Re: 1999 Ford Windstar Front Electronic Module replace/repair?

[Meat Plow]

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. 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

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?

 

[Gnack Nol]

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]

I was told that disconnecting the power does not do the job.


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

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.

 

[PeterD]

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?

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.