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Chevy S10 - GMC S15 and Sonoma Electrical Problems

214 messages,  Last post on Sep 02, 2008 at 1:16 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet S-10, GMC S-15, GMC Sonoma, Electrical, Truck

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#63 of 214 GMC Sonoma, electrical shutdown by jfogelberg Jun 06, 2007 (6:53 pm)
1998 GMC Sonoma, runs fine for a while (30 minutes or so). Then the volt gage begins to "twitch", it drops below 14 amps, and pulsates with the turn signals. After 30 seconds or so, it then drops to 12 amps maybe 11 amps, and the truck then dies. When driving, it is not unusual to watch the volt gauge begin to pulsate and drop till the truck dies. Wait a few minutes...can drive again..till next episode. Replaced the battery, alternator, fuel pump. Question is, is there something that regulates the electrical system? I've had the alternator checked out, and the shop says it is functioning normal. Accellerate, air conditioning on, the volts guage drops on their equipment. Run the AC in the real world driving, and I don't have a prayer in getting to where I'm going. It will die. Any ideas? suggestions? Replies to this message: gonogo (Jun 07, 2007 9:00 am) hoodlatch (Jun 07, 2007 12:36 pm) tilesetter28 (Jun 07, 2007 8:54 pm) blazer74 (Jun 29, 2007 3:53 pm) mh60guru (Jul 07, 2007 1:04 pm) gonogo (Jul 08, 2007 8:47 am) oldtimer7 (Aug 08, 2007 1:58 am) gonogo (Aug 09, 2007 9:16 am) mh60guru (Aug 10, 2007 2:28 pm) oldtimer7 (Aug 10, 2007 11:23 pm) and 3 more...
#64 of 214 Re: GMC Sonoma, electrical shutdown [jfogelberg] by gonogo Jun 07, 2007 (9:00 am)
Replying to: jfogelberg (Jun 06, 2007 6:53 pm) This how I check out an electrical system. I put a volt meter across the battery terminals to read voltage. I then load the system and watch my voltage readings. At 1500 RPM the voltage should be at least 13-13.5 volts with everything on.
#65 of 214 Re: GMC Sonoma, electrical shutdown [jfogelberg] by hoodlatch Jun 07, 2007 (12:36 pm)
Replying to: jfogelberg (Jun 06, 2007 6:53 pm) Sounds like you might have a corroded cable or wire. After it gets warm from the current, it stops conducting all together. Sometimes bad cables are not obvious to the eye because the bad spots are hidden by the plastic insulation. Or sometimes you might have a bad ground connection. In both cases they start out part time vice full blown problems, which makes it hard to trouble shoot.   I don’t understand why you changed the fuel pump though. That’s a monumental task in itself.   When I have radical electrical inconsistencies I usually start with the battery cables and go hand over hand, step by step looking for flaws. Things like where road salt and slop have been working on connections. Also, if I come on a cable or wire that has a lump in it like a snake that just swallowed an egg, I would consider it suspect.   As you can testify, most automotive electrical problems are time consuming. Let us know what you find out. Good Luck
#66 of 214 Re: GMC Sonoma, electrical shutdown [jfogelberg] by tilesetter28 Jun 07, 2007 (8:54 pm)
Replying to: jfogelberg (Jun 06, 2007 6:53 pm) Chevy and Gmc do not know how to make a dependable truck get a Ford Ranger or a dodge dakota. I am yet to have any trouble with my Ford or my dodge both of them have over 200k miles
#67 of 214 fuel pump by jfogelberg Jun 07, 2007 (5:16 pm)
Replaced the fuel pump because I found out it was in the gas tank. Truck only died when the weather got warm and someone suggested that fuel pumps were faulty (original) and would shut down when they got warm. After replacing it, I was told it was faulty - although now I'm still not sure if it was or wasn't. I've had this problem for going on 4 years now.   So it could be almost any electrical cable then?? Replies to this message: hoodlatch (Jun 07, 2007 7:36 pm)
#68 of 214 Re: fuel pump [jfogelberg] by hoodlatch Jun 07, 2007 (7:36 pm)
Replying to: jfogelberg (Jun 07, 2007 5:16 pm) Four years! Your patience is that of a Saint. I think in my case, I would be looking for a Thermite grenade.   To answer your original question on what regulates the electrical system – on GM’s for many years now the voltage regulator is built into the alternator. Since you have changed out the alternator and still have the same problem, it is unlikely the regulator was the culprit.   I wouldn’t say the electrical problem is just any cable or wire. But I would suggest the break down or slow down in the electrical continuity has to do with a leading or predominate cable or wire. Maybe loose connection, loose bolt to a bonding strap, bad terminal eyes going to alternator, loose wiring harness junction going through the firewall, wiring cable going into battery cable lugs corroded to the point only a couple of strands are left, these all are points of interest.   Put on your gloves and your Tom Terrific thinking cap. You don’t have to worry about breaking it if it’s already broke. Part of being an effective “Shade Tree Mechanic” is tenacity. Good luck Champ.
#69 of 214 Tail lights and blinkers don't work by tomster71889 Jun 10, 2007 (1:18 pm)
hi, i have a 1992 sonoma and all the sudden my tail lights and turn signals stoped working. my head lights still work but none of the other lights do. on my dash the two turn signal lights are lit up when i turn the lights on and when i push the brake in the two turn signal lights come on until i let of the brake pedal. i have no idea what happend to it of how to fix it????
#70 of 214 Blinkers don't work by bcherry Jun 13, 2007 (10:21 am)
I have a 1997 GMC Sonoma and just today the blinkers stoped working. I checked the fuses and are all fine and some how the hazzard lights work. The blinker switch gos on when I put the bilnker on but the light does not and after a turn It shuts off. If any one can help I will be very thankful. Replies to this message: hoodlatch (Jun 13, 2007 5:07 pm)
#71 of 214 Re: Blinkers don't work [bcherry] by hoodlatch Jun 13, 2007 (5:07 pm)
Replying to: bcherry (Jun 13, 2007 10:21 am) Sounds like either the flasher for the turn signals are kaput (unlikely) or one of the bulbs is defective. The emergency lights have their own flasher. Sometimes water gets into the parking and taillights that causes them to corrode. Being that your emergency flashers work, turn them on and walk around checking for defective lights. Chances are that what ever the problem is its related to a bad ground, bad bulb receptacle, or burnt out bulb. Good luck.
#72 of 214 Re: GMC Sonoma, electrical shutdown [jfogelberg] by blazer74 Jun 29, 2007 (3:53 pm)
Replying to: jfogelberg (Jun 06, 2007 6:53 pm) HEY I WAS JUST WOUNDERING IF YOU FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR SONOMA BECAUSE MY 1998 S-10 DOES THE SAME THING AND IVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR AT LEAST A YEAR NOW. IVE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULDNT FIND A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WOULNT DO IT TO THEM, IVE EVEN TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER SHOP AND IT WOULDNT DIE ON THEM EATHIER AND EVEN THOUGH THE VOLT METER WOULD DROP THEY SAID THE VOLTAGE WAS STILL GOOD. MINE WILL DO IT OFF AND ON IT WILL BE FINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THEN THE NEXT COUPLE IT STARTS ITS CRAP AGAIN. I HATE IT SO IF YOU FOUND OUT ANYTHING LET ME KNOW

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