What is the gem cluster fuse and why is it draining my battery on my 97 Mazda B4000?

Answer 1

I am researching the "GEM" for my Mazda Tribute. We have been having bizarre electrical malfunctions. I just came accross complaints regarding this and Ford Expeditions. They were losing power with lights, radios, etc., and traced it all to a leak in the windshield, which was causing water to run down the harness and onto the "GEM" and fuse panel. The Gem sounds like a contraption attached to the back of your fuse box that receives signals to turn on and off electrical devices in your car. If the GEM and/or fuse panel gets wet, it malfuncitons and all kinds of crazy things start to happen, ie you turn off the radio, but the GEM doesn't get the correct msg, and it doesn't turn it off. The battery can drain, or I suspect, in my case the radio can just come on at a later time, even when you think you turned it off. Google Ford Expedition and GEM fuse and you should get some interesting results. Also, sounds like the GEM is something that a dealer has to install if it goes bad as they have to program it with the old GEM. Hope something here helps.