Bizarre Electrical Issues

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Dec 11, 2006 | 12:08 PM

Doug63

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Bizarre Electrical Issues

I've tried searching the forums and I have noted the recurring theme of wet GEM modules; I will be checking into that.

However, my '03 EB Expy has some very weird things happening. When driving here in Anchorage on icy/snowy roads, whenever I accelerate a little too quickly causing the rear wheels to break loose, strange things happen.

Sometimes, the radio cuts out. Sometimes, the AdvanceTrac cuts out and back along with the associated chimes from the message center.

If the heater fan is running, it often cuts out as well.

The headlights dim.

I've also noticed that sudden changes in electrical load aren't handled really well. If I have the truck idling in the driveway, then step on the brake, the brake lights coming on cause the fan motor to slow a bit...then it catches back up. I can't help thinking that this is all related somehow.

One other thing: I had to jump-start my daughter's car a few weeks ago and noticed that the positive terminal is quite corroded under that plastic snap-cover.

Any idea?

Dec 11, 2006 | 12:29 PM

shov76

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I'd clean and retighten both connections of the battery and start there. That's the easiest

Dec 11, 2006 | 03:06 PM

Doug63

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Thanks Shov, I'll do that. I just find it odd that these things are only precipitated by the rear wheels breaking loose. I have a lot of anxiety that it might be something with the ABS/Advance Trac/Roll Stability computer module. Oh yeah, another thing that happened once was when I started it up, all the guages pegged to maximum values, then eventually reset to normal indications.

Very strange.

Dec 11, 2006 | 03:38 PM

pitrow

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From: Cornelius, Oregon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug63

Oh yeah, another thing that happened once was when I started it up, all the guages pegged to maximum values, then eventually reset to normal indications.

The gauges pegging on startup is an indication of the battery about to die, although it could just be the badly corroded terminal as you noted. The high load caused by the starter causes such a drain on the battery that it can't keep up enough power to keep the computer running, so the computer sort of does a soft-reset. Which you see by the gauges pegging. I'd get your battery load tested and see if it fails.

Now, some of the other electrical symtoms you mentioned also made me think of a bad voltage regulator. While you're getting your battery tested, it's probably worthwhile to have you alternator checked too.

Dec 11, 2006 | 03:49 PM

Doug63

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Thanks for the information, Mike. I'll have those things checked out. I'd imagine taking it in for a battery load/alternator test should reveal any problems there.

Dec 13, 2006 | 08:43 PM

Doug63

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Updates

Well, I haven't gotten the Expy in for service yet, but today I noticed some new symptoms. As I was beginning to accelerate around a corner at a traffic light, I could tell the rear wheels started to break loose a little bit. Even before I could let off the accelerator, I saw the AdvanceTrac light flashing. However, instead of just the radio cutting out, all the lights dimmed drastically and the engine died. It started up again right away, but it was unsettling.

This afternoon when I was warming up the engine in preparation to heading home from work, I turned on the rear window defroster. This caused the lights to all dim and the fan motor to slow WAY down for about 3 seconds, then everything kind of caught back up.

Is this sounding more like a bad alternator/voltage regulator now?

Dec 15, 2006 | 12:00 PM

dakota_viking

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From: Oklahoma

Doug,

I have experienced almost the same problems with my '99 (except the AdvanceTrac problem.)

You have just entered into a vicious cycle.

The 2 problems you have are:

1. The battery connection got corroded causing the battery to not stay charged...causing the battery to discharge in cold weather and go bad.

2. The alternator can NOT support the electrical load of the vehicle by itself so it in turn will be destroyed by the overload of current draw.

Basically I have found that the alternators in new vehicles are only there to maintain the charge of the battery, not charge it from a low state. If the battery gets low, the alternator will burn itself out trying to charge the battery and run the vehicle electrical load.

I know you don't want to hear this, but it is best to replace both the alternator and the battery. Most likely both have gone bad.

I hope this helps,
Tim

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Dec 15, 2006 | 12:28 PM

Doug63

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Thanks for all the replies. It looks as if I might have caught this early enough to avoid frying anything.

I took the Expy in to the dealership for a charging system check. They determined right away that they needed to perform a battery service because of the heavily corroded positive terminal. After getting it all cleaned up and replaced, the charging system and battery checked out fine. I've not experienced any of those problems so far.

Thanks for everyone's input on this!

Dec 15, 2006 | 03:00 PM

#10

Iceman8984

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From: North Carolina

Good point Dakota, a good connection to the battery even a dead one is a must with todays hi-tech vehicles. Gone are the days when you could start the car with your bud's battery, remove it then drive home. Todays alternators put out over 100 amps and the battery acts as a ballast to absorb both the load demands and the charge output. With a poor connection at the battery, not only do you have low voltage problems, but also overvoltage issues as well. Most alternators are capable of charging well over 16 volts and that could be deadly for some components. Glad you got it squared.