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Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon Electrical Problems

671 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 1:10 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Electrical, Truck

Messages Page 50 of 68

#487 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [fmagellan] by den052

Sep 19, 2011 (2:12 pm)

Replying to: fmagellan (Sep 19, 2011 11:27 am)
Other than the "recent" posts, there is nothing more to say. This thread addresses the "drivers window/lock and blower issues". I believe the last 2 pages outline what can be done. Other than that, the only thing I can help on is the wiring diagrams that are in PDF. I believe they are also located on this forum or in this thread. If not, contact me private message and I will send you the PDF's to your email address.
You can also contact the representative from the factory that is mentioned throughout this thread and request an Incident number to get this resolved at a local dealership.

#488 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [den052] by tiffany_1608

Sep 19, 2011 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: den052 (Sep 18, 2011 10:39 am)
my colorado is having the window and lock problems now we cant figure them out. Now it is having the blower problems. what else can I expect?

#489 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [tiffany_1608] by gmcustsvc

Sep 21, 2011 (9:18 am)

Replying to: tiffany_1608 (Sep 19, 2011 4:06 pm)
tiffany_1608,
 
Were you planning on taking the vehicle into your local GM dealership to be diagnosed? Please keep me posted.
 
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service

#490 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [tiffany_1608] by al6pndr

Sep 21, 2011 (1:40 pm)

Replying to: tiffany_1608 (Sep 19, 2011 4:06 pm)
Burned out..battereis,ecm, bcm,fuses,fuse pannel, alternator. The list goes on & on.. Chevy the gift that keeps on giving!! (to the dealerships.)

#491 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [tiffany_1608] by fmagellan

Sep 22, 2011 (5:48 am)

Replying to: tiffany_1608 (Sep 19, 2011 4:06 pm)
tiffany1608,
 
I just had the same problems. Lemme guess.....dead battery, now the driver side window won't go down but the other 3 will and locks won't work at all but the FOB seems to work but the doors don't unlock or lock?
 
Here's how I remedied the situation. Replaced the battery. Remove the driver control panel (2 screws) and unplug the connectors, let them sit for a couple of minutes unplugged, and plug them back in. Might be a good idea to use some contact grease between the connections.
 
Don't take it to the dealer, especially if it's not under warranty. They don't know what the problem is and all that will happen is you will end up spending more than what you can "fix" it for yourself. They will tell you you need a new driver control module/BCM that will cost at least $350.
 
If I can figure it out (and I'm not a mechanic) so can you. Good luck and keep us posted.

#492 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [fmagellan] by den052

Sep 22, 2011 (6:19 am)

Replying to: fmagellan (Sep 22, 2011 5:48 am)
As a Master Mechanic on light and heavy vehicles for over 35 years, replacing the battery doesn't do anything for fixing the problem. 12 volts setting and 14.2 volts running is just that. No matter what battery you remove or install, it is still 12.2 volts when vehicle is shut off. Some people report that the problem fixed itself by disconnecting or replacing the battery. I can assure you since this is such a random problem that they got lucky when they did that and it functioned again. Not because of the battery disconnect or replacement. Mine started working again without touching anything a few years ago. After 3 months of non-operation all of a sudden the locks and window functioned again. When it acted up again, I removed the module and silicone greased the connections. Problem solved so far, (not guaranteed).
If it acts up again, I am going to attack the fuse box connections feeding the drivers module.
 
Dennis Tomlinson "Certified ASE Master Light and Heavy vehicles". (Volkswagen to heavy semi trucks).
 
Area of most expertise is computer and electrical issues.

#493 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [den052] by bitsmasher

Sep 22, 2011 (6:33 am)

Replying to: den052 (Sep 22, 2011 6:19 am)
I completely agree with Den052. While the battery going south may have initiated the problem, replacing it won't fix it. The low voltage of the old battery pushed a lot more current through the connectors then they were designed for - this includes the fuse connectors in the fuse block, causing them to overheat and lose their gripping. This results in an intermittant connection that can fluctuate when outside temperatures rise and fall. I describe how I fixed this problem on mine in posts 426 and 438 in this forum - not elegant, but I haven't touched it since then and it still works fine. Good luck!

#494 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [bitsmasher] by snaproll1

Sep 22, 2011 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: bitsmasher (Sep 22, 2011 6:33 am)
You guys do know that there was a SB on the fuse block, right? When I had my initial problem with the window/fob/battery, they initially nailed me for a new $450 BCM, assuring me that was the problem. Two days later, same problem. When I said, "Put the old BCM back in", they were like, "Oh that was bad anyway". Then they gave me some scam excuse that the battery was bad, holding "a high surface charge" (the battery was 3 and a half years old), but dropped quickly and a new $130 battery would solve the problem. The next day after their charging/discharging testing the blower motor fried. "Oh that's not related to the testing, it just happened to fry". At that point (by this time the bills were about $750) they 'mentioned' that there was a service bulletin on the fuse block and they had replaced it "free of charge", like I was supposed to be grateful. They also said the fuse block was "burned and scorched".
 
It was at that point I started to try and get some resolution from Chevy. It was pretty evident something was seriously wrong with the electrical on the truck. The dealer said they would cover 1/3rd of the bill and Chevy 1/3rd if I would cover 1/3rd. Chevy wouldn't cover their third. That's when contacted their "Customer Care Center" and got offered 5 oil changes and a tire rotation "valued at $450 dollars!
 
The truck was ok from 2007 (it was an '05) until 2010 when the window problem happened again. Well I shouldn't say "ok" because I replaced the blower motor a couple times, the engine head when the compression was flat in a couple cylinders, numerous lights, and finally gave up on the CD player. The secodn time the window/fob thing happened (dead of winter with the window stuck down) I took the truck to a competent (non dealer) mechanic that trailed the problem to the window module this time.
 
I've also heard of things mysteriously fixing themselves on the truck. I think there may be some truth in fully discharging the electrical system in the truck. I don't know much about vehicle wiring, but I do know something about computers. Given the BCM, ECM etc, and the voltages they work at, I don't think it is all that unbelievable that some error code/message is retained or that some prom is corrupted that resets when power is completely drained. Remember, a lot of these components only "go to sleep" but still require some amount of power even when the truck is turned off. Just leaving the key in the ignition keeps the BCM alive at a higher level than if the key is removed.
 
So, problem with the fuse block, definitely - mine was burned. All the other stuff, grounds, connectors too much paint on the body, faulty programming... could be any or all of the above. Unless you really like tinkering with the truck to solve the mystery, just write the thing off as a money pit, a bad investment from a company that should have gone bankrupt, cut your losses, sell the thing and never buy another Chevy product. Trust me, I know from experience, you will be doing yourself a favor. There are plenty of manufacturers out there with similar products that probably support their customers.

#495 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [den052] by fmagellan

Sep 26, 2011 (7:17 am)

Replying to: den052 (Sep 22, 2011 6:19 am)
It DOES help to replace the battery......especially when it's 6 years old, is the original, and won't hold a charge.

#496 of 671 Re: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems [fmagellan] by den052

Sep 26, 2011 (7:47 am)

Replying to: fmagellan (Sep 26, 2011 7:17 am)
Yes, there is nothing wrong with replacing the battery 6 years old and won't hold a charge. It's just that removing and replacing the battery won't fix things that are acting up such as mentioned in this thread like blower motor and window/lock operation.
 
BTW does someone have any info on the fuse block recall or replacement?

Messages Page 50 of 68

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