Cadillac Repair: 2000 Cadillac DHS no-start problem, fuse panel, back doors

Question
My wifes 2000 Cadillac DHS is giving us trouble again with intermittent starting problems and I need some input on what it could be. We were about to leave the house this evening when the car would not start. The car seemed to have plenty of battery power, it is new, but would not engage the starter when you turned the key to start position. A quick test of the battery proved it was good so I began to look for other possibilities. I was thinking ignition switch but noticed with the back doors opened the interior lights didn't work so I thought maybe a bad fuse or fuses could be the problem. So, I started pulling and checking fuses and all were good until I pulled the fuse in the #18 slot of the fuse panel under the rear seat. On the diagram it shows this fuse as right rear door module. When I pulled it the dome lights instantly came on, the gas door popped open, and the trunk popped open as well, and this fuse is not blown. I tried to start the car with the fuse out, just out of curiosity, and it fired right up and everything appears to be working, other than the interior lights when you open the back doors and the power locks and windows on these doors. If you put this fuse back in the car will not start and there are several electrical issues with dash lights and warning lights.
What do you think it could be?
Thank You for your help.

Answer
Hello,

In all honesty I have no clue especially how the door module would have anything to do with starting.

The only thing I could tell you is to take the vehicle to a dealer or a repair shop that has a Tech II scanner for possible diagnostics.

Your starting problem does not appear to be from the transponder (chip in ignition key)system and is something else. There are many different problems that can relate to the symptom you write about.

Good Luck!


Hello Bill,

Thank you souch for your high rating, but I feel I should expound as to why I answered the question the way I did.
These cars are no longer simple to repair. This is not like the old days in which a starting problem or an electrical problem was consistent and easy to come up with an answer. These days, EVERYTHING in the vehicle relates to a computer. Wiring connections are critical. Worse yet many of these cars like yours have many computers interfaced.
I remember the days when someone would give me a complaint and I could fix the car over the phone. Those days are
long gone.
What could se like a very simple problem like yours appears to be at first glance has the potential of 8 hours diagnoses for a half hour repair time. These vehicles are built so the only place they can get repaired is at the dealer. You no longer have technicians diagnosing problems. Instead, they are given a handheld scanner withva diagnostic flow chart. They are expected to change parts
until the problem is fixed.

I just wanted to put things in perspective so that you understand as to why  I could not give you a specificcanswer to your problem.


Rob

Rob