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GMC Jimmy Electrical System

130 messages,  Last post on Jul 28, 2012 at 7:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? GMC Jimmy, Entertainment System, SUV

Messages Page 13 of 14

#119 of 130 What do I need to look for or fix? Ignition on - everything goes dead by lightman13

Feb 03, 2012 (8:25 am)

I just took my 1997 GMC Jimmy 2WD/4D in for an electrical check less than a week now for the following problem and the mechanic could find nothing wrong.
 
1. I go to start vehicle by inserting key in ignition cylinder
2. All Dash lights and gauges working
3. As soon as I put the key in the start position, all power goes completely dead.
4. Battery checked out good and electrical system checked out good when I took the Jimmy in to find the problem.
5. Key will lock in on position until power resets about 3-5 minutes or longer, before I can turn it to the off position.
6. key will turn to accessory position and radio, headlights, wipers will work.
 
Of course the problem didn't occur while at the mechanics, but I did describe the issue I had prior to bringing it in, now it is doing the same exact thing again, strange thing is sometimes it will start, other times it will just kill all the power to everything, lights, DRL, radio, everything is dead, BUT, once the power is restored, as shown about in #6, most things start working again.
 
This problem has me completely baffled as to what to look for or repair. I'm thinking the ignition switch may be the problem, but not really sure.
 
If I knew which wires to "short" together in the wiring harness, I'd take the ignition switch out and see if the car would start by bypassing the switch. But I have no idea of which wires are what and I haven't yet taken the steering colum apart to get to it.
 
Before I do, I'm trying to determine just what the issue is that is causing this particular problem. I've never had a car act like this before when attempting to start it, power go completely dead and then be restored a little later. So I'm at a loss as to what to look for or the cause.
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

#120 of 130 Re: What do I need to look for or fix? Ignition on - everything goes dead [lightman13] by michael79

Feb 04, 2012 (10:07 am)

Replying to: lightman13 (Feb 03, 2012 8:25 am)
check starter, sounds like a loose connection to me. their also might be a fuse for the start. not sure about that i have a 99 and never had this problem, (yet) 223,000 and still kicking.

#121 of 130 Re: What do I need to look for or fix? Ignition on - everything goes dead [michael79] by lightman13

Feb 04, 2012 (10:59 am)

Replying to: michael79 (Feb 04, 2012 10:07 am)
Thanks Michael.
 
A couple mechanics stated to look for a bad or loose ground wire as well. I did that, even replaced some ferrules and regrounded. I can't find any loose wires, nor can I figure out what is creating this issue. I've looked at the fuses under the hood as well as the ones inside the car and can't find any problems. So this one has me completely baffled.
 
Looks like I'm just going to have to have it towed to my mechanic around the 15th of Feb. to see if they can figure out the problem. Just had the electrical system troubleshot on Friday Jan. 27 and they said everything was fine, this was the same reason I took it in, but then it started and didn't do this at the mechanics. So it's a bit frustrating not knowing what is creating the problem.

#122 of 130 Re: What do I need to look for or fix? Ignition on - everything goes dead [lightman13] by castro22

Feb 06, 2012 (9:46 am)

Replying to: lightman13 (Feb 03, 2012 8:25 am)
On my 2000 jimmy my fuel pump was bad and it caused the truck to turn off while going to a stop. Sometimes it would make it seem like the battery was dead and all the guages would turn off.The truck wouldnt turn on right away . When you brake to come to a complete stop does it turn off on you? If it does look at your oil meter and see if it goes down. I replaced the fuel pump and it was like new. I hope this helps you out. If it is your fuel pump and your gonna do it yourself and dont know how just message back and ill walk you through it.

#123 of 130 Re: What do I need to look for or fix? Ignition on - everything goes dead by lightman13

Feb 06, 2012 (12:16 pm)

Nope, have never had any stalling issues with it at all. None of the gauges went down.
 
It just goes dead when the key is placed in the start position to crank the car and get it going.
 
Other than that everything else seems to work just fine on the vehicle, just can't start it because it goes dead.

#124 of 130 Re: Remove Factory Security System 97 Jimmy [ddegain] by dannizone1

Apr 01, 2012 (9:09 am)

Replying to: ddegain (May 17, 2009 1:28 pm)
did you ever find out how to remove security system i need to know how mine is really messed up...help me if you can thank you...

#125 of 130 Re: the clicking [jimmy115] by dannizone1

Apr 01, 2012 (9:16 am)

Replying to: jimmy115 (Oct 01, 2011 10:26 am)
i so need to know too please help us....

#126 of 130 Re: What do I need to look for or fix? Ignition on - everything goes dead [lightman13] by lightman13

Apr 01, 2012 (9:25 pm)

Replying to: lightman13 (Feb 06, 2012 12:16 pm)
Found out the negative battery cable was bad and causing the issue. As I had no way to really test this, they finally found it at the mechanics after several trips to the garage for the same problem.

#127 of 130 Re: 2001 GMC Jimmy - No electrical power anywhere [chris_kreiner] by nts_dan

Jul 04, 2012 (12:14 pm)

Replying to: chris_kreiner (Nov 24, 2009 7:06 am)
did you find out why your jimmy had NO electric to anything (horn, light, etc). we have the same problem.

#128 of 130 Re: 2001 GMC Jimmy - No electrical power anywhere [nts_dan] by lightman13

Jul 04, 2012 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: nts_dan (Jul 04, 2012 12:14 pm)
Hi Chris. Yes we did, the negative battery cable was bad. The problem wasn't visible and the cable had corroded internally. The connection at the battery looked fine, the connection to the vehicles frame looked fine. It actually took 4 times to the shop before the problem was actually found.
 
The problem was the corrosion was such a way that the cable would work for a while, then it wouldn't. So it was difficult to diagnose, seems like the cable would flex as the Jimmy was being driven, and then when I'd park, the cable may have flexed, breaking the connection inside the cable.
 
Got the negative cable replaced and haven't had any further issues since. But I had the mechanic go ahead and replace both the negative and positive cables, just to be on the safe side.
 
Good luck with your Jimmy!

Messages Page 13 of 14

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