Electrical issues when it rains

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Apr 29, 2008 | 09:54 PM

2fast4sanity

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 949

Likes: 1

From: Oakdale CT

Electrical issues when it rains

The other day, I was driving home in some reasonably heavy rain. When I started the car the radio sounded kind of muffled. I didn't think much of it since it has happened before and always goes back to normal. I was almost home when the entire gauge cluster lit up like a christmas tree. The DIC was going nuts too, as were the radio and door locks. I tried to check the codes as this was happening but everything showed up as "NO COMM". The funny thing is that the car ran just fine during all of this even though the "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" message was flashing. My best guess is something got wet with the heavy rain and shorted out. I just need some ideas on what could be getting wet and how I can stop it. I noticed today on the drive in to work, that if the radio was left off, everything was normal. Once I turned the radio on, everything lit up again within 30 seconds of so, sometimes instantly. I'm clueless and need any suggestions you have.

Apr 29, 2008 | 10:53 PM

2fast4sanity

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 949

Likes: 1

From: Oakdale CT

Anyone?

Apr 29, 2008 | 11:18 PM

Dalannex

Safety Car

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 4,077

Likes: 27

From: Northeast South Dakota

I would pull out your passenger side floor panel and see if there is any moisture in there. If there is do a search for water leaks and you will find some great information on some of the places that water typically leaks into the passenger footwell area of a C5. You should be able to feel wetness in your passenger footwell if this is the problem or remove the panel on the floor and look inside there for signs of moisture.

-Justin

Apr 30, 2008 | 09:04 AM

stingray71

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2000

Posts: 1,097

Likes: 191

From: Vienna VA

Have you checked everything noted in the "sticky" about electrical issues?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=896875

Apr 30, 2008 | 10:24 AM

Zenak

Terminal Vette Addict

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 1,634

Likes: 46

From: Philly PA

I got the same issue i think:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1565252088

Apr 30, 2008 | 11:50 AM

corvettebob1

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 3,315

Likes: 17

From: Near Jacksonville Fl.

Make sue your drain tubes under your cowl are clear of debris and flowing freely.
AIR there are 2 on driver side and 1 on passenger side, access is from under the hood.

Apr 30, 2008 | 01:44 PM

Bill Curlee

Tech Contributor

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 32,910

Likes: 2,402

From: Anthony TX

CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet

St. Jude Donor '08

Sounds like your Body Control Module got wet or damp! That can and will cause some very strange issues. Were you by chance running the defrost and or AC when this happened?

Theres a small rubber drain tube on the fire wall that allows the HVAC air box condensation to drain to the ground. If it plugs up, water will spill in the passengers foot well, wet the BCM and (you have already expierenced the results) the car goes crazy!

Thats the most likely cause of your issue.

Apr 30, 2008 | 10:33 PM

2fast4sanity

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 949

Likes: 1

From: Oakdale CT

I know what tube you are talking about for the HVAC drain. Its behind the passenger cylinder head right? Is there some special way to get to it? The last time I tried to get to it, I just ended up with scraped knuckles. I didn't even think about this because the passenger footwell didn't appear to be wet.