Do I Need To Replace The Bcm?

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I have a 2003 1500HD crew cab Chevy with 29k miles, and I'm looking for some advice about a Body Control Module issue. I've had this issue for about three years, but it goes away entirely during the winter. Once temperatures warm up in the spring, it comes back again and occurs every time I start the truck until winter. During these non-winter months, every time I start my truck, the information display says my right, rear door is open. I clear the warning and that's the end of it until the next time I start my truck. It's always the same door, and I haven't experienced any other issues, although I do have to keep my dome lights set to off, since the open door warning will keep the lights on all the time. My local dealership looked at it earlier this week and said the Body Control Module is to blame. Apparently it's only passing 1 volt back to that door. I didn't get a chance to talk to the mechanic that looked at my truck, so I don't have a better description than that. Since this issue isn't happening during the winter, is it possible that the BCM is fine and there's a loose connection somewhere? I'd rather not spend the money to have the BCM replaced if there's another explanation. If it really is the BCM, do I need to have it fixed, or can I live with this minor annoyance without doing any additional harm? I gather the BCM is a pretty critical component, so I'd rather not find myself stranded somewhere just to save some money now. Thanks much for any advice.

[bill190]

As to if this is the actual problem or not, I gather since you are asking that you are not skilled at electronic troubleshooting?

 

If you are skilled at electronic troubleshooting, you can get a GM factory service manual set (3 or 4 big books) for your vehicle and this would have wiring diagrams and you could check this yourself.

 

Otherwise your choices would be to take it to another GM dealer and see if they give you the same diagnosis, or don't do anything.

 

These electronic modules have many parts inside of them. If the BCM is in fact the problem and everything else is working OK, it is quite likely that just a small part inside the BCM is faulty and this part would go to that door only.

 

Sort of like a new LCD TV. There may be one little itty bitty pixel which does not work, but the rest of the screen works just fine.

[TexasAl]

My bet is on the door switch. I'd go get a replacement switch, and see if that clears the problem. My uncle has the same problem on his GMC. I really doubt it is the BCM. Those things rarely go out. I've been to dealers, and their first response to something that is a bit hard to diagnose is "replace the computer". To this date, it has never been the computer. Good luck, and let us know what you find.