Could the relays and fuses be preventing the car from starting?

KRYSTI45

MEMBER
2003 FORD TAURUS
3.0L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
250,000 MILES

My husband took the trunk light out on our car. The same evening the power windows stopped working and dome lights. I checked the windows fuse, and it was good. So, under the dash in the interior fuse box he was swapping a couple relays per article online now the car won’t start at all. No cranking or clicking nothing. The dash lights work as well as headlights. We don’t know what to do or check to get it to start. It was running fine until messing with relays and fuses.

5 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
43,392 POSTS

Yep, I assume you checked all the fuses to make sure they are good, if so, this happens when the GEM goes out, but I need to ask is the battery good? This guide can help us check:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Also, to tell for sure the GEM has gone out we should do a CAN scan you can get a CAN scanner from Amazon for about $30.00. here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Here is a scanner link:

https://amzn.to/3o41KcZ

Here are the instructions for changing out the GEM in case it is the problem. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

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Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 9:58 AM

KRYSTI45

MEMBER
3 POSTS
2003 FORD TAURUS
3.0L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
250,000 MILES

Along with the question I just posted concerning the relays and fuses for the car listed above, I forgot to mention there was a relay with three pins in the interior fuse box as well. Can’t remember where it goes but it won’t fit back into any spot. It’s a 12-v YF1T-13350-AA TBB89 PA6-GF30. When I looked this up online it came back as belonging to the horn. The other night the horn wasn’t working and today it is, but this relay is still not installed

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Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
43,392 POSTS

This can be a fuse panel issue as well. Here is a layout for the fuse panel so you can see where the relay goes. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find.

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+1

Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 11:03 AM

KRYSTI45

MEMBER
3 POSTS

We will try this and let you know, thank you. As far as the battery goes, we haven’t had a jump on it, but the headlights and dash lights do come on. I think I forgot to ask about it possibly being the anti-theft system, because the lights on either side of the instrument panel were blinking rapidly. We will try your advice. Thanks

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Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 11:51 AM

KEN L