LV,99LS1VERT

First I want to say is that the information on this forum is second to none and the members are the best. Here is my delema, I have a 1999 C5 convertible vette. In the past when my passenger window stopped working it would throw reduced engine power, shocks inoperative, low fuel, check tire pressure, and some other usual suspect code that come up with this problem. I would wiggle the wire harness in the door and that would bring back the window and power lock. I have had this problem for a while, the wire harness is on my list to replace. About a month ago I changed most of the lighting in my car by changing the flip head lights to the depo fixed position lights and also have HID lighting including the fog lights. Each has its own balis. Aside from some minor wiring problems the car and lights have been running fine. However I recently purchased C6 seats and Friday have installed the passenger seat in the car using the C5 motorized track to reduce wiring and code problems. The old seats were C5 sport seats with all the features. The installof the passenger seat went well and the car was still running. Saturday morning started the car and was preparing to go back to my friends shop to install the driver side seat. Turned on the lights, the fog lights did not come on, checked #6 fuse 10 amp in the passenger well, found it was blown replaced with another 10 amp tried the fogs again, blew the fuse again. With the passenger door open the power window and lock stopped working and began thowing all the warning codes again, ie: reduced engine power, low fuel, shocks inoperative, etc. Did the shaking of the harness again, got window unlocked and to work again and the dash custer to return to normal. Got the he car and got to shop to finish installing the driver seat. Pulled out the C5 sport seat out of car, removed track from C5 seat and placed it on the C6 seat. Reinstalled in the car then going to deal with shorting problem started the car, it started, stared on for about 3 seconds then it shut down by itself. Now both passenger and driver windows and lock don't work and throwing all code listed above again. Checked the dignostic of all codes and receided "no comm" on all the diagnostic. Checked all fuses in both fuse boxes, they were all good except #6, which I already knew since was blown in the morning. The only thing that works at this time is the seats (ie: the move back and forth, etc). Found a broken ground wire on the passenger harness, we sautered it and unfortunetly didn't resolve the proble. We pin checked the right door control module and it appears we are getting power there. Don't see any dampness in the footwell where the BCM is but appears to also getting power. I have started Bill's techniques on cleaning the grounds starting with the right front. Didn't appear too bad but hasn't resolved the problem. The battery is less then a year old, has no corrosian. Currently the car is on a charger to keep the amps up while trying to resolve this problem. Even disconected the HID fog lights to see if the #6 fuse would stop blowing but still blows. Headlights are fine. I know sometimes said you can have problems if you remove the seat but then why are they working? The dash cluster lights are on when I start the car but when the key is turned to assessory the cluster turns off, the only lights that are still on are the check engine, check guages, ABS, and the traction control light shows up. I believe this is something simple but can not find the problem I hope that one you fine experts are able to help me. I have read most of the stickies here on the forum and they have been most helpful. I appreciate all the information out there for corvette people, but I am really stumped on this one. Thank you in advance for you help with my situation. Thanks, Joel

lucky131969

LV,99LS1VERT

Help...

Fastguy

Jebus dude, that sounds like a mess. There seems to be two potential issues, a short in the door harness and a short in the fog light harness. Any electrical issue you can fix by shaking wires means there is some bad news hidden somewhere.
You need to identify the problem and solve it but checking that entire section of harness. The fog light issue could have caused a wire to overheat, melt the insulation and short out. I have seen this happen where one wire gets shorted, glows orange and melts into a bunch of other wires causing all hell to break loose.

LV,99LS1VERT

I believe your right,im searching each and every wire I can.I even disconected the fog lights.but still blew the fuse.I am going to check the back tail lights tomorrow as they are on the same fuse and are also down for the count.I have resistors and all LEDS that blink including the brake lights.All the HIDS Have there own Balist.I hope your right.I just can't believe it would totaly shutdown the car.

Thanks My Friend

dgrant3830

Did you attempt to connect the C-6 seat connectors to your car? I don't even know if they are the same type or not, but the C-6 comm buss is totally different than that of the C-5. You'll short out the comm buss if you try to connect them. Fix the door according tube issue now. If the DIC isn't working for you to pull codes, then a manual code reader is what I'm guessing you are using. Clear the codes after you write them all down and see if anything comes back to life. I think...you may have to start removing items that you've modified one at a time to see when things start to work again.

lucky131969

Sounds to me like the problem has been compounded. Any time you have a class 2 issue, it needs to be resolved immediately, so you have fallen on your own sword....so to speak....by blowing off the left door wiring. That being said, I suggest you isolate the doors and left seat, from the class 2 communication. This can be easily done, by removing the shorting plug, from starr connector #2. See post #9, in the below thread.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...tion-help.html


Also, see post #22 in the below link:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...tcs-etc-2.html

dougbfresh

Funny, a guy hacks his electrical system, ignores issues by "shaking" wires, swap seats, and we're supposed to guess where he shot himself in the foot.

At least pull the accordians in the doors apart and use some liquid tape on the serial buss wires to start.

LV,99LS1VERT

Thanks for all tips and time all of you have giving me regarding my car.I know I let the passenger harness problem fester for sometime.It personally only popped up but every few months.I was about to pull the dash so I could replace both vent actuators,do some white gauge cosmetic work,replace all mini bulbs in the HUD controls and DIC. And Replace both door harnesses since the car would be down for a while.
Regarding the C6 seats I only used the C5 electrical components as the motorized track mounts right on to the C6 frame in the C6 seat itself.With the car almost being 12 years old, many of the parts I am replacing IE lights,seats,Wiring,actuators,shocks which by the way GM wants $4000 for wear or go dim in these cars.I bought the Car 4 years ago for $17.000 and have put in close to $25.000 keeping it running and upgrading the car.
The DIC is working it is just not communicating with the BCM and or PCM

dgrant3830

Ok, but if you aren't communicating with the BCM or PCM, you'll have to fix that first as you know. Already, your door wiring is suspect and frankly, if the serial data buss is shorting to ground, nothing is going to work.

LV,99LS1VERT

Well my friends I figured what was causing my car not to start.I unplugged the driver seat and Whala the car started and communication was restablished with the BCM and PCM.As the car was running I replugged the seat and the problem started again.It is clearly now just a ground issue somewhere under the carpet.As I stated before all moving parts and electricals are the C5 parts that came out of my car sport seat and hour before that are on the C6 seats so its odd that anything would change.I replaced the harness on the passenger door and all is well there now.My friend brought his Tech II tool and only ground problems.The short apears to be in the rear of the car with one of the LEDS and resistor in the tails lights.My electrical nightmare apears to be almost over.

You guys are great thanks for all your help.I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Joel

lucky131969

LV,99LS1VERT

Well I wanted all of you to see what can take your car down and make you go crazy trying to find out what it is..These are the Diodes in the seat module control unit in the drivers seat.their replacement cost about $1.50.But can bring down a C5 to its knees without evening thinking twice.What caused them to go bad is still not clear.It may have gone bad from being moved from one seat to the other.The pin connecting to the diodes appears to have gotten hot,Its possible the wires that have not moved for 11 years could split or arc causing the diodes to blow.Intesrting the seat would just fine but caused the car not to run and no comm the BCM and PCM.
Once again to all the members here thanks for your time and effort in help get my Car running again.
Joel

C54ever

Wildest post /solution ever. Needs to be a sticky.

dgrant3830

Without knowing the diode identification, its hard to say what happened to them. Usually a dead short across them will result in this or drawing way too much current through them or the reverse current flow was beyond their capability.

KenShores

Diodes pop mainly do to too much current passing through. Reverse voltage would have to be extremely high (1k volts or more), as the function of a standard/simple diode is to let current flow in one direction and not the other. There are other types of diodes that have other functions. Something drew too much current. Good find! How did you know what to replace it with?

freeman4ever

Word!