NHTSA Complaint #10220043 — 1999 FORD F-350 SD

THE BATTERIES ON MY 1999 F350 CREW CAB DUALLY WITH A 7.3 DIESEL WENT DEAD. WHEN I TRIED TO CHARGE THE BATTERIES THE CHARGER SHOWED AN EXTREMELY HIGH DRAW. I HEARD A SOLENOID CLICKING UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE BATTERY AND THE RADIO WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY HEATER CONTROL WOULD WORK EVEN WITH THE KEY OFF. AFTER TAKING TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING AND WATER HAD DAMAGED THE GEM MODULE AND THE FUSE BLOCK. REPAIR COST TO REPLACE THE GEM MODULE, FUSE BLOCK AND SEAL THE LEAKING AREA WAS $1063.01. WHEN CHECKING THE INTERNET TO SEE WHAT THE GEM MODULE CONTROLLED I FIND THAT THE WATER LEAK IS A KNOW PROBLEM DUE TO A SKIP OR VOID IN THE PRODUCTION SEALER. ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS I HAVE READ THERE ARE MANY MANY TRUCKS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I FOUND THERE ARE TWO TSB'S ISSUED FOR THE WATER LEAK. THEY ARE TSB 99-2-3 AND 04-23-9. FROM COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET SEVERAL TRUCKS HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. FORD APPARENTLY DOESN'T THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM NOR WILL THEY ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. *TR