Help! 98 electrical problems
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Help! 98 electrical problems
I own a 98 high mileage C5 coupe that has developed numerous electrical problems.
1) Driver's power seat (non-memory) has started moving on its own (up and forward). This just showed up yesterday and ran the bat dead overnight.
2) Gauge lights have stopped working. The digital display lights up but not the gauge lights.
3) Wipers only work if I push the washer button or place the wipers on high first and then down to normal.
I have replaced the battery and cleaned some of the grounds in the engine compartment. I assume it may be a ground issue but I am not sure where I should concentrate on the disassembly. I also noticed that the carpet is damp from the targa roof leaking in a rainstorm this week. Problems #2 and #3 were with the car when I bought this summer for $9,200. Problem #1 showed up yesterday and has taken it out of commission. Any advice would be appreciated.
1) Driver's power seat (non-memory) has started moving on its own (up and forward). This just showed up yesterday and ran the bat dead overnight.
2) Gauge lights have stopped working. The digital display lights up but not the gauge lights.
3) Wipers only work if I push the washer button or place the wipers on high first and then down to normal.
I have replaced the battery and cleaned some of the grounds in the engine compartment. I assume it may be a ground issue but I am not sure where I should concentrate on the disassembly. I also noticed that the carpet is damp from the targa roof leaking in a rainstorm this week. Problems #2 and #3 were with the car when I bought this summer for $9,200. Problem #1 showed up yesterday and has taken it out of commission. Any advice would be appreciated.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Ok, first, send a PM to Bill Curlee. Second, find out if there is any water over or in the BCM area which is under the footwell of the passenger side. If there is, you are going to have lots of problems. Stop that water from getting in there and then make sure the udders are cleaned out so water will drain out the way its intended. Now if the BCM got water into it, you've got a couple of choices. You can have it replaced and someone with a Tech2 can program in the RPO codes, security and etc... or you can take a chance and clean it yourself. Do Not attempt this without disconnecting the battery first, use a special wrist-strap for working on static sensitive devices and that strap is electrically grounded when working on the BCM. I would use alcohol and a q-tip. There are electrical parts cleaners too in the spray form. What could have happened is the contaminates from the water runoff has contaminated the computer inside.
Now there are other possibilities as well such as a low battery level, grounds as you mentioned, possible shorting wire in the door accordian tube and so on. Check with Bill on all of this please.
Now there are other possibilities as well such as a low battery level, grounds as you mentioned, possible shorting wire in the door accordian tube and so on. Check with Bill on all of this please.
