Unique Problem With My C5
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 383
Likes: 180
From: Montgomery, Alabama, USA Alabama
Unique Problem With My C5
I have never seen nor heard of this situation before. Normally, you can open your door and immediately see in the DIC, "Door Ajar." As of yesterday, mine does not, it remains blank until I insert the key and turn it all the way to the "ON" position. Nothing comes in the DIC window at the "Accessories" position. The only mods I have done recently is install the CLB bypass and the "Hyper Flasher FIX harness. Are there any ideas what may have caused this to happen. At the "ON' position everything is normal in the "DIC." Thanks for reading and would appreciate your response.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 383
Likes: 180
From: Montgomery, Alabama, USA Alabama
Doug I appreciate your response. First it is a big deal because it is not right and there is no obvious reason for it. As for disconnecting the wiring harnesses one at a time, I definitely thought of that but it can't be either of those because everything else works right when you open the door, ie., the instrument cluster lights up. Another thought, over 66 people have read this post and only two responded. I figure if 64 people did not respond they either have no clue or have never experienced the same issue. I am also guessing that a good percent of the none responders have also installed the two aforementioned wiring harnesses and never experienced the same issue or they certainly would have responded. Based on that assumption, I am doubly convinced it has nothing to do with either harness. Thanks for taking the time to post to this thread because you at least made me think through the problem logically.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 383
Likes: 180
From: Montgomery, Alabama, USA Alabama
Thanks for your response but it is not the door actuated switch because the instrument cluster lights up when you open the door. I realize I did not make that clear in my original post. If nothing happened when you opened the door then the switch would be my first go to point. Thanks again, I do appreciate you taking the time to acknowledge my concern.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Well this got my attention,,and had to make a trip out to the car and see just what it does!Now I don't know if there is a difference between models and years(mine is a 2000 FRC) but on mine the DIC did not activate till the key was turned to the "RUN" position. Now I do have to add that for right now I'm having an ABS/TC/Active Handling code problem,,,and the warnings DO repeat when I shut it off and remove the key. It will cycle through the warnings then go dark. Don't recall ever seeing anything till the key was on. I do know that there are several different setting choices that are available with the "OPTIONS " button.If your items are fairly new installations(did you do them yourself?) something may have changed with that button.This could have happened if someone else did the install. I do have a CLB,,but not the hyper flash piece(no LEDs). Just a thought!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Doug I appreciate your response. First it is a big deal because it is not right and there is no obvious reason for it. As for disconnecting the wiring harnesses one at a time, I definitely thought of that but it can't be either of those because everything else works right when you open the door, ie., the instrument cluster lights up. Another thought, over 66 people have read this post and only two responded. I figure if 64 people did not respond they either have no clue or have never experienced the same issue. I am also guessing that a good percent of the none responders have also installed the two aforementioned wiring harnesses and never experienced the same issue or they certainly would have responded. Based on that assumption, I am doubly convinced it has nothing to do with either harness. Thanks for taking the time to post to this thread because you at least made me think through the problem logically.
Last edited by dougbfresh; Aug 14, 2009 at 11:47 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,108
Likes: 26
From: 4th on the list of top 100 in USA Ga.
Gene,my DIC has never read anything until I put the key in,maybe it didn't have that feature in 98 I don't know,that would concern me also,unless there is a way to program that feature in.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 103
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
I have never seen nor heard of this situation before. Normally, you can open your door and immediately see in the DIC, "Door Ajar." As of yesterday, mine does not, it remains blank until I insert the key and turn it all the way to the "ON" position. Nothing comes in the DIC window at the "Accessories" position. The only mods I have done recently is install the CLB bypass and the "Hyper Flasher FIX harness. Are there any ideas what may have caused this to happen. At the "ON' position everything is normal in the "DIC." Thanks for reading and would appreciate your response.
personally, i believe the door ajar indicator is active only when the car is "on" so that you can be alerted to a potential problem. parked in your garage with the engine off shouldn't present a potential problem in my opinion unless you are drunk and about to fall out of the car. i suggest however at that point you aren't looking at the DIC nor do you care, lol!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 8
From: Indian Rocks Beach FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I just went out to my '98 and checked and found that when I opened the door the IP Cluster displayed a flashing "SECURITY" light but the DIC was blank. When I turned the key to the "ON" position it displayed the welcome message and the "DOOR AJAR". I did this six times so I would be 600% sure.
If your DIC was displaying the "DOOR AJAR" message without the key in the ignition and turned to the "ON" position what you have actually done is to have repaired your car. Congrats!!!!
If your DIC was displaying the "DOOR AJAR" message without the key in the ignition and turned to the "ON" position what you have actually done is to have repaired your car. Congrats!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,783
Likes: 15
From: Hurricane Alley
I checked mine when I went out today and with the key not in the ignition, only thing I get is the security light and thats all. If the key is in the ignition and turned to "on" then I will get the "door ajar" message.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 234
From: SW Nuh Hampsha
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Well, I'm 100% sure that the "door ajar" message only comes when the ignition is set to "ON" in MY '98 (and I had to check only once). I do have the CLB and flasher bypass.
Well, there's a third option called, "Why don't I read this thread despite the nebulous title to see if there's anything I can contribute?"
Given that most didn't respond is indicative that you indeed had a "unique problem".
With your DIC, that is.
You appear to be healthy now.
Another thought, over 66 people have read this post and only two responded. I figure if 64 people did not respond they either have no clue or have never experienced the same issue.
Given that most didn't respond is indicative that you indeed had a "unique problem".
With your DIC, that is.
You appear to be healthy now.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Maybe the OP has a problem with his ignition switch...set of contacts not doing what they were supposed to be? I don't remember my '99 ever saying door ajar either unless the key was in the ignition.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 383
Likes: 180
From: Montgomery, Alabama, USA Alabama
Well guys, you did have me second guessing myself just a little. As a matter of fact, for a few seconds I thought it might have been another one of those proverbial "senior moments." However, I remembered that one of the things I always did to see my odometer reading was open the door, get the "Door Ajar" message, close the door and in a few seconds I would get the odometer reading to show for a few seconds, all of this with the key in my pocket and never getting in the car . I can not do that anymore. Based on everyone's input I certainly must have had a "unique ability" with my DIC which I no longer have. I have owned this car since December 2002 and I am very familiar with everyone of its characteristics. However, you guys have pretty much convinced me that whatever allowed me to do it for all these years must not have been the norm. I do appreciate your time although some of you seemed to be losing your patience simply because you did not believe me or could not relate to my "abnormal DIC reading. Trust me, I did have it before, but since you guys evidently don't and never did, then I am not going to worry about it. If anyone ever hears of this on another Vette, I would love to hear about it.