I just compared my replacement one with the same part number and year but it only has one tab. No tabs are broken off.
when I compare it to the 2003 from a video, he has 3 tabs. That one is from near the gas pedal.
when I compare it to an earlier year that’s behind the fuse box, that one also has three tabs.
so that didn’t help me figure out where it was.

 

you have the truck handy it is not that hard to see the one behind the radio if you can pull the fire wall insulation down a bit

 

I had a back procedure 3 days ago, or 2 days from the time I asked, so if someone was nice enough to point me in the right direction prior to climbing under there, that really would have helped.
That makes sense, right? But I’m sure by just creating this thread and posting my experience that I could point someone in The right direction. Even if no one was able to make a helpful suggestion before I started the project, at least there’s some confirmed information on a split year 2003 f250.
Thanks for your input.

 

 

This is the later split year and it was behind the radio, not easily visible with your head stuffed u see there. Especially with some kind of batting covering the area.
Even though my computer told me the part number for the GEM, it was a different number when I removed it. It is for the 2004+ not the 03 like the computer told me.

 

i would not want to contort myself at all getting to the VSM if I even had a backache lol
and all I ever needed from my vsm was the door lock code that is printed on it
and resorted to a snake camera