Anyone heard of this before?

  • Thread starter The Swamp Fox
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The Swamp Fox

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I am not a car guy so it doesn't take much to get over my head.

Long story short, I have a 2000 F150 and last night around 4am it decided to start up on its own. No keys, no people, no nothing. Just sitting there and the engine cranks up. I had to get the keys to turn it off and it would start up again. I finally had to disconnect the battery to get it to stop. After reconnecting the battery today it started doing it again. I live out in the country so it is unlikely someone was trying to steal it.

Anyone have an idea the reason/cause for this? Other than a ghost?
 
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Nope. Don't even have keyless entry. I have one dealer key and that's it.
 
The GEM module behind the fuse panel? If it gets wet or dirty it can cause this.
 
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If it remote start was an option for that model, I would start looking there.
 
Just a question but does the starter not keep grinding? I would think that a short would keep it running not just on long enough to start the engine. I would think someone hit it with the remote start thing.
 
The thing with remote start, is you have to press lock first, and then the remote start button. It sorta knows your "not a robot".
 
Just a question but does the starter not keep grinding? I would think that a short would keep it running not just on long enough to start the engine. I would think someone hit it with the remote start thing.

The starter by itself can't start an engine. You'll need power to the coil or ignition. On FI engines you'll need fuel pressure and other sensors powered.

Did you buy it new, or used? It just may have remote start that you never knew about.

-R
 
I bought it used in 2013. Were they putting remote starts in trucks back in 00?
 
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The module is called the GEM, it may be getting wet from a water leak.
 
The module is called the GEM, it may be getting wet from a water leak.
Is it in the cab or under the hood? The cab has more leaks than the Iraqi navy so that makes sense if its in the cab. It pretty much just a farm truck at this point.
 
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Is it in the cab or under the hood? The cab has more leaks than the Iraqi navy so that makes sense if its in the cab. It pretty much just a farm truck at this point.
Yes, just above the inside fuse box left of steering column.
GEM TRUCK.JPG

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Just a question but does the starter not keep grinding? I would think that a short would keep it running not just on long enough to start the engine. I would think someone hit it with the remote start thing.

Since I just played this little game, I have some insight into your question at least.

If it was a starter issue it would still have to have something else to power the starter first. When my starter went, it would weld itself on when I turned the key. Turning the key powered up the starter. The plunger and contact would weld together. And yes, it would make a grinding/whining noise as the truck ran. I had to un hook a battery cable, after turning off the engine with the key, to stop it. But the starter can't get in that position without something initiating power to start it in the first place. So my guess is it's not a starter issue. It's something upstream in the starting process that is firing up by itself.

Now, to make this even more fun. Unhooking a battery should not stop an engine that is actually fully running. So there may be more than one problem here. Once started the engine should run on the alternator, not the battery. Unless it has some sort of shut off telling it to not run without the battery.

At least that's my unprofessional .02.
 
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