Dead Stick

Van died at the mall and I towed it home and changed the starter motor. All seemed fine except the TCS, ABS, and Parking lot was on. I parked it too inspect the brakes thoroughly and my wife needed it and took it. The van along the ride was noticed all it's instrument starting to act erratically and also the gas pedal was being pushed to the floor and the speedometer was registering 120 kms and was maybe doing 30 kms. As the van approached the next intersection died completing and no lights or anything would work, not even the hazard lights.

I brought the battery and alternator to Canadaian Tire and had them tested. The Battery was finished so I bought a new one, and the alternator was fine. I re-installed both and found it completly dead to the world, I even tried to boost it. There is nothing more I can think of and I need some help with this vehicle.

I also found what appears to be an electrical connector, it's fairly long in length and connects no where. It's located beside the battery in that area and I'm almost positive this is the problem but am unsure where it is supposed to be connected too. Many thanks for any posts. I need help.

Anyone? I've been really stuck? Does anyone have any thoughts?

So you have no power to anything in the van at all? No radio, no lights, no nothing? You have to check the cables coming from the battery going to the fuse panel that sits on top of the battery. Is there a connector on the end of the "mystery" wire or does it look to be corroded and broken off? Let us know and we can go from there.

Even better yet... What year is it?

1998 Oldsmobile Silleoutte ... and yup a dead stick, nothing at all works except periodically the door when open dings but shuts off. I don't know where the mystery cable goes too but it appears like a connection that clips to something... inside the connection there is some blue in it and it runs into the wires that go to the fuse panel.

THis vehicle is sitting dead outside my sisters help and I really need help here.

Have you checked all of the fuses?

Fuses are good in the fuse panel and under the hood. Still have no idea what the mystery cable is

I think I am going to remove the alternator and look behind to be sure all the connections are together because I'm sure this mystery connection has to be somewhere around there but I can not remember taking it off.

I think I am going to remove the alternator and look behind to be sure all the connections are together because I'm sure this mystery connection has to be somewhere around there but I can not remember taking it off.

Stretch it out and see how far it reaches, that may give you a clue. Unless the wire has a snake trail to whatever it's supposed to be attached to.

Ignition perhaps?

Perhaps it had some previous use that isn't needed now and was simply left behind.

With the ignition turned on, test the wire for power.

What is the other end attached to?

The other end is connected to the harness going into the fuse panel on the left side, and it reaches practically across the engine to as far as the air filter. I need to test this wire then and how do I do this hook it up too a ohm meter or something?

The other end is connected to the harness going into the fuse panel on the left side, and it reaches practically across the engine to as far as the air filter. I need to test this wire then and how do I do this hook it up too a ohm meter or something?

A simple test light will suffice to test for power.

Here's a better idea. Locate another van identical to yours and see where that wire goes.

There are lots of the three GM sisters in recycle (scrap) yards. They are all wired the same.

Here's a better idea. Locate another van identical to yours and see where that wire goes.


LOL ummm wouldn't someone posting here have a Siliouette to look into too help me? I've been trying but the women I asked looked at me like I was crazy.

LOL ummm wouldn't someone posting here have a Siliouette to look into too help me? I've been trying but the women I asked looked at me like I was crazy.

Try a scrapyard, there's lots of these vans there.

LOL Ok I guess you don't have a one of these vans then. (hehe)
Try a scrapyard, there's lots of these vans there.

Ok Finally found one the buddy I had there called me and one came in and when I opened the hood and checked the cable beside there it was, just sitting there and not connected to anything.... Well there goes that idea... now what.. this must be something worse than I originally thought. Thoughts?

Repair history --- A week before this all happened the starter motor had went as well and I replaced it with a starter from a reliable used parts store and it worked fine for the week.. maybe this might give us another hint on what is going on here.

LOL Ok I guess you don't have a one of these vans then. (hehe)


Ok Finally found one the buddy I had there called me and one came in and when I opened the hood and checked the cable beside there it was, just sitting there and not connected to anything.... Well there goes that idea... now what.. this must be something worse than I originally thought. Thoughts?

As a matter of fact I USED to have a 2000 Silo Ext. and lots of parts for it came from a local scrapyard.

According to your post you don't need to go there.......yet.

There must be codes stored, have them read and post the numbers back here (Eg: PO1234)

I was thinking to maybe check the timing belt .... it doesn't have a timing belt though I believe it's a timing chain.

I'm trying to find a rental tool scanner tool to get the codes from the vehicle will try post again today.

Ok found the problem, checked all the negative and ground connections that I checked the battery ground and started making my rounds with positive connections and took the connection apart for the positive on the cable and found it badly corroded. I cleaned it installed the alterator again and it started I was able to drive it home.

The ABS, TCS and parking light are remaining on still but the brakes worked fine all the way home. I will be bleeding the abs module and tcs module and bleeding each wheel again to be sure.

I do also have someone with a code reader coming over today and I'll probably be able to get the stored codes off of it.

I used a innova 3100a canobd2 code reader and it says no codes detected but the reader itself is blinking yellow and it appears it hasn't done all the scans but I let it sit for almost 30 minutes with no change. Not sure what else to try.... can i erase the codes and the lights will go out? If there is still a problem would the same lights come back up?

You can try to erase the codes, but I think your scan tool is having a problem connecting to the ecm. Can you get it (the van) to autozone and have them try their scanner on it? Or try a different scanner. Maybe also, is your cigar lighter fuse blown?

This scanner connects directly to the DATA link under the steering wheel and powers up automotically when the link is established, the reader detects which vehicle it is and appears connected fine but no codes are coming up.

If the SES light is on there are codes stored. Maybe that particular reader is having issues reading from your van.

SES? The abs, tcs, and parking brake light are on in the van. No check engine light is on but this should be picked up by the reader. I would think.

"I would think"... Your thinking would be incorrect. Not just any scanner will read the ABS system codes, it has to be ABS capable. Only the higher-end scanners will do that, not the Autozone loaner tool. I guess that's why it said their were no codes stored, you don't have any ECM codes stored. The scanner I have (OTC genisys) and others I have seen will have the option to scan each different system all by itself. If your scan tool doesn't have that option it will not pull the ABS system codes. If you want to get this fixed you may have to pay someone with a decent scanner to run the codes for you and give you the printout so you can go from there.

I guess this is the only way.... I did bleed the ABS, TCS, modules with no change. Thank's everyone, I'll be sure to post the solution as to what it is.