I had similar symptoms a few years ago, and found a wire in the shift column behind the lock was shorting. Post #2 below reports it was the OD wire. The key symptom for these though is fuse #19 blows...so this may not help. But the GEM module is also on #19 iirc.
Here are some links from previous posters -- you'll have to cut & past into a window, sorry, but maybe worth the effort:
1) http://www.superdutydiesel.com/foru...amp-OD-button&highlight=steering+column+short
2) http://www.superdutydiesel.com/foru...Ford-F-250-SD&highlight=steering+column+short
3) http://www.superdutydiesel.com/foru...ule-Questions&highlight=steering+column+short
Here are some links from previous posters -- you'll have to cut & past into a window, sorry, but maybe worth the effort:
1) http://www.superdutydiesel.com/foru...amp-OD-button&highlight=steering+column+short
2) http://www.superdutydiesel.com/foru...Ford-F-250-SD&highlight=steering+column+short
3) http://www.superdutydiesel.com/foru...ule-Questions&highlight=steering+column+short