So I go down to the garage and start up my '02 to warm up before I head out for some errands. I'm sitting there, taking the time to tidy up the interior a bit, when all of a sudden .................

My dash turns into an xmas tree!!!! Gas gauge drops to empty, all the warning lights go on, and I get these warning messages : Service Traction Control, Reduced Engine Power, and something else (can't remember...grrrrr).

After it does this for about a minute, I shut her off. On start-up again, everything is fine. Hmmmmm?.....So, I check codes : Holy Sh*t!!!!! There are at least 2-3 codes for every system. WTF!!!!

I still need to write down all the codes and look into them, but, anyone have any ideas off the top of their head? Only mods are a Stinger intake and catback, (several months old, so I doubt those have anything to do w/it). I did recently install my XMCommander (finally), but everything was hardwired correctly using the accessory wires under the pssngr footwell.

Agghhh!!!!!!

 

check the passenger side footwell (remove the toe panel) and see if there is any wetness. Also, pull your battery for evidence of an acid leak. Take a good look along the positive battery cable.

 

Passenger carpet padding is damp, and I can see slight condensation on the floor board (carpet is dry though). Fuse box and BCM look good though. AC tube clogged?

Battery is fine (I put in a RedTop), as well as cables. The wiring under the battery was replaced over a year ago (before I bought her). According to the GM service printout, it looks like the had replaced the ACDelco and wiring at the same time.

Is it possible they screwed up the wiring last year, and it's just now showing? Or can the moisture from the possible clogged AC tube be getting to the system?

I soooo don't want to have to go to the dealer. (Although I need to anyway. I still can't get my drivers door power to work constant...grrrrr).

 

Wouldn't necessarily count on the battery being fine. My 99 A4 (got a 2000 MN6 now) did exactly this as the battery slowly died. The battery looked fine, checked out fine; voltage and discharge tests were OK.

Nevertheless, the gaps between everything going haywire got shorter and shorter and one day the car just died on my good lady wife, in the dark. Running a reasonably long journey with the headlights on had been the nail in the coffin.

A new battery was fitted and magically all the problems went away.

Hopefully, if you've got a wet floor the voltage fluctuations that cause the christmas tree effect might be due to that. Perhaps give the floor and relay area a really good dry, trickle charge the battery overnight and see how you go from there . . .

 

Update - Allrightee then. I just spent 10 mintues going through all the damn codes...lol. Unfortunately, I haven't checked for over a month, so I'm not sure what, if any, may be related. (They are all History Codes)
Warning---Long....
10-PCM
P1626 - Theft Deterrent Fuel Enable Signal Lost
28-TCS
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
40-BCM
U1096 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
58-SDM
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1040 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1096 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1064 - Lost Communication with XXX
60-IPC
U1064 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1040 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1176 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1088 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1160 - Lost Communication with XXX
80-RADIO
U1064 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1096 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
99-HVAC
U1064 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1096 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1160 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction
AO-LDCM
U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction
U1064 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1096 - Lost Communication with XXX
A1-RDCM
U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction
U1064 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1096 - Lost Communication with XXX
A6-SCM
U1300 - Class 2 Data Link Shorted
U1160 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX
BO-RFA
U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction
U1064 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1096 - Lost Communication with XXX
U1016 - Lost Communication with XXX

 

I had this same issue twice. Once was because the wire harness for my driver's side door was not connected properly, so it would cause a short to the system causing the Xmas Tree effect. Once that was fixed, it was good to go. The next time was when my car seemed to be surging while driving at highway speeds. After getting it home, the dash became an Xmas Tree again. After I got it in the garage the car stalled. It was a dead battery.

 

[QUOTE=Spacecoast]I had this same issue twice. Once was because the wire harness for my driver's side door was not connected properly, so it would cause a short to the system causing the Xmas Tree effect. Once that was fixed, it was good to go. [QUOTE]

Hmmmmm....I wonder if that could be it. My driver's door loses power from time to time. It seems like a loose connection, because sometimes it comes and goes depending on how far I open or close the door. Last time I was at the dealership for other warranty work I had them look at it. Of course, they said it was fine. Obviously not, since I have to take more time off, yet again...lol.

Hopefully, it will be that simple. I went ahead and made an appt w/them in the morning. Might as well, since I don't really wanna mess w/cleaning out the ac drain tubes if their clogged. (I no longer have ramps or a jack since my brother took them when he moved). So, until I buy some...........

(I should make them give me a free oil change since this is the 2nd time for the drivers door. Grrrrrr )