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

Tiny
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.
Sunday, July 24th, 2022 AT 6:08 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 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
Tiny
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)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 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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Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 11:03 AM
Tiny
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
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,162 POSTS
Are the lights flashing security lights? It should only have one alarm light in red. Let me know.
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Tuesday, July 26th, 2022 AT 11:46 AM

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