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I hope someone out here can help. My wife purchased a Aztek Fwd 3.4 about 6 months ago, and it's been falling apart since. The major problem now is that it will not start. We had a bad storm and she got stuck in the mud now the abs and trac light will not turn off (I am checking the sensors tomorrow). The next day she was driving down the street and the whole car just turned off/ stopped running in the middle of the road. Try to start it now and still nothing. Key was also stuck in the ignition. (I had to pull the bottom panel from the steering column, and I was able to get the key out). The lights, radio, locks all still work, it just wont start. There is no noise from the starter at all not even a click. Just turn the key & nothing. I checked all cables to the battery, little corrosion nothing major. I cleaned up the corrosion and replaced the battery still will not start. I also got under the Aztek and checked the wires to the starter all of them are clean with no corrosion.
I am leaning towards the BCM, ECM or EBCM?
Anyone with any idea's
Oh by the way I have been doing alot of research on the Aztek and all seems bad! Most seem to fall apart around 50,000 miles.
But what is causing this? I had the alternator replaced in 11/07 (~$500) to see if that would stop it. But apparently not. Ideas?
We love this car, though it has its history of challenges (head gasket replaced under warranty, same with wheel bearings). But we can't keep replacing batteries every 3 months.
Any help would be most appreciated. My mechanic and I are completely flummoxed.
Thanks in advance.
The batteries have been damaged. They all show that they have at least one dead cell. The electrical tests have been done by AAA, my mechanic, Sears, and AutoZone. Prior to the vehicle not starting (usually in the morning, but otherwise giving absolutely no advance warning), they test fine, including the battery.
sorry very unorganized post......anybody with a fix for the problems?
no, there are no items that are plugged in (eg: cell phone) or anything other than what is native to the aztek itself. I've had no issues w/ the power outlets, though I do have the typical aztek hatch hiccup (must be unlocked twice to open every time) and the occasional door lock problem, too.
not sure if there is any parasitic drain, as obviously those are very hard to find or isolate. I hope not.
I actually did read the entire thread the other night for 2 hours or so. I do say it sounds much like a BCM from what I've read. Any thoughts on the two schools of thought on the mail order vs the GM BCM? seems like the former can be much less cash, but *if* it solves it finally, either would be money well spent. but will it solve it?
again, thanks.
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i tried checking under the driver seat where the electrial thing is to see if it was wet and i couldnt feel anything, but it is cold here, like 20F.
any ideas. her car has no warrenty and im worried about it. oh and the electrical connections dont look lose.
also i should mention it looks like it was in an accident (in the front driver side where the light is in the front, go figure) but when we checkd the history of the car i couldnt find an accident. it has a rebuilt title too.
thanks for the insight, though. very helpfu...
Do this mean that more people in the US are having problems with their Aztecs or is Canada just falling behind on owning up to these problems? Or is it actually possible that problems are more common with Aztecs that were manufactured in the US?
I have had my share, expically brake wise. Just curious.
I think it's just a demographics thing. There are 10 times more Americans than Canadians and I think proportionally more Azteks are sold south of the border so there will be far fewer "complaints" on your side of the border on that basis alone. I also think that Americans may be a little less patient when trying to resolve issues and would ratchet things up more quickly.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Now, less than a 1,000 miles later, I notice the coolant level is low. Just diagnosed as a bad head gasket. Dealer wants $1,600 to fix it. I called Pontiac customer service and they are going to get back to me tomorrow, but I doubt I'll see a penny.
If ANYONE from GM is reading this, let me state I'm nearly 40 years old. I have never purchased anything but GM vehicles and I converted my wife from a VW lover to a GM lover. I have always told my kids to buy GM products and I always suggest GM to friends and relatives, but if GM thinks that a blown head gasket - which is COMMON on these vehicles - is something they can stick to their customers I will never buy a GM product again. This isn't just a bad month for me and my Aztek - GM has been working on losing my business when they sold me this vehicle in 2003 and then, less than four years of ownership later, they end analog transmission service for OnStar. That's wonderful - I paid $600 extra to get OnStar, paid my monthly fees and then when the car starts to get old, when you really want the extra service, they kill analog service.
I predict I will become the person I despise - an IMPORT owner. I'm already researching Honda's and Toyota's because I doubt Pontiac customer service will come through for me.
I now am having a problem where when I go to drive my car and it has been sitting for awhile I brake and the car stops and then go's a bit (even though my foot is on the brake) and then stops....scary. Its being looked at on Friday.(I take mine to a Mazda dealership they have been amazing) Does anyone find that their car engine is quite noisy? Or that their Aztec is quite loud when speeding up and the gears are changing?
Brightauto.com has THE cheapest replacement BCM. I did my research and paid $150 and that included shipping. The next cheapest I found online was over $200. You have to remove the whole console to get to the part but the savings in doing it yourself are worth it. I paid $80 to have the new part programmed at the dealership after I installed it. If you send me your email address I can email you the pages from the service manual that show how to do it.
The second I am wondering is if anyone notices their Aztec is noisy when you speed up and your car s switiching gears...is this normal or should I be concerned. It has been going on for awhile and I have had my car for almost a year now (Bought a used 2003) and no problems have been presented so far but just noises.
The third is that when I looked uderneath my car today, in between the drivers and pasenger side there was a square box with a wire exposed. If you know what this is should it have a cover??? I think so but I have never really looked under my vehicle so I can't tell you if its been like that for the last year or if something fell off...
:confuse:
no rear hatch, lights flashing, losing headlights, overheating, locks on and off,
no power windows, no fuel gauge,etc. - It all seemed to start way back in early
2002 when starting on a long trip we decided to get an oil change @ WalMart.
After shopping we were told that our new battery was installed - Oops a little
mixup. Anyway we eventually had the BCM replaced to no avail, searched
around for moisture and condensation, were told by mechanics that there is
no problem or couldn't find a short. So now we have a vehicle that is
really not functional, unsafe, and seems to be unfixable by most analyses.
Oh yeah things usually start working again temporarily but no one knows
how long till they do. GM really screwed up here as we liked the vehicle
but basically its been broken for 6 years so now we have agreed to just be
rid of it - did not want to because the resale value is so low but no choice.
The one for the driver's window is not working and they don't seems to be fixable.
Thanks in advance
J. Luis Priego
Thanks