Chicken Heart

Ok here ya go. I'm telling my age but oh well. Now, back in the early 1970's, when running dual batteries, one for the truck and the other for winching. There was a regulator of sorts that the charging wire from the alternator ran to, then from it to the second battery. When the second battery was fully charges, it would shut off to prevent over charging. Most of us that had winches that used that system. That way, your vehicle battery wouldn't get drawn down from winching. The regulator prevented that from happing. Kinda of a one way system. Of course as things progressed, I can imagine that regulator is pretty sophisticated now. I'm also looking to have a winch installed on my "16 1500 4wd. It has the battery plate on the drivers side so now I'm looking for the rest of the goodies. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

So here is an update to the last dated January 8th. My 2016 has been in and out of the dealer so often that it was pathetic! I did get GMC involved and finally got some thing done. The dealer, at least his top electronic guy< changed all the cables three times, did all the bulletins covering this issue, but the darn truck still did its "Stabilink ain't working bit. So two weeks ago, he changed out the ECM, flashed all the modules as well as the ECM with all the new updates. Then it went off again!!! Ahhh man! So this time he got involved with GM's Electronic Engineering Division and lo and behold, he found a cable connector somewhere under the hood that wasn't reading correctly. This truck seemed to not like cold weather and went off when it was under 40 degrees? Weird huh? So now after replacing the connector and cable, it works, at least today when it was like 36 degrees. Put bunch of miles on it to see if it would flip out. nada so I'm waiting for a return call From GM. I certainly hope this fixes it! Kinda like the election, as we will see what happens!

I simply use the "M" mode and don';t worry. Seems to work just great. Not sure if it goes into the V4 mode when in 6th on the "M" mode. 4th for stop and go and 5th if I got to run a distance.

OK- - - no I didn't know my 2016 GMC 1500 had this V-8 to V-4 mode. So if I run in the M range in 5th gear the drone and the V-4 mode goes away? Is that what I have read? I actually didn't' know what the M was for cause it also has the TOE mode. But I am having fun with it!! It's actually in the shop for the everyday electrical / modem issues that affect all of the 2014--2018 1/2 ton trucks. yuck!

The 2014 to 2018 GMC-Chevrolet 1/2 ton chassis and any vehicle that utilizes that particular chassis seem to have a endless stream of code issues relating to battery cables and modems. My 2016 GMC SLE (Loaded, leather and all sorts of goodies) has had the cables, all of them and some I never knew they had, changed. its on its 4th trip to the dealer now for the stability system issues. The truck seems to not like cold weather, acts up when its under 40 degrees? Weird! I told my wife if that darn truck goes south one more time, it will get sold and I will buy a really old truck, like a 1935 up!! The only thing my "32 Ford Coupe has that is modern is it's HEI ignition system! I've got a point system on stand-by! LOL. I don't understand why the coolant lines need replacing though. Take a look at them as well as the control arm ball joints and see if there is any play. Those items are pretty much a DIY thing, if you have the patience and tools.Good luck with your issues and don't forget to repost the results. Jon & Ollie Purveyors of Fine Texas Wines and Medicinals

My 2016 GMC 1500 SLE has been in the shop 4 times now due to Stabilizer issues, lost of steering, etc. They replaced all the cables and some box that sits up top of the battery. All cables to the steering gear and some control module last time for not communicating. Now it's back in the shop as of last Tuesday for not starting, lost of steering, etc.and I won't be getting it until this coming Monday. This is an ongoing issue with all the vehicles that share the 1/2 ton chassis, Chevy and GMC. (2014--2018) Yup, I also have an ongoing claim with GMC as it being an unsafe vehicle. Twice I have narrowly missed other vehicles when the steering goes south. What gets me is we, the consumer , has to pay thru the nose to have these issues fixed. I myself put the truck up on my lift and went thru several of the service bulletins. But my GOD, these trucks today have more sensors than NASA does on the Space Shuttle! I have actually talked with several salesmen that actually traded their vehicles in and "Let someone else pay for the repairs!" Not encouraging is it? But we will see what happens on Monday next!

May be the body modem? If not, your truck is haunted!! LOL

So we have another who have joined the ranks of "What happened to my steering?" Just to bring mine up to date, i just last week, did the G218 thing and it was the pitts to get to. Everything was great. Then went to the ground cable that went to the frame and found that the dealer tech had replaced it onto the under coated surface of the frame. Wow- - - not too bright as they say. We ground off the undercoating on the frame and the cable end and used a new bolt and reinstalled all of it. Went for 3 days then it started all over again. Then it was OK for a day and I changed the battery distribution box, found it was oxidized. Skip a day then it went off again, today the 8th. I'm going down the bulletin PIT5405C and checking off those that have been done. I intend to check the transmission plug under the truck as I have read where a few have done that and gotten results. So far: new battery ground cables as installed by dealer, new Optima battery, new battery harness from distribution box to God knows where (installed by dealer) and distribution box. So far we're out $1600.00 for something that the factory should have taken care of. The Battery harness has connectors that go to the steering and we will check those also.

This is interesting. I have filed a safety complaint with GM. Truck went to dealer twice but was told, "Can't replicate issue therefore can't fix it!" Really, here is the service bulletin, just go thru each step like I requested. Oh no, cant do that. " So here we sit. I know some have installed new battery ground cables , one each to the engine, frame and body and have gotten results. One replaced the battery junction block and got results. I was told to take my truck to a dealer and to email GM and they would call the dealer. For what , I don't know, but this will all happen after the first of the year. If I can't get this thing fixed, it's off to Dodge and a trade in. I really like my truck but I can't deal with these issues constantly. I will take the truck to the dealer for the bulletin issues then we will see, I may install the negative ground cables and the terminal junction block. But if this truck isn't fixed in 6 months, its off to La La Land for it. Why should anyone spend 5 to 6 K fixing something that appears to be inherently built in by the factory, either thru design of manufacture defects? Totally bafflying isn't it?

The stuff with the Stabilitrack/steering and stuff started in October and have been to a GMC dealer. Was told that they couldn't replicate the issue. Asked them, so what, here is the issue, here is the service bulletin so fix it. Don't just glaze at it, take it apart and fix it. The first dealer actually blew me off so now its to another. I also filed a complaint with GMC and actually got a claim number. I won't let anyone else drive the truck because the steering can be a pit. I drive the wife's car to do things. had lots of suggestion to replace the battery even if it was only near the marginal line. Did that Saturday the 16th, another $200.00 bucks and nothing got remedied. So far out of pocket i'm looking at around $800.00. Truck is paid off so that's good. At my age (73) I thought I had bought my last truck. Looked a long time before I found this one. I guess I should have waited longer?