QuestionThank you for your prompt response to my question. Showed your email to my mechanic. He had already checked out those things. He has taken the car on short runs and the problem has not happened again. He said we could take the car & if happens again can have it towed in again. Am nervous in doing this as is my 19 year old son's car. Any other ideas as to what problem could be? I don't think I mentioned in my prior email that the car has a remote start. They checked this out and didn't think that was the problem. Thanks again for your help.
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Followup To
Question -
When the car is turned on and the brake is applied the car turns off - the right tail light goes on and the antenna goes up and down. It has been at our mechanic for two weeks. He can't find the problem - says the error clears itself before he can get the diagnostic tool on the car. Do you have any idea what could cause this problem? About a week before this happened the check oil light came on and when the oil was checked it was ok.
Answer -
Hi Kathy
What may be happening is that you have a failed ground ckt,80-90 percent of electrical failures is caused by a failed ground ckt,electricity in a way is very lazy,meaning that when electricity flows through the systems of your car it needs to follow the easiest path it can get,it goes from the battery,to the electrical systems of your car and then back to the battery,if you have a loose or failing ground,it will find another place to go usually through componants that dont have alot of resistance such as brake switches,lamps,power antennas,though it will work other componants the main ones that need the full voltage and ground of the battery fail there is just not enough power and ground to operate,thus the engine will start and run but when you step on the brake voltage and ground now runs over to the lamps taking away the full voltage the cars computer or ign sys needs,then you get an engine stall,i hope my little speech on power and ground in a cars electrical sys worked :).
So he may have had your car for 2 weeks only for a ground problem that can be fixed in 10 min.
Have your mech check for failed/loose grounds,the main ones are the battery ground cable that is secured to the top of the transmission bellhousing there is a stud with a nut that secures the ground cable,this i have seen many times loose and causing your complaint,the ground is numbered G110 and he is able to locate it in the repair manual,also G104,this ground is located from the battery to the right side fender that needs to be clean and tight,also G100 this is located at the transmission bellhousing near the starter motor,that also needs to be clean and tight,all these grounds supply the proper ground path for the main engine and electrical systems of your car,if he still is unable to repair the car let me know,or contact me if you need further help in diagnosing,let me know what happens.Thanks
ED
AnswerHi,Kathy
Im a bit suspect now of the remote start feature,though i dont know how they wired the remote start module into your electrical sys,did the problems happen after the remote start feature was installed?or was this problem happening before?any other electrical systems installed?like aftermarket lights or radios,etc?one thing you could try doing if the symptoms come up again is to have the remote start disabled,remove the module,and see if the symptoms happen again,i just have a feeling something is going on with the way the remote start sys was installed,then again i dont know how they wired the system into your vehicle,i will talk with the accessories Dept at GM and see if they have any data on how the remote start systems is wired,if you have an Email address forward it to me and that way i can contact you with what i find,Thanks
ED
