gauges short out while driving in '02

newbie here, and not very mechanically inclined...

I bought my 02 monte "used as a dealer car" and it has two persisiting issues.

#1
for several months my service traction system light would come on (although sporatic), all the gauges in the dash would turn "off", the stereo would go out, but the lights would remain on. Then if I hit the dash, it would go back to normal operation although the security light would remain on. (the car would remain running)

The last straw was when the car stalled on me, so I called the local dealer who kept it a few days trying to sort out all of the codes. They said it was probably a short in the wiring harness or a ground wire someplace but due to the dealer warrenty where I bought the car they couldn't touch it.

So now I've taken it to the dealer, who did repair loose ground wires, but within a few days it was doing the same thing. So I called GM to complain, and took the car back to the dealer, who states now that it was the ignition switch... I guess we shall see but how do they go from a ground wire issue to an ignition switch?

#2
The rear defogger I have all but given up on... One day it just stopped working. Dealer #1 says that there is power to the window but the problem lies in the window. Dealer #2 says its working fine, they can feel heat comeing from the window and that they can't find anything wrong. However every frosty morning, it still won't work. Any ideas?

well, as far as your rear window goes, i say its a loose connection somewhere or someything along thoes lines. If its working when the car is warm, but not cold, then maybe cables/wires are connected to metal that expands when its warm to give the solid connection, but apart when its cold and not expanded. not sure, just a guess..... im mostly an engine man myself. now your problem with the dash.... definite short/bad wires/loose connects in wires or fuses, possibly more than one, the only thing i can suggest it to disconnect your negative side on your battery and manually follow every electrical wire and check if its good, has corrosion/holes poked, etc..... check your fuses, whats housing your fuses, and generally every thing that might be connected wrong. best bet if youre gonna work on it yourself is to grab all of the specs off of ALLDATA and a Digital Multi Meter and just take your time and check everything...........

well the ignition switch took care of the dash/gauge problem, now the LED got screwed up (the spedometer needle no longer lights up) and I'm waiting on a new display.

As for the rear defogger... I just gave up the only way to test what is wrong is to pull off the tint and test each line on the grid individually, replace the grid and then reapply the tint. The current gets to the back window, but it just won't defrost. There is probably a scratch in one of the grid lines somewhere... Too much work for me and much to costly... so I think I'll just keep scraping for now. The dealer still doesn't believe me and I'm tired of making the 35 mile trip.

ok, the problems just keep coming back. :banghead: The dealer needed a part number off of the display for the new one and after re-installing the display the initial electrical shorting out problem began again... but the speedometer needle is illuminated again, (after they insisted it wasnt their fault.) now I KNOW its not the ignition switch.
The dealer treats me as though i'm a complete moron (ex. "your traction active light will flash when your wheels spin" duh but thats NOT the problem). I finally took pictures and video of what it is doing... I'm guessing the wiring harness, maybe I should get a guy to go with me this next time!

Big sam- I'm gonna take your suggestions with me to the dealer and insist they keep the car until they FIX ALL the problems. I've contacted GM again so we shall see if they will be able to do anything, at the very least maybe they can negotiate with the warrenty company and let me take it elsewhere.