Ok Guys...I was driving car and all of a sudden DIC says reduced engine power, service engine soon, low tire pressure .....cycling thru those....and power on driver side woulnt work(windows, locks, etc)....and the radio wouldnt turn on with security light flashing(lil red one)

What the heck happened?????? I pulled in a lot shut car off ....waited a few minutes and turned car on and fine since......advice??????

Thanks guys for any insight!

Marc

:confused:

 

I had that happen on my '98 once, it never did it again.
I allways figured it was a key or ignition switch thing but as I said it only happend the one time. :smash:

 

ttt

 

Guess what
This also happened to my 1998 coupe after only driving it for a few miles. I had no power so I couldn't go any where. I shut the engine off and waited a few minutes. It started up like nothing was wrong with it. I took it to my local "Doctor" and after a review with their scanalizer I was told that these cars have multiple computers and that one computer stopped talking to the other computer. Glad I wasn't on the HWY. Never happened again.
:steering:

 

Marc it sounds like a communications problem. Hold down options on the dic and press fuel 4 times in a row kind of quickly. This will scan the car for codes and post what you find here. I think we will see some interupted service/lost comm. codes. Just a glitch in the computer system I wouldnt be concerned.

 

I will check tonight and see what "pops" up....is there a list somehwere of what codes are what?

Thanks Bud!

 

Skidmark

I had all of this happen to my 98 mn6 coupe when it was 4 months old. I went to the dealer 5 (FIVE) times and all they could do was say "Man,,, you have us stumped" After being severly pissed off for the next couple of weeks, it never happened again until the warrenty ran out :mad :mad :mad It did all of the same spooky stuff and then cleared up. The next day the car would NOT start. The lights were on but no one was home. It was dead!! The starter would not turn over!

Long story short, I found the theth deterrant relay to be full of water!! :crazy: That would be plausable if was under the hood!!! It's in the passengers foot well inside the car!
I found out that the water was condensating and collecting on the small black 1" hose that supplies cool air to the blower motor from the air box. The water also drips directly on to the electronics module in that bay. Can you guess what module that is??? Body Control Module.

I isulated the hose with heat duct wrap replaced the relay $13.00 and have not had a lick of problems since.
ALL OF MY PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS DAMP AND RAINEY... The humidity caused the cold hose to drip water.

Please let me know what you find out.

Bill C

 

:iagree:

Same situation as Bill's with my 97. I remember the days when you really created a bunch of head-scratching in the ole service department with any C5 problem. After 2 BCM's and an instrument panel cluster replacement, it was finally diagnosed as the evil drip that Bill mentioned. Four years and 35,000 miles later, no problem.

Ditto on the "only happens in the wet." Good luck!

 

Thanks guys...I will look into insulating....You guys are great!!!!!!!!!!

 

Is it necessary to replace the relay? How do you access the BCM? I know where the PCM is under tha battery...but this is different right?

 

Bill, I think I am having trouble with my theft deterrent relay. Can you elaborate on how you replaced yours?

Thanks

 

Mine does that every time a UFO flys over. :jester

 

That explains alot! :lolg:

 

this problem happens alot with my Trailblazer never the vette, have truck in shop now for close to a week and they tell me they are waiting for a part that is back ordered. dealer at least gave me loner for time being but it's a minivan :(

 

skidmark and Jeff Jeff

The relay is an easy fix. If you are having problems where your starter will not turn over when you place the key to START, check that relay. I pulled mine out and rusty, nasty :U water ran out of the relay. You can remove the plastic cover from the relay (cover just prys off real easy) and inspect it. In fact you can plug it in with the cover off and watch it work (or not work).

The relay is in the compartment in the drivers foot well (under the mat). When you pull the cover off you will see a fuse box to the right and an electronic module to the left (that is the Body Control Module) BCM. The relay is right above the BCM. It will have four wires YEL/BLK, PPL, YEL, and YEL. The relay will be a six pin relay but only uses 4 wires.

If the relay is rusty and corroded inside, fix the water problem and replace the relay. if it isn't you may just have an intermittant/bad relay

There is a complete chapter on the entire circuit in the service manual on page 8-763 to 8-788.

If you need any more help please ask!!!


Bill Curlee

bill327@msn.com

 

I had the same thing happen to me. My fix was a little different than the route you guys took and *knock on wood* I haven't had the problem since. Supposedly there was a loose battery ground cable and a loose cable to the module in the passenger door.

The car freaked out every time I went over a bump or someone got in the car. I also lost connectivity with the passenger door intermittently too.

And unfortunately, mine did poop out on the expressway.

Figured it would help just to hear more solutions to what happened. I know I was frustrated as heck when this happened to me, I had my baby for only 2 weeks and it started! Hasn't happened since though....

Hope it helps
-B- :chevy

 

Same thing happened to me - once. 1998 convertible M6, cruising down a long downhill on the highway in traffic at night. Suddenly 'reduced engine power' and lots of dash lights turned on. Gas pedal didn't work, but engine idled. Trying to rev her by downshifting just slowed the car.

Finally coasted to an offramp and tried to restart, after one minute failed, then two, then four, finally after eight minutes started fine, everything was back to normal.

Never happended again.

No rain that day, but it was during a rainy season.

 

Bill the BCM and fuse is on the drivers side????? I know there is a fuse box under the pasangers side...so there are two? Please clear that up!

Thanks :confused:

 

Bill,

Thank you for the tips. I appreciate the help.

Jeff

Skidmarc,

The fuse box is under the passenger side floormat.


[Modified by Jeff Jeff, 3:44 PM 1/29/2003]

 

Skidmarc

Look on page 8-436 of the 1998 Chevy Service manual; It states: Body Control Module (BCM) Locaion= RH footwell, mounted to the toe board behind the carpet. The passenger side of the vehicle is the RIGHT HAND side.
This is also stated on page 8-770 in the Theth Deterrent System Componet locator chart. Been there, saw it, touched it, removed it and reinstalled it. If you have a different model year C5 then it may be somewhere else. All I can attest to is my 98. Woops I just checked the 02 ZO6 and it is in the same place too.
The only thing that I forgot to mention in my attempt to define where the relay was is that you must remove the plastic dash trim panel under the dash that covers up the wiring and fan motor.
If you have any information that refutes my data PLEASE let me know what it is and where to look.

Bill C