Hey Everyone.
I'm new to this site and have been reviewing different threads for the past hour or so...and decided to join and kick-in my 2 cents!
I'm convinced that a bunch of these similar threads have to do with a power drain and random alarm problems. My 94 GC 5.2L started giving me issues last winter and they went away all summer. Now that we've returned to the cold (I live in Northern Ontario) they're back!
Twice this month I've gone out in the morning to a dead vehicle. Yesterday was the latest...I was able to hook it up to a spare battery. As soon as this is done the alarm system triggers. I try to disarm this by turning the key in the passenger door and it appears to work. However, when you attemp to start it the beast will fire and then stall. It needs repeated coaxing to keep going and idle and then it ran rough. This is probably the 6-7th time something like this has happened (only in the winter!). In the past it usually takes several days before the throttle response returns to normal.
I also can't lock the doors and then unlock them with the driver's door; this always sets off the SOB alarm. Recently, my tailgate lock stopped working properly. I can lock and unlock it with the power locks from either door arm but can't do it with my key.
Everytime I have to disconnect the battery to do any work the hard starting and rough running thing returns to make the next couple of days a real treat.
Yesterday I had it back in the shop and my mechanic said that the battery was holding charge and that there didn't seem to be a drain...
I've also seen, however, the symptom described elsewhere with the voltmeter dropping significantly when at lower engine reves, almost as if the alternator is bad (I don't think mine is, as this is the second alternator I've seen this with). The voltage drop on the meter isn't always consistent, either.
I wish someone could help with these issues. I love this vehicle when it's working and am almost ready to give up hope. I put a new fuel pump in it recently because that's what the dealer said ...I'm $600 poorer and no further ahead!
Any ideas would be great and I will post any ideas or solutions that are offered by my new service shop (no more dealer!!)
If a different aftermarket alarm system would help, can anybody suggest one that they've had good results with?!
Thanks,
Derek.