Power window, security light issues solved!

A while ago I posted for some help about my 2005 impala having problems with the power windows not working and the security light coming on at times. We didn't get any help, but I thought that this would help others with the same problem. All of my power windows would quit working, we changed the master window switch, didn't work. We replaced the relay it worked for about a month, then it did it again. The relay would get very hot then the security light would come on and the dash would reset itself. Like the battery was disconnected momentarily. Well we got another relay, still nothing. We replaced the fuse box, the one on the drivers side, and still nothing. Well we got an ignition switch and everything works great again. So, hopefully it will last awhile. I read on a few threads that this is usually the culprit, but my husband wanted to try other things first. So I hope this helps someone in the future. Good Luck!

Just gonna be honest w/ you OP - even though your security light went off by replacing the ignition cylinder.... I bet that the "power windows" issue is prob. only temporarily "fixed" - as in its not acting up right now.

I can't see any connection between your ignition cylinder and your power windows. If anything, I would say that your culprit is your BCM...

As a matter of fact, the same thing happened on my vehicle (and then some) - and at first this would all happen here and there, intermittently. But then it started doing it every time. Ultimately it ended up being that the BCM was bad and the ignition cylinder needed to be changed out as well (which is a fix for the security light).

There is another thread that I've started that talks about this in more detail... http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=922243&page=3

Yep. your right. I got in it to go to work this morning and no windows again. Security light is doing its thing again too. I spoke too soon. Thanks for your info. We'll keep trying. I have no choice unless I want to go deeper in debt for a newer vehicle.

Yep. your right. I got in it to go to work this morning and no windows again. Security light is doing its thing again too. I spoke too soon. Thanks for your info. We'll keep trying. I have no choice unless I want to go deeper in debt for a newer vehicle.

No problem at all. You'd be surprised at how "cheap" it will be to fix the issue. My assumption is that your BCM is going bad. Like I said in my last post. Go into the forum that talks about the security light again, and look over it.

It will show you how to change out the BCM, it will show you where to buy one and overall - what to do.


I am trying to get that thread sticky-ed.

Tried to post last night, but guess it didn't work. But I've seen issues related between the RAP (windows not working, lights not working)/Instrument cluster resetting while driving and the ignition SWITCH it self. I've seen it 8 or 9 times, so its kind of common. But not sure if that can cause a Security light to come up. IF he's replaced the actual switch AND the ignition, then I'd start looking toward the BCM. But I don't want to say it IS the switch it self if he hasn't because it could still be BCM.

We replaced the ignition switch, not the key cylinder, but now the key turns hard and sticks at times. :banghead:
Well, we figured out the reason for the key turning and sticking, the bolts on the ignition switch was tightened too tight. Very touchy. After my husband hooked the battery back up, my windows worked again until this morning. They worked when I started the car to warm up and when I tried them later they didn't work again and I noticed that my clock read 12:15, which tells me that the power was interupted. So I guess the next step is the BCM. Thanks

Hope it works out for you Marialyce. Report back and let us know if that worked. Now I'm interested...

Though I will say that I'm kinda puzzled as to your clock resetting... I mean I'm not 100% for sure, but I dont personally think that having a bad BCM would reset the clock or cause a "power outage" in the vehicle.

(anyone) - am I wrong about this???

Well it hasn't reset the clock lately, but the battery light will come once in a while while driving and at the same time the dash resets itself and the dinger will ding. My windows will work only once in a while. If they are working sometimes I will here a click in the dash and then they don't work anymore. I think that it has major electrical issues.
:confused:. I'm thinking that I will have to go trade it off and eat the difference. It won't be another chevy again.

Oh Thanks for your help. This forum has helped believe it or not.

As the previous poster said, this sounds a lot like a bad BCM. They can cause all sorts of impossible to diagnose electrical problems, and it can be very random. They are really not hard to change, and surprisingly cheap (as in less that $200).
I'd try that before losing a lot of $$ on a trade in.