Buick LaCrosse Electrical/Lighting Problems
Tried to take delivery of a 2006 lacrosse. It wouldn't start, dead battery. Been back to dealer 5 times--bad ground, faulty parts--after 90 days with the car at the dealer 11 days, the car still dies. Electrical problem seem to have some connection to the cruise control which has never worked. Has anyone had a similar problem?
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My 2000 Buick Regal had a problem with cruise control. It did not work when the car was delivered. Dealer replaced a switch in the steering column, and I had no problems since.
It is the complicated electrical switch with the multifunction stalk that controls the turn signals, whippers, cruise control, and the windshield washing fluid. GM uses it for many years, with many different cars, and the LaCrosse stalk looks the same as the Regal one.
Everything complicated tend to be defective. The problem with the design is well known, but it does not happen often. My dealer did not carry the switch and had to order it. The part itself used to cost about $350 in 2000, and it took several hours of labor to replace it. Fortunately, under warranty.
In your case it can be an electrical current leak at the switch, in addition to the inoperative cruise control.
Anyone have any ideas?
Next just remove the fasteners at the bottom of the seat back. I think that is all there is to it.
Your replies would be appreciated - I am taking the car back tomorrow morning to ask the same question.
Thanks
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there going to check it out friday. I'll let you know what it was.
It sounds like someone is guessing rather than doing diagnosis to determine where the problem is. Guessing by mechanics who don't have the proper tools is often expensive.
Taking it the dealer or a mechanic with proper equipment may incur a diagnosis fee, but in the end it's cheaper. I.E., a dealer would have used a Tech II and found if the proper signals were sent from the tank.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It was only the low beams. All other lights were on. Parking, tail, and interior dash lights worked. High beams worked when this happened. We could not turn them on manually either. The first thing they replaced after a few trips to the dealer was the Body Control Module. They actually couldn't duplicate the problem. So GM recommended this. We didn't seem to have the problem for awhile. The problem came back or maybe it never left. Anyway, I was able to get the car there when it was doing it. Tech actually able to test. He replaced the Exterior Lighting Relay.
We haven't experienced the problem since (5/29/09). The Body Control part was about $150. The Relay was about $ 25. Done under warranty. I think the RELAY was the real problem. Not sure if this is your exact problem, but it might help.
It was only the low beams. All other lights were on. Parking, tail, and interior dash lights worked. High beams worked when this happened. We could not turn them on manually either. The first thing they replaced after a few trips to the dealer was the Body Control Module. They actually couldn't duplicate the problem. So GM recommended this. We didn't seem to have the problem for awhile. The problem came back or maybe it never left. Anyway, I was able to get the car there when it was doing it. Tech actually able to test. He replaced the Exterior Lighting Relay.
We haven't experienced the problem since (5/29/09). The Body Control part was about $150. The Relay was about $ 25. Done under warranty. I think the RELAY was the real problem. Not sure if this is your exact problem, but it might help. Also, When the problem is happening, our daytime running lights didn't work in the daytime. Again, you can't turn the low beams on manually. Everything else lights up. Also, we noticed that the low beams didn't blink with the key remote when locking or unlocking.
I am from GM Customer Service. Is the problem intermittent, or does the problem happen all the time? How long was it at the dealership for the dealer to try and replicate the issue? Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service
Can you please email me at socialmedia@gm.com so I can get more information from you? Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service
The engine never faltered. The AC blower kept going but I had to turn it off, then back on for the compressor to engage. It took about 10 minutes for the cruise control to come back on. We were listening to the radio when I garaged and turned off the car, and, instead of just playing until I opened the door (as normal) the radio cut out, then came back on. I just changed the battery in the key fob (and it works only intermittently).
Bought the car new, never had any trouble. Regularly maintained. It has 49,800 miles.
Any one with an idea of what's up with the dash lights?
Have you experienced the concern again after that day with your dashboard? Did you touch any of the circuitry when you changed the battery in the key fob? Have you had the vehicle diagnosed for the concern? Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service
It happened twice, both times near the end of a 400 mile trip yesterday (about half an hour apart) but not since.
I probably did touch the circuitry in the key fob ... the thing nearly fell apart when I pulled out the old battery ... this happened yesterday as well and now it doesn't work at all.
No, I haven't had the opportunity to take it back to the dealer. All of this happened late yesterday. The dealer I bought the car from (and who is about three blocks from my home in rural Texas) no longer supports GM products and the nearest dealer is half an hour away.
What I could do is have an agent look at your situation further for you. The agent will require that you take the vehicle to the dealership to have the vehicle diagnosed. If you would like to me to proceed with this I will need your contact information, dealership, VIN, current mileage and best time to contact you. You can get my email by clicking on gmcustsvc. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service
Did you ever get a solution to your issue?
Static is not the only enemy. Electro-mechanical induced spikes and surges can have the same damaging effects.
Olds Auroras and likely Buick Rivieras of same period had a safety problem addressed by TSB. There were no diodes on the cooling fan motors to stop inductive spikes when they were energized or de-energized. It said that this was causing failures in BCM and anti-lock brakes. The fix was very simple and took about 10 minutes. Sadly, 09 Malibu had similar issues because of having left the same diode out. Fix was the same. I can tell you that mine did not have the diodes but the VIN was not included for the fix.
It probably would never have surfaced if it had not been a safety issue, anti-lock brakes. But the lack of those diodes can damage any electronics that are not designed at extra cost to withstand such. Damage often hits the weakest component which likely exceeds design standards. If it gets your radio, probably not safety issue. It dies after warranty, you buy it.
As of yet, I have not received from GM an explanation as to why mine does not have diodes.
I see someone had BCM replaced which brings to mind another high tech vehicle.
On that one a common problem was with the switch on the steering column. It was mechanically connected to the left combination stalk. The lubricant inside the switch would get gummy and make multiple contacts stick and your vehicle would behave like it was posessed. No one around and lights would start coming on randomly and flashing. Sometimes it was accompanied by horn. Those who did not get the horn often found a dead battery. The BCM was sometimes misdiagnosed as the cause with the problem later showing up again.
Not to jump forward too much, there are symptoms of other issues here as well.
A single light would behave as described if the filament is blown. They sometimes re-establish contact and all seems fine, for awhile. Several times I checked bulbs to find they were working, but often too dim at night so it seemed. Once I discovered the bulb was actually out, I started disassembling and it came back on. Fine for awhile. I had assumed the connector was not solid. Next time I removed the bulb and pysically looked closely at filament. I tapped it against my palm a few times and it freed itself so I could see the break. No further problems with headlights or daytime running lights after I replaced those bulbs with newer brighter. Until I actually got the Christine effect. A 2$ can of contact cleaner and half hour of time saved me hundreds. If they changed BCM it was hundreds and later discovered it was the switch, then they replaced the harness segment it is soldered to. $400-500.
Good Luck. Hope everyone still has warranty.
I just called a local dealer asking for the Exterior Lighting Relay and he tells me that he could find a relay with that name. I dont know if you have access to the part # or if you even know exactly what we have been posting about, but I would appreciate it if you could locate the part # and send to me so I can get it from the dealer and try to prevent the problem from happening again.
Thank you,
Phil
My name is Christina; I have taken over for Mariah. What dealer are you working with? Can you please email me with your VIN and current mileage? I am working to find an answer to your question. I look forward to your email.
Christina
GM Customer Service
Thank you for getting back to me. Here is my VIN 2g3we587461287233, mileage is 74K.
I am not currently working with a dealer, although I have worked with Jerry's in Weatherford, TX on other issues while the car was in warranty. This issue did not come up during that period.
Thanks again. Phil
We have not had the problem since. Our car is a 2006 LaCrosse CX. The part number for the relay that was installed is: 15016745 . Hope this can help !
How did things go getting your vehicle fixed? I look forward to the update on your progress.
Christina
GM Customer Service