and run it across the solder joints as if you were
> painting them and watch for anything strange to happen.
No way, unfortunately. I reconnected the module and slightest movements
at any cable causes different effects.
Next I will try to find a Ford dealer who is capable and willing to help
the poor guy who owns the car.
Falk
sparky
> On Sat, 5 Jun 2010 12:49:26 +0000 (UTC), Meat Plow <mhyw...@yahoo.com>
>
> - Show quoted text -
Some dealers will ONLY sell new parts and will not help anybody
replace used parts.
Meat Plow
I repaired a Dodge SMEC that was potted in entirety in silicone rubber.
Wasn't the easiest to do but it can be done if you are willing or
desperate. In my case it was desperation as i didn't have $300 for a
rebuilt unit. And in the 88 Dodge Dakota 4x4 the SMEC controls much of
the things the Ford FEM does even though its primary duty is engine
control.
William R. Walsh
> No way, unfortunately. I reconnected the module and slightest
> movements at any cable causes different effects.
It seems to me like the fix would be fairly easy, then...check the
connectors for bad solder joints and repair them.
Apart from the relays, it really doesn't look like there is much to go
wrong on that board.
William
Falk Willberg
> On 6/5/2010 8:40 AM, Falk Willberg wrote:
...
>> I would prefer to get a "FEM" from a junkyard, but the Ford dealer says,
>> that the module must be "clear", because otherwise the central computer
>> would refuse to communicate with the module. Any way to "clear" the
>> module?
For the records: A used module (FEM) from the junkyard works perfectly.
Today we replaced the bad one and all is fine.
Falk
freedom...@gmail.com
peterw...@gmail.com
Terry Schwartz
> That was eighteen (18) years ago, or very nearly.
