QuestionQUESTION: 03 Monte Carlo SS (3.8L V6).....a few months ago, my car started having several electrical issues. They all seemed random and just plain odd. For example, dome light comes on every few minutes while driving and at the same time the door locks would engage and disengage randomly. Unlock door with key, put key in ignition and start, just to have the alarm start sounding off (horn a constant blast not bursts). There were a few more issues, but the most important was the highbeam out message displayed and turn signals would flash too quickly and both at the same time no matter which direction I switched on.I checked all fuses and replaced all exterior lights front & back.After research I learned that all the electrical parts giving me problems were all linked to the BCM at some point. I just replaced the BCM and had the local dealer flash program it. I picked up my car and everything seemed fine. I started the car and instantly turned on the signal lights. They flashed correctly and all other issues seemed to be working correctly. Leaving the dealer, I noticed the turn signals were back to working incorrectly again (same problem as before). Got home and inspected things in the driveway. In park, all lights and turn signals worked correctly. In reverse or any drive gear turn signals flashed too quick and both at same time. Daytime running lights not high beams at low voltage as they should, but low beam lights automatically come on instead.Next time started the car highbeam out message and flashers malfunctioning in any gear and daytime lights not on the right way. So now the only problem with the car is something not right with the exterior lighting system since it is not only the turn signals malfunctioning, wrong lights used for daytime running, fog lights turned on and so dim, you have to get on hands and knees and get within inches away to see that there is a light on (fog lights new too). All lights (high, low, turn, brake, tail, marker, and fog) are all less than 2 months old and none burned out. Fuses are good. I'm not sure what my next step would be. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
ANSWER: HI ADAM, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT..BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THIS SEEMS LIKE A FAULTY GROUND SYSTEM...I WOULD BE CHECKING THE BATTERY GROUNDS THAT GO TO THE FENDER WELL FROM THE BATTERY AND CK ALL OTHER GROUNDS GOING TO THE ENGINE AREA AND HEADLIGHT AREAS AROUND THE RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT CK FOR BROKEN WIRES, LOOSE OR CORRODED.THE DIM LIGHTS ARE FOR SURE A GROUND PROBLEM...TO CK THIS RUN A SEPERATE GROUND WIRE TO ANY LIGHTSOCKET FROM THE GROUND THAT IS NOT BRIGHT AND SEE IF THIS CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM.. IT SHOULD..IF SO YOU KNOW IT IS A GROUNDING ISSUE...LET ME KNOW WHRE THIS GETS YOU...GOOD LUCK TO YOU..TOM
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QUESTION: Thanks a lot, I found the ground and sure enough, 1 of the 2 wires weren't connected. I connected both to ground as they should be and all problems are solved. I do however have another question. I've tighten E-Brakes before on cars with drum brakes without a problem. My '03 Monte Carlo SS has 4 wheel disk brakes and the E-brake doesn't hold good enough to pass state inspection. On the end of the R & L cables there is an eyelet that slides over a hook on the hub of each wheel. I don't see any places to adjust (tighten) the cables up. If you would point me in the right direction, I would be greatly appreciated.
ANSWER: HI ADAM, THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT ON THE CABLE, YOU NEED TO GET THE REAR ROTORS OFF AND FREE UP THE ADJUSTEMNT WHEEL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES..ONCE THERE FREED UP ADJUST THEM JUST ENOUGH SO WHEN YOU PUT THE ROTOR BACK ON THERE IS JUST A SMALL RESISTANCE FELT WHEN SPINNING THE ROTOR..MAKE SURE THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE OF COURSE...HOPE THIS HELPS YOU GOOD LUCK,,,TOM.
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QUESTION: Thanks for getting back to be so soon. I'm curious about something...when I was looking for info on the parking brake issue, I ran across Monte Carlo forum page. An area on this website was for owners to help each other out with car problems. Someone had asked the same question I did about adjustments to tighten the parking brake. The person who responded had step by step pictures of the section where the cable from the foot lever in the car and the cables going to the wheel hubs meet and connected to each other. It showed using a 1/4 open end wrench to hold the square end of the cable and using a 5/8 open end wrench to turn the nut on the cable equalizer farther up the threaded stem to take out the slack of the cables that happens over the years. Here is a link for the web page I am talking about http://www.kevuva.com/2kmc/mods/parkbrake.asp . Would this help, or would I just be wasting my time? Thanks again for all your help.
AnswerHI ADAM, USUALLY THESE NEWER CARS HAVE NO ADJUSTMENT ON THE CABLE IT SELF...BUT IF YOU ARE SAYING THERE IS A ADJUSTER NUT ON THE CABLES WHERE THEY JOIN TOGETHER THEN YES TIGHTEN THIS NUT UP A LITTLE.[BUT SEE BELOW] THE NEXT ONE OF THESE CARS I GET IN THE SHOP I WILL FOR SURE CK THIS OUT.. USUSALLY ALL THE ADJ'S ARE MADE AT THE PARKING BRAKES THEM SELVES..BUT AGAIN,USUALLY THE CABLE STAYS OK, THEY DO NOT STRETCH..ALL THE WEAR IS AT THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES AND THE ADJUSTERS RUST UP AND DO NOT ADJ ANYMORE...I WOULD CK THE SHOES AND THE ADJ ON THEM FIRST..MORE THEN LIKELY THIS IS WHERE YOUR PROBLEM IS...BUT THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT THE ADJUSTER ON THE CABLE,I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS,IF IT IS THERE !!!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU,,,TOM
PS BACK AGAIN, YOU ARE CORRECT THERE IS A ADJUSTMENT NUT ON THIS CABLE [MY BAD] BUT BEFORE YOU ADJUST THIS [[[CK THE SHOES AND ADJUSTER INSIDE THE ROTOR FIRST AND ADJUST THIS AS I SAID ABOVE, IF NEEDED.. ]]...CABLES AS RULE ARE OK. GOOD LUCK,,,TOM
