Hi,

I have been able to gather a little more info on an issue I am having and I am looking for suggestions before I am put through anymore agony by paying boatloads of money for nothing. Here is the situation that I have as my problem seems more consistent now.

Three times in the past week and a half now I go out to my car and it will not start. It does not try to turn over at all. There are not error codes on the dash. First time this happened I struggled with it for a while and I leaned on the steering wheel by mistake and all of the suddent the car started as I kind of jiggled the steering wheel. I did not think anything of it at the time.

I brought it in for service for the issue and I was told the battery was bad so the dealer replaced the battery. I paid for the repair and 15 mintues later I was stranded again with the same problem. I called the dealer to let them know I was stranded and they sent a tow truck out for me. When the tow truck driver arrived I again inadvertently jiggled the steering wheel and magically the car started again. I figured since they were there, let them take it back to the dealer as the battery did not fix it.

Then the dealer said it was the alternator. They replaced it today. I go to pick it up and same thing. It would not start. Not having to hit me in the head again, this time I remembered to try the steering wheel jiggle trick and magically it started. However, at least they seen the issue.

So it is great I have a way to work around the issue when it happens, but it is not how the car is supposed to work. I read all 6 pages of the steering wheel lock issue and never get a message about "remove the key for 10 seconds" or "steering column locked". So I am not sure it is that. The dealer is just guessing so I figured someone else's guess will be as good as their guess. I am thinking about just taking the car back instead of letting them make another few hundred dollar guess.

Thanks,
bob

 

need more info - what year and transmission type?

 

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. It is a 2000 Automatic.

Thanks!
Bob

 

we need more info in order to help you....like
what year, A4 or MN6, no messages on the DIC, so doesn't sound like a column lock issue. Has the dealer been into your dash to do the recall mod? Have you been into the dash working anywhere near the steering column? Do you have a telescoping steering column? It sounds to me like an electrical issue right in or near your steering column.
John

 

Hi John,

Sorry for the lack of inital info. Here is the requested information.

It is a 2000 Automatic. There are no messages on the DIC. I can't be sure if the column lock has been done but I will check that out tomorrow. I have not worked on the dash at all or near it. It does have telecopic steering. Here are most of the codes I seen from pushing tghe option/fuel button combo.

It threw about 14 codes from everything...PCM, BCM, IPC, HVAC, LDCM, RDCM, ALOT OF 1060S and 1064s in each of the above. It really seemed as they could have been old codes that the dealer did not reset as they had a U next to them which to my understanding means they have since been resolved.

Thanks for any input!
Bob

 

Check for any code that refers back to ingnition swicth.Replace switch if code goes to either Currant or History on Tech2

 

Sounds like a bad ignition lock cylinder. Happened in my C4 once,
What is status of security light in dash when this happens?
Sounds like Vats not battery or alternator.
WHen you jiggle steering wheel key makes contact as it should then car starts.

 

I ran to the dealer tonight (2AM) and grabbed these codes(I did reset the codes yesterday before this happened again). Of course when I was there it started no problem this time when it would not earlier tonight. Anyway, here are the codes that now come up.

PCM P1631 Theft Deterrent System Password Incorrect
BCM B2721 PASS-Key Detection Circuit
BCM B2722 PASS-Key Detection Circuit
BCM B2723 PASS-Key Detection Circuit
BCM B2592 Column Lock/Unlock Drive (B)
BCM B3091 ***No idea what this is***

LDCM B2282 Battery #1 Fault
LDCM U1064 Loss of Communications with BCM

RDCM B2283 Battery #1 Fault
RDCM U1064 Loss of Communications with BCM

RFA Loss of Communication with PCM
RFA Loss of Communication with BCM
RFA Loss of Communication with IPC

I don't know if this points more to something flakey with the VATS that when I jiggle the steering wheel it goes away due to all the BCM errors above, a batter issue from the LDCM and RDCM errors or maybe something with the BCM itself? Any guesses are appreciated
Thanks,
Bob

 

Ok looks like vats is issue .
Have you tried your spare Key ?
It really sounds like the cable that goes from the lock cylinder to passkey system is loose or damaged.
You have to replace the lock cylinder to fix.
The column unlock and lock drive error should be addressed by GM.
You have no CL so that error should not exist.
Hope this helps a little.
Call Gm customer care and get a ticket started see if they will pay for diagnosis.
Maybe they need to redo the recall.
If you are going to do anything try your spare key first.

 

address the rdcm and ldcm separately. It has nothing to with the start circuit of vats.

 

Thanks again for the suggestions, I really appreciate it and hope one day I can be a help on this board to others once I have some Corvette experience . I will try to open a ticket and have GM address one item at a time. I did try the other key with the same response.

Again, thanks for your time!!
Best Regards,
Bob

 

any updates