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Crazy electrical problems

jrm701

jrm701

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2003
Messages
5
Location
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
I came out to start my 07 AV and nothing happened. I noticed the dome lights wouldn?t turn on and everything was dead. Checking my 7 month old battery and it was fully charged. While checking the cables coming from the batter the lights came on when I moved the negative cable. The connections to the battery were tight and clean so I knew I had a deeper problem. Taking it to the dealer, they found grounding connections loose and some corroded where they cleaned and tightened and it seemed it solved the problem. But about four hundred miles later, things started to get really crazy. The door locks started to actuate and not all at the same time, front doors then the back and they would this constantly. The instrument cluster and the radio/navigation would briefly go dark and then come back on and then turn off again. When the instruments would come back on I would get a message that the parking assist is off then disappear then it would say the traction control was off also. This is all occurring while doing 70 MPH on the interstate. I pulled off at the next exit and everything went back to normal when I came to a complete stop miles away from any dealer ship. Back on the interstate again and everything seemed normal again until I used my turn signal left or right it didn?t matter or if I pressed the brake pedal then I would lose all power to the instruments and radio/nav but after 3 or 4 seconds later they would come back on. No problems with the locks this time. I finally got the AV in the Chevy dealer but everyone is scratching their heads why I'm losing power. Just wondering if this is a wiring harness problem or what. Any idea or solution would be welcomed.
 
My first thought would be the ignition switch
 
Problem solved:
Ok here is the verdict from the dealer. They found a bad cell in the battery and had zero cranking amps when they tested it. This is what caused all my problems they said. They went on to say; when the battery does not supply the required voltage then the computer starts shutting down various electronics so that the engine can continue to run smooth. Also the door locks unlock automatically when the voltage drops off as a safety feature this the reason they were going up and down. I don?t know if this true and they were trying to tell me something I wanted to hear but it does kind of make sense though. If anyone can tell me differently I?m going to have to take their word for it.
 
My 2005 chevy avalanche has had similar issues. It started with the AC suddenly blowing hot air while going down the road. I quickly learned that would fix itself if I pulled over and re-started after counting to 10. Then it started to "bump" between 1 and 2nd gear. Again, it would fix itself if I pulled over and re-started. Then the door locks would cycle while going down the highway. Then the power windows would refuse to work. Both things would fix with re-start. Then the AC blower motor failed. Then the instument cluster gauges started to fail. Then the radio would continue to play after the engine was shut off and the key was removed. These three things will not fix with re-start. And now, lastly, the radiator fan continues to run for hours after engine shut off. Then the car suddenly went dead WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH!  It was as if the key had been turned off.  I wrestled the truck over to the side of the road and called for a tow.

Some 600 bucks and 4 days of diagnostics later....they had to replace multiple "bad" wires and re-flash the computer.  Since then (it's only been a day), the truck is driving much better, much better gas mileage, but I still have no AC blower and there is still a "bump" between 1st and 2nd gears.

My truck has 172K on it, I love it, I would like to keep driving it.  Does anyone have any thoughts?
 
The problem came back. So I'm back at the dealer again, guess it's not the battery. Now the dealer says it was the starter and that it was drawing too much power at start up so they replaced it and this is suppose to fix my problem. I just don't get it, you tell the service tech your coming outside to dead vehicle, which means nothing works or lights up and you have to use a key to get inside, you have to jiggle the negative battery cable to restore power to the vehicle. I just don't see where a starter has anything to do with a dead AV. There has to be a short some where. If this happens again, and I'm pretty sure it will, GM is going to get an ear full. I'm now up to $400 and it's got me no where.
 
jrm701 said:
Now the dealer says
Click to expand...
I hope you figure out your first issue, but I'd say there's your second issue right in that quote. 

Get a trusted mechanic and that person should be able to diagnose the issue.
 
BAd starters may draw too much power and kill a battery or make it weak so if it sits over night it may loses charge...

does sound like you have bad battery terminal post though if it moves..

does wire move or terminal?

Remove ground then positive and using insulated pliers put bolt in with same thread and see if you can jiggle battery terminal
 
jrm701 said:
........... They went on to say; when the battery does not supply the required voltage then the computer starts shutting down various electronics so that the engine can continue to run smooth. Also the door locks unlock automatically when the voltage drops off as a safety feature this the reason they were going up and down. I don?t know if this true and they were trying to tell me something I wanted to hear but it does kind of make sense though.............
Click to expand...


This part at least appears mostly true. Honda does the same thing....as the voltage drops nonessential and high power requirement systems such as the audio start shutting down. The fuel pump/ignition/etc are the last to go.
 
:help: :help: hi .  my name is Bo and I have the same crazy electrical problem with my 2008 avalanche too.    can you tell me how to fix it... pleas    Thanks
 
Hi everybody, I have the same issue with my avalanche 09!!! I really appreciate if someone told me how I can solve this &"#%$ problem...  :E:

J R Martinyou... Did you have luck?!!!

:help:  :help:  :help:
 
Just last week I began having the exact same problems on my 08 that you described. It comes and goes. I noticed that the battery indicator shows that the battery is not fully charging. I was thinking it could be an alternator going bad since it wasn't getting enough power. When I press the brake or use the turn signal everything goes haywire. I replaced the battery last year so I wouldn't have guessed battery. It is possible though. I'll take a swing through Auto Zone and get the battery checked.
 
I WOULD CHECK THE IGNITION SWITCH AS WELL.  LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THEM AND EVERYTHING GOES THRU THAT SWITCH.
 
When you say ignition switch, is that referring to the ignition coil? I'm trying to look up that part on Rock Auto. Thanks!
 
I'll check for a part number on that. I had the battery checked and it was good. I would still think Alternator since the power dips when  I use the brake or turn signal. Is the switch a DIY? How much is involved changing that out?
 
not really diy.  i think the steering wheel has to come off.  i guess it depends on you ability level.
 
Take a look at this

http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,42089.0.html
 
:cry:I have a 2004 av and I have been having crazy problems too. After a weekend of not driving my truck, went out to go to work on Monday and it wouldn't start, had to jump it. It would start for a few days then die again so we bought a new battery but it still done the same thing so I took it to the dealer. they could not find a problem, after testing it for a week they said it was a sensor behind my instrument panel. that cost around $500. then my gas gage would show full one min then empty the next, interior lights stay on when out of veh, radio stays on so I took it in to a dealership. They found nothing, I took it back again, told them ever since they replaced that sensor I have had problems. I had filled my trk up prior to taking it in and the gage showed 3/4 full but they found nothing wrong. Now I have a squealing noise when I start from a stop at a slow speed 1k then as I speed up it gets louder until I reach around 5k. Anyone know what's going on. :mad:
 
I would find a new dealer.
 
jrm701 said:
I came out to start my 07 AV and nothing happened. I noticed the dome lights wouldn?t turn on and everything was dead. Checking my 7 month old battery and it was fully charged. While checking the cables coming from the batter the lights came on when I moved the negative cable. The connections to the battery were tight and clean so I knew I had a deeper problem. Taking it to the dealer, they found grounding connections loose and some corroded where they cleaned and tightened and it seemed it solved the problem. But about four hundred miles later, things started to get really crazy. The door locks started to actuate and not all at the same time, front doors then the back and they would this constantly. The instrument cluster and the radio/navigation would briefly go dark and then come back on and then turn off again. When the instruments would come back on I would get a message that the parking assist is off then disappear then it would say the traction control was off also. This is all occurring while doing 70 MPH on the interstate. I pulled off at the next exit and everything went back to normal when I came to a complete stop miles away from any dealer ship. Back on the interstate again and everything seemed normal again until I used my turn signal left or right it didn?t matter or if I pressed the brake pedal then I would lose all power to the instruments and radio/nav but after 3 or 4 seconds later they would come back on. No problems with the locks this time. I finally got the AV in the Chevy dealer but everyone is scratching their heads why I'm losing power. Just wondering if this is a wiring harness problem or what. Any idea or solution would be welcomed.
Click to expand...
 
Did you have a question or reply  jogasper ???
 
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