Wierd Electrical Issue

Z71-K9 · December 31, 2009

I have a 07 nnbs crew cab Vmax. I started to experience this electrical issue just after having the battery replaced under warranty. Battery cracked near terminal. And for the life of me, I cant pin it down.

It is not consistent and only happens a couple of times while driving.

If you hit the brakes or use a turn signal (but not all the time),

Air bag light comes on, power door locks cycle on/off several times, clock resets, HVAC unit goes back to factory default settings, service traction control lights comes on, needles on gauges go left then back right, lights flicker, and engine stumbles a little bit.

I checked to asure battery cables were on tight. I even took them off and cleaned real well. Ground cable from battery to engine block appears tight. If I let the truck sit over night. In the morning, clock is reset and HVAC temp is reset.

Sometimes all it takes is turning it off and then back on and your fine for 50 miles.

Any ideas?

Silverado4x4 · December 31, 2009

I would try disconnecting the battery again for about 30 min. and reconnect in proper order this will reset the trucks computer.

Z71-K9 · December 31, 2009

I would try disconnecting the battery again for about 30 min. and reconnect in proper order this will reset the trucks computer.

Any idea what is causing this?

fbachman · December 31, 2009

I would try disconnecting the battery again for about 30 min. and reconnect in proper order this will reset the trucks computer.

Any idea what is causing this?

Not really...now, I have had WIERD things happen when bulbs go out....check all of your bulbs, follow the main battery cable and make sure there is nothing chafed from forking with the new battery and stuff. Try resetting the pooter as described above.

Had a f*rd once where the cruise would disengage with the left turn signal. Come to find out, left turn signal bulb was out.

What you describe with the gauges is what I see when I tune my truck with a programmer. Goes thru all kinds of stuff where chimes go off, dash lights come on/off, gauge needles go max-to-min, etc....

Sorry, out of ideas. Is it still under warranty? Heck, let goodwrench worry about it.

USMC Tanker · January 2, 2010

Any updates?

My 2008 Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD was doing the same exact thing.

Door locks cycling, AC system going to default settings, service airbag warning came on, service traction control came on once, radio turning on/off, truck losing power momentarily, etc.

Crazy stuff...happened to me three times on the freeway, once the engine was revving on it's own. I've had the dealer check it out and run it through the computer, no faults whatsoever. I have had no work performed on the truck aside from oil changes.

SLW210 · May 26, 2011

Any updates?

My 2008 Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD was doing the same exact thing.

Door locks cycling, AC system going to default settings, service airbag warning came on, service traction control came on once, radio turning on/off, truck losing power momentarily, etc.

Crazy stuff...happened to me three times on the freeway, once the engine was revving on it's own. I've had the dealer check it out and run it through the computer, no faults whatsoever. I have had no work performed on the truck aside from oil changes.

About January of this year my 2003 Suburban's left turn signal would stop working when I applied the brakes and if the turn signal wasn't being used it would come on when brake applied. I figured it was the bulb going out, so I figured I would check it all out on the weekend. Couple days later, everything was working fine. I looked things over, checked wires, grounds, etc. Nothing.

About a month and a half ago, I get ready to go to lunch on Friday and no start. I get a coworker to boost me, it is running rough and stalling/dieing when I come to a stop, but restarts fine. I go home and pack for a flight I have that evening, go by the Advanced Auto and get the battery and alt checked, everything is fine, cables check out great. Go back to work, go to airport all is well running great. Suburban at the Park & Ride for a few days, get back she starts, runs great.

Fast forward to about three weeks ago, every morning I come out and clock is reset to 12:00. That has been every morning since. Starts fine runs fine.

Last night, after a little research, I get an idea, I manually locked my door with the key. This morning, clock not reset to 12:00. Maybe a coincidence so I will do this for awhile.

I also found this info on NHSTA

Make / Models: Model/Build Years:AM GENERAL / HUMMER 2003CADILLAC / ESCALADE 2003-2004CADILLAC / ESCALADE ESV 2003-2004CADILLAC / ESCALADE EXT 2003-2004CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 2003-2004CHEVROLET / EXPRESS 2003-2004CHEVROLET / SILVERADO 2003-2004CHEVROLET / SUBURBAN 2003-2004CHEVROLET / TAHOE 2003-2004GMC / DENALI 2003GMC / SAVANA 2003-2004GMC / SIERRA 2003-2004GMC / SIERRA DENALI 2004GMC / YUKON 2003-2004GMC / YUKON XL 2003-2004HUMMER / H2 2004Service Bulletin Number: 01864NHTSA Item Number: 10006615Summary:RADIO CD SKIPS/EJECTS OR CLOCK RESETS TO 12:00. *MR *TT

Make / Models: Model/Build Years:BUICK / RAINIER 2004-2005CADILLAC / ESCALADE 2003-2005CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 2003-2005CHEVROLET / SUBURBAN 2003-2005CHEVROLET / TAHOE 2003-2005CHEVROLET / TRAILBLAZER 2002-2004GMC / DENALI 2003GMC / ENVOY 2002-2005GMC / SIERRA 2003-2005GMC / YUKON 2003-2005HUMMER / H2 2003-2005OLDSMOBILE / BRAVADA 2002-2004Service Bulletin Number: 3179NHTSA Item Number: 10010266Summary:AUTOMATIC DUAL ZONE HVAC BATTERY DRAW SUPPLEMENT TO 02-01-39-007A. *TT

BloodRedSilverado · May 27, 2011

I've had numerious topics on this problem over the last year or so. My last test fixed my problem. Go here to read: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...129454&st=0

4wd · May 27, 2011

I've had numerious topics on this problem over the last year or so. My last test fixed my problem. Go here to read: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...129454&st=0

Does the factory replacement fix the problem?

BloodRedSilverado · May 28, 2011

If it did you would be replacing it with the same part that was defected from the start...Likely to have the same problem down the road..

Z71-K9 · May 30, 2011

If it did you would be replacing it with the same part that was defected from the start...Likely to have the same problem down the road..

I have not had a problem since they replaced the cable.

silverado_max07 · August 16, 2011

I'm having the exact same problem as the original post. Did you ever get this resolved?

Z71-K9 · August 17, 2011

No issue since the replacement of the negative battery cable.

Rockweiler · August 19, 2011

I'm having the exact same problem as the original post. Did you ever get this resolved?

The symptom listed in the OP was the very first thing that happened to me which signaled an electrical issue. The next thing that happened was a dead truck in my driveway one morning with no lights left on or anything else that would have drained the battery. I posted this solution that the dealer came up with for me in another thread a minute ago:

I had a very similar problem a couple months ago with my 2010 Silverado.

The problem started off one morning with my truck being completely dead in my driveway; I couldn't figure out why either as I hadn't left anything on. I got a boost and drove to work with no issues whatsoever (between me letting it run in my driveway for a while to charge the battery and the actual drive to work, it had been running for 30-40 minutes). As soon as I parked the truck at work and pulled the key from the ignition, the truck died immediately. I went into the office to call my dealer and the woman I spoke to advised that I have it towed (under warranty) rather than boosting it again so as not to reset any codes that would have been thrown. I had no problem with that, but my truck was not in a position that a tow truck could not get to it so I went out to the parking lot to move it manually with a buddy from work into a place where a truck could get at it and when I opened the door the domelight came on. When I saw the light on I tried to start it and it fired up instantly.

I was dumbfounded.

I had it towed to the dealership and after keeping it overnight and not being able to recreate the problem I brought it home the next day with no solution. A couple weeks later the same thing happened again so I brought it back into the dealership and told them I didn't want it back until they had a cause and a solution. After a couple hours at the dealership and a complete electrical troubleshoot, I was told that they finally found out what was causing the problem.. apparently there was some type of rubber washer on of the terminals of the battery. This washer was causing the battery cables to temporarily lose connection, probably while driving (over bumps, starts and stops, etc), causing the battery drain. This explained the odd situation where the battery would be dead at one time and start the next since it was only temporarily losing connection (i.e. it comes off on one bump but could be bumped back on after the next).

In any event, this happened a couple of months ago and since they removed the rubber washer from the terminal I haven't had any problems whatsoever.

Grebbler · August 21, 2011

I would take apart the ground connections and clean them. Battery cable to block and the block to body strap.

Even a thin patina of snot can make the connection poor and cause the voltage to fluctuate. You hit the brakes and cause a load. The connection fails and arcs the connection, fusing it connected again for a short time.

This behavior (even on a much smaller scale) spikes the computers with power and electrical noise causing them to lock up or keep from going to sleep when parked.

ya got nothing to lose.