Hello All,

My '98 Manual is experiencing some inconsistent starting issues, which I believe is due to the Theft-Deterrent System. Sometimes she'll start/run just fine, other times she'll turn over but won't idle. I'm thinking this is due to the fuel cut-off engaging.

I have learned to expect this behavior after I can't properly turn on the alarm. By this I mean I'll leave the car and press lock on the fob to engage the alarm system, and instead of the customary beep and locking of the doors, I'll be met the with repeated honking until I press unlock on the fob.

Why I think I may need to replace the BCM:
A while back, I did have water come in through the passenger foot well due to clogged drains. I don't recall ever seeing water on the actual casing of the BCM, and the circuit board looked good upon further inspection.

Further issue history:
I did get the Column Lock problem/shut down several months ago, before I installed a CLB from CoH. However, I thought I was able to finally successfully install the bypass after running a jump from prong 30 to 87 on the Column Lock Relay.

I believe that I have tried all possible fixes including thorough cleaning of the grounds, all kinds of resets, and I just recently replaced the two relays above the BCM.

And that finally brings me to my question: Is there anything else I can try, or is my last option to replace the BCM? If so, I would greatly appreciate help in finding one, as I'm having a hard time locating one locally (Houston, Tx).

I am not experiencing any other random electrical problems. Could that jump at the Column Lock Relay have caused damage to the BCM? Or should I face the fact that the water/humidity gave her short?


Thanks in Advance,
-Raul

 

Also, here are the last set of codes I wrote down:

40-BCM B0432H Rear Defogger Relay Circuit
40-BCM B0503H RH DRL Relay Circuit
40-BCM B0508H LH DRL Relay Circuit
40-BCM B2483H Backup Lamp Relay Circuit
A0-LDCM B2282H Battery #1 Fault
A0-LDCM B2284H Battery #2 Fault
A1-RDCM B2283H Battery #1 Fault
A1-RDCM B2285H Battery #2 Fault
A6-SCM B0851H Battery #1 Out of Range
B0-RFA U1255H Serial Data Line Malfunction
B0-RFA C2120H TPM System Malfunction (No Sensors Received)
28-TCS C1255H EBTCM Internal Malfunction CEBCM Internal Malfunction

Please note that these were pulled after the car had been sitting for a month or two (waiting for vendor to find a BCM), and the battery had drained. I charged the battery (Optima Red Top), and she started fine several times. So I cleared all of these History Codes. Also, I don't have TPSensors.

The car is currently in the state of not wanting to start, but no new codes have appeared.

 

It sounds like you've done all the proper things up front and Thank You for the clear information as it helps a lot. At this time, put a meter across the battery and measure what the static voltage is with the ignition off. It needs to be at 12.5vdc or above. Next, get down to the starter solenoid and insure the connections are clean and tight as this is the electrical center or distribution point of the car. Remember that it's electrically hot down there unless you pull the negative battery cable first. Look for burned insulation indicating a bad crimp.

Others such as Lucky or Bill Curlee will be able to pin this down better than I but these extra pieces of information will assist them as well.

 

Thank you for your reply, dgrant! I couldn't get down and check the starter solenoid tonight, but I THINK it was included as one of my checkpoints when I was going through all of the grounds. The static voltage is reading as low as 12.05vdc, and I'm hoping that is due to all of the repeated failed starts over the last 24hrs. I'm giving it a charge though.

I'll check the solenoid as soon as I can, and report.

Also as an update: my car is currently in her mood where she doesn't like to start, but no codes have been thrown.

Hopefully one of our resident super-geniuses like Lucky or Bill can chime in on this thread, haha.

 

Yeah 12.0 is too low for the computers to run.