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Comments
PROBLEMS:
1.car starts then shut off after a couple seconds (symtoms)-run hard kind of shakey then turn off.
2.some times power goes out also then come right back on after couple minutes whenit shuts down
3. my tail lights will not go out
4.autozone test came back maf sensor
Although your problem does sound more electrical
Check the ground on rear floor. Remove and clean then retighten.
Check the connections on fuses in the holders under the rear seats. i recall some have found loose connections there--might do that with the ground wire removed...
Check same on the fuse holder in the front... Doesn't the power wire go there and then to the starter?
Could just be defective battery-post cracked. Bridged inside.... How old is battery?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The gauges and things going crazy sounds like a drop in voltage symptoms some people have when the battery gets old or bad. But you have replaced battery. Check the end of the positive cable to be sure battery acid didn't seep into it from the battery post and corrode something.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Is that on a 2000+ model that has that cable? I know the 92-99 models had one going to the Relay Center for fuses and relay power!
The main cable on 2000 and up goes to the front fuse relay center by the AC accumulator--right fender near front. I need to look into how the power goes from there to starter and others.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Thanks!!!
Any ideas?
I trouble shot and found the broken wire that controled the locks/seat memory/alarm/lights flashing/ect. little purple wire under the seat coming out of the carpet to the wire loom that connects to the slider that moves with the seat. everything works now.
hope this helps someone. almost everything is tied to going under the driver seat.
As to the brake circuits blowing a fuse..., that might be related if you're getting a short to ground through corrosion on the bulb holder. Time for thorough inspection of the whole set of bulbs on the front and rear.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The bulb holders twist about a quarter turn to remove and then the bulbs push into those holders. On the rear, the taillights have little nuts on studs holding the taillights onto the body. Remove those, the taillight unit pulls out, and then twist to inspect each bulb in its holder.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I should mention that the drivers seat heater stopped working about the same time all of the problems started. Any thoughts or solutions would be appreciated.
My first bearing that went out had given some odd signs before my tire place mentioned my hub was getting some play in it. They mentioned that the Stability System code would show in the DIC when the bearing move enough the wheel speed sensor lost count. I had parked on a slant at a garden store. And when I left the stability system was applying one brake as soon as I got up to 15 or so mph. I stopped car. Turned it off for a minute and then restarted and everything was fine. But still got an occasional Service Stability System warning. Replaced bearing with Timken from Autozone and all was fine. Then the other wheel bearing started doing the same thing ending in replacement finally.
If you don't find what you're looking for, you can pull the fuse for the ABS and disable it. But it is a safety feature.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
What year is your Bonneville with that cable as the problem? 92-99?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The car has had a few electrical issues over the past five years. I think a seal around a door is bad, because the car stays damp inside, sometimes with water on floorboard that i have had to shopvac out (not heater hose--checked and is good). I imagine that the moisture is causing part of my problem. I'll list the problems below:
1) Headlights stay on even after car turned off, key removed, and will stay on until the battery dies. Not as in the twilight sentinel way, but as in they stay on until the battery is dead.
2) Radio/CD Player has issues of flipping around, changing stations, being unable to control from either the actual unit or the steering wheel controls.
3) Dash Panel was working as recently as yesterday. Now the speedometer and rpm gauges are messed up.
Even though the problems above exist (and drive me crazy--I have to unbolt the posts to the battery every day I go to work, grocery, anywhere, to preserve battery), the electric seats still work. The power windows work. The electric antenna works.
I'd appreciate any advice... if you don't mind, when you mention a place to look, be pretty specific, because I don't know everything by professional name.
Thank you so much--jill
Or it could just be the radio going bad.
The water problem may be the watershield plastic layer on the door over the metal. It's glued to the metal with a black mastic that looses its stickum. The shape of the mastic stripe is to lead water into the drains to feed bad toward the outside of the door. This is all under the inner part with the upholstery on it. The water comes in around the glass and drips down and is supposed to be kept away from the inside by the plastic layer. If not, you may find water tracks below the rubber seal to the inside of the door after rains that hit on that door when the car is outside.
The water may be from sunroof drains: got a sunroof? On the newer body in 2000+, they could break where they went through the floor and leak water inside.
I have also read about some few folks finding their intake for the HVAC that's under the plastic cowl with the slots in it when the hood is raised is no longer sealed. So rain water finds its way inside around the heater air intake opening.
The headlamps, well that's what I've been tryng to find my 98 service manual to look up. They may have retained power on your cars. Does it have the feature where inside lights, radio, headlamps, get turned off after about 12 minutes if you leave them on? That stays on until a door is opened or it runs out of time.
I believe that's controlled by a body control computer. I don't know where it's located, yet, til I find my 98 FSM to look it up.
And you may have a bad headlight switch with the twilight sentinel. I'm trying to think how that would bypass the retained power limit of 10 minutes because you say yours stay on permanently. I would think the retained power would turn the headlights and everything else off at that 10-12 minute mark.
And your two gauges now don't work. The Pontiacs had trouble with corrosion on the contacts where the gauge cluster slides into the contacts. And that may be from your water.
But the thing in the back of my mind is that the battery may not be up to snuff. Low battery voltage will cause some computers not to operate right. So I'd have the battery checked. The running down may have damaged a cell or just age may have damaged it along with sitting.
So I'd start with a known good battery. If there's one you can substitute for troubleshooting purposes that would be good for your efforts.
Other thoughts on leaks are that some Bonneville owners find water leaks on the trunk lid around the air dam if equipped and around the taillights. One even found a leak through the wheelwell housing inside the trunk due to corrosion and the tire slinging water while driving. He used aluminum metal to rivet in place and then sealed her up. But the point is check your trunk.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Thanks!
ETA: Will start with battery check with good battery.
Then will replace light switch.
Then will check out module under driverside carpet.
Then will pull radio to see if it's a corrosion problem.
I can do this!
Getting her ready to sale, so these are issues I want repaired so that the next owner doesn't have to fight it.
Thanks again, imidazol97
The buss bars:
I'm still looking for my 98 manual with circuits on the headlights that may help. Or at least to find out where the body control module is.
I still recommend cleaning your battery connections for ground and positive, especially between the positive cables themselves. Clean grounds where small black wires go to the front fender from the battery connection.
And making sure you have a good battery in the power spot.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
There are several parts to the headlight circuit. AND lots of pages of troubleshooting. It really needs to have a Tech II type device that can track what's turned on and off. There's a headlight switch. There's a headlight relay if your can has a certain option, which may be twilight sentinal. Thre's a MALL which is the control module.
One thing I'd suggest is see which lights are on.
See if it does it the same day or night (put a black cover over the sensor on top of the dash for the sunlight so it thinks it's night).
If you pull the dash pieces off to remove the headlight switch, disconnect the headlight switch and see if the headlights stay on under the control of another of these relays and small computers.
Did you check grounds? Loosen, clean, retighten?
Did you substitute a good battery to be sure you've got adequate voltage?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Does anyone have a wiring diagram that shows what wires are running to this comb splice or does anyone have an idea of what is causing the wire to heat up. I have a feeling it has something to do with the ignition switch... with the battery connected and the key in the ignition the door chime sounded. When I unplugged the wire in Position a the chime quit. Any ideas...?
Thanks