Electrical Problems on one side?
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Electrical Problems on one side?
Hello to all,
I am new to this forum. I found it when searching about electrical problems with C5s. I have a C5 with about 54,000 miles. Recently, I have noticed electrical problems with just the right side of the car. For instance, the turn signal on the right side periodically acts as if it is "out" and then will start working again. The heat on the right side of the car (auto climate control) will only blow cold air. And now the window on the right side will not go down. The motor sounds as if it is trying to lower the window, but the window does not move.
Does anyone have a clue as to what the problem/problems could be?
Thanks for any help,
Gretchen
I am new to this forum. I found it when searching about electrical problems with C5s. I have a C5 with about 54,000 miles. Recently, I have noticed electrical problems with just the right side of the car. For instance, the turn signal on the right side periodically acts as if it is "out" and then will start working again. The heat on the right side of the car (auto climate control) will only blow cold air. And now the window on the right side will not go down. The motor sounds as if it is trying to lower the window, but the window does not move.
Does anyone have a clue as to what the problem/problems could be?
Thanks for any help,
Gretchen
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,401
Likes: 1,143
From: Dyer, IN
Hello to all,
I am new to this forum. I found it when searching about electrical problems with C5s. I have a C5 with about 54,000 miles. Recently, I have noticed electrical problems with just the right side of the car. For instance, the turn signal on the right side periodically acts as if it is "out" and then will start working again. The heat on the right side of the car (auto climate control) will only blow cold air. And now the window on the right side will not go down. The motor sounds as if it is trying to lower the window, but the window does not move.
Does anyone have a clue as to what the problem/problems could be?
Thanks for any help,
Gretchen
I am new to this forum. I found it when searching about electrical problems with C5s. I have a C5 with about 54,000 miles. Recently, I have noticed electrical problems with just the right side of the car. For instance, the turn signal on the right side periodically acts as if it is "out" and then will start working again. The heat on the right side of the car (auto climate control) will only blow cold air. And now the window on the right side will not go down. The motor sounds as if it is trying to lower the window, but the window does not move.
Does anyone have a clue as to what the problem/problems could be?
Thanks for any help,
Gretchen
Not knowing your abilities for troubleshooting...having a service manual, etc. You will have to get your car to a shop you trust for service.
Also, if you fill out the info in your sig, there may be a local forum member who can give you a hand.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 10
From: Simi Valley CA
There's a sticky that goes over those issues. In short:
1 window: Hold down the pass window button on the driver's door while banging on the pass door. The window will work.. then work it up/down and use it once in a while.
2 blinker: check/clean ground.
3. heat/cool: not sure but there are threads about it. The ducts are vacuum operated and there's a tiny vacuum line on the back of the intake for that. There's also a vacuum actuator under the dash.
1 window: Hold down the pass window button on the driver's door while banging on the pass door. The window will work.. then work it up/down and use it once in a while.
2 blinker: check/clean ground.
3. heat/cool: not sure but there are threads about it. The ducts are vacuum operated and there's a tiny vacuum line on the back of the intake for that. There's also a vacuum actuator under the dash.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks to those who replied. I didn't mention that the turn signal not working is only on the front right (rear turn signal works OK). That is what lead me to believe that it may be an electrical problem.
I will try the trick with the window. It does not get used that often, so I will purposely try to use it once in a while.
Thank you also for the suggestion on cleaning.
Gretchen
I will try the trick with the window. It does not get used that often, so I will purposely try to use it once in a while.
Thank you also for the suggestion on cleaning.
Gretchen
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
Gretchen,
your turn signal problem may be a bad flasher module. this is a pretty common problem with C5's. Mine had the issue when I bought it. the flasher is built into the emergency flashers button on the dash. don't let a shop change it for you because they will charge you way too much. according to the service manual swapping it out requires removing 1/2 the dash. a dealer quoted me $600 on the job! I did it in about 20 minutes and for about $20 thanks to a great trick I learned about here that's not in the manual. not sure if that's your issue or not, mine had problems with all the turn signals except the emergency flasher, key indication of where the problem is. try this, if you can get the turn signal to fail, while its not functioning, try turning on the emergency flashers. if it starts working with the flashers on, its probably the flasher module. if that has no effect its something associated with that particular turn signal. could be a ground, a bad (but not burned out ) bulb etc.
if you suspect the problem is associated with that one bulb try this: see if the parking light and side marker light are having any problems. they all use the same ground. also take the bulb out and inspect it and the socket. another common problem is heat from the constantly running DRL melting through the top of the light housing allowing water to enter. in bad cases this cases bulbs to burn out immediately. if you just have a small leak you may have some corrosion in the bulb socket that needs to be cleaned out. then fix the signal housing and get some dialectric grease in the socket.
good luck!
your turn signal problem may be a bad flasher module. this is a pretty common problem with C5's. Mine had the issue when I bought it. the flasher is built into the emergency flashers button on the dash. don't let a shop change it for you because they will charge you way too much. according to the service manual swapping it out requires removing 1/2 the dash. a dealer quoted me $600 on the job! I did it in about 20 minutes and for about $20 thanks to a great trick I learned about here that's not in the manual. not sure if that's your issue or not, mine had problems with all the turn signals except the emergency flasher, key indication of where the problem is. try this, if you can get the turn signal to fail, while its not functioning, try turning on the emergency flashers. if it starts working with the flashers on, its probably the flasher module. if that has no effect its something associated with that particular turn signal. could be a ground, a bad (but not burned out ) bulb etc.
if you suspect the problem is associated with that one bulb try this: see if the parking light and side marker light are having any problems. they all use the same ground. also take the bulb out and inspect it and the socket. another common problem is heat from the constantly running DRL melting through the top of the light housing allowing water to enter. in bad cases this cases bulbs to burn out immediately. if you just have a small leak you may have some corrosion in the bulb socket that needs to be cleaned out. then fix the signal housing and get some dialectric grease in the socket.
good luck!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,401
Likes: 1,143
From: Dyer, IN
Gretchen,
your turn signal problem may be a bad flasher module. this is a pretty common problem with C5's. Mine had the issue when I bought it. the flasher is built into the emergency flashers button on the dash. don't let a shop change it for you because they will charge you way too much. according to the service manual swapping it out requires removing 1/2 the dash. a dealer quoted me $600 on the job! I did it in about 20 minutes and for about $20 thanks to a great trick I learned about here that's not in the manual. not sure if that's your issue or not, mine had problems with all the turn signals except the emergency flasher, key indication of where the problem is. try this, if you can get the turn signal to fail, while its not functioning, try turning on the emergency flashers. if it starts working with the flashers on, its probably the flasher module. if that has no effect its something associated with that particular turn signal. could be a ground, a bad (but not burned out ) bulb etc.
if you suspect the problem is associated with that one bulb try this: see if the parking light and side marker light are having any problems. they all use the same ground. also take the bulb out and inspect it and the socket. another common problem is heat from the constantly running DRL melting through the top of the light housing allowing water to enter. in bad cases this cases bulbs to burn out immediately. if you just have a small leak you may have some corrosion in the bulb socket that needs to be cleaned out. then fix the signal housing and get some dialectric grease in the socket.
good luck!
your turn signal problem may be a bad flasher module. this is a pretty common problem with C5's. Mine had the issue when I bought it. the flasher is built into the emergency flashers button on the dash. don't let a shop change it for you because they will charge you way too much. according to the service manual swapping it out requires removing 1/2 the dash. a dealer quoted me $600 on the job! I did it in about 20 minutes and for about $20 thanks to a great trick I learned about here that's not in the manual. not sure if that's your issue or not, mine had problems with all the turn signals except the emergency flasher, key indication of where the problem is. try this, if you can get the turn signal to fail, while its not functioning, try turning on the emergency flashers. if it starts working with the flashers on, its probably the flasher module. if that has no effect its something associated with that particular turn signal. could be a ground, a bad (but not burned out ) bulb etc.
if you suspect the problem is associated with that one bulb try this: see if the parking light and side marker light are having any problems. they all use the same ground. also take the bulb out and inspect it and the socket. another common problem is heat from the constantly running DRL melting through the top of the light housing allowing water to enter. in bad cases this cases bulbs to burn out immediately. if you just have a small leak you may have some corrosion in the bulb socket that needs to be cleaned out. then fix the signal housing and get some dialectric grease in the socket.
good luck!
Only one turn signal not working, and you think it could be the flasher module in the hazard switch? Please explain?
