2003 Yukon Xl Electrical Issue!

jmasuga7 · February 11, 2010

havin some trouble. i just bought a 03 yukon xl 4x4. it has serious issues. first of all it has the service 4wd light( i think this is a separate issue from the others). i also have the brake and abs light on. i pulled two codes c0237 and c0291. occasionally the fuel, oil, and temp gauge go to nothing for about two seconds, when this happens my radio volume dims slightly and my heated seats turn off. also my cruise control turns off with the use of a turn signal??? I should mention that this vehicle has been in a collision and was kind of hacked back together. just looking for a starting place. THANKS!!!

michigansilver03 · February 11, 2010

C0297 is a BCM configuraton mismatch or not valid. Looks like the changed the BCM from another truck and you are going to have to completely reprogram it.

alwcurlz · February 12, 2010

havin some trouble. i just bought a 03 yukon xl 4x4. it has serious issues. first of all it has the service 4wd light( i think this is a separate issue from the others). i also have the brake and abs light on. i pulled two codes c0237 and c0291. occasionally the fuel, oil, and temp gauge go to nothing for about two seconds, when this happens my radio volume dims slightly and my heated seats turn off. also my cruise control turns off with the use of a turn signal??? I should mention that this vehicle has been in a collision and was kind of hacked back together. just looking for a starting place. THANKS!!!

Well, I'll put up some ideas/suggestions from my own research and experience....

As for the service 4WD, there has been an issue in the past where there is a cold solder joint on the backside of the box with the push buttons for Auto 4WD, 4x4, 2WD etc. Then also it could be an encoder motor that isn't engaging/disengaging causing this issue. Does the 4WD work?

The brake ABS light is attributed commonly to a faulty ABS motor relay. If the fuse is in place you should hear the motor in the module spin. There are some companies and other folks on ebay offering to rebuild the ABS unit for between $50-$120 and you send in your old one. A replacement is much more expensive and those doing the repairs commonly guarantee the work for life.

The gauge cluster going dead like that may indicate the connector on the backside is loose. There is a two piece faster/keeper of sorts on the backside that breaks easily that if not in place will allow the harness/connector to fall out the backside of the cluster. This in turn may be causing a power fluctuation affecting your stereo and power seats.

If the cruise turns off when using the turn signal that can be caused by improper wiring of the ground wires for the brake/turn signal wires. The cruise detects brake signal input through current being sent to both tail light signal bulbs.

I would say you have a wiring problem that may have to do with when the body shop took your truck apart and as with most body shop guys, they are not all very electronically minded and breathe too much bondo/thinners. But, seriously, I'd check if possible with the shop that did the repair and ask them about it, tell them what's happening and see if they can tell you what they took apart. There might be a wire pinched somewhere or a ground wire messed up. Collisions wreck havoc on plastic housed components and wires tightly wrapped in the dash.