2003 Malibu Electrical problems :(

[snappy|nuts]

I have replaced the ignition switch and lock cylinder as suggested by someone. This made absolutely no difference with my issues. The key stays in the ignition now, that is about the only plus....

Here are my symptoms:

• radio works sometimes
• "THEFT SYSTEM" light flashes as soon as I turn the key on to "ACC"
• car starts, then shuts off immediately
• key-less entry/lock doesn't work at all
• panic button and trunk pop buttons on keychain do nothing
• trunk sometimes pops open on its own when I turn the key
• door chime rarely works
• fuel gauge rarely works
• temp gauge rarely works
• A/C compressor will not kick on when the button is pressed

could this be the computer? I'm at a loss here and I really need this car working.... please help. I can't afford to take it to the dealer and I can't even sell it like this.

any help would be much appreciated

tks,

-ry

[snappy|nuts]

update:

got the car to start after I ran the "relearn" procedure for my new ignition.
The A/C works if I remove the relay and jumps pins 30 to 87.

I'm being told this could be a BCE issue.

[Tech II]

You have a list of problems, that could be individual problems in themselves.....

• radio works sometimes

What do you mean? Does the faceplate light up? Or is it just a sound problem or reception problem?

• "THEFT SYSTEM" light flashes as soon as I turn the key on to "ACC"
• car starts, then shuts off immediately

You oviously had a Security system problem.....the relearn may only be a temporary fix....Was this PassKey or PassLock? If PassLock, was the PassLock module replaced?

key-less entry/lock doesn't work at all
panic button and trunk pop buttons on keychain do nothing

Possible bad key fob or battery.....

trunk sometimes pops open on its own when I turn the key

Disconnect the actuator in the trunk.

• door chime rarely works

Are you talking about opening the door with the key still in the ignition?

• fuel gauge rarely works

Usual problem is a sending unit in the tank.

• temp gauge rarely works

Need to hook up a scan tool to see if it's a sensor or cluster problem.

• A/C compressor will not kick on when the button is pressed

You have bypassed the whole system by removing the relay and jumpering the feed to the A/C clutch with power.....possibilities are bad relay, a code is set, low freon, bad pressure sensor, etc.

Sounds like you've had a list of problems that you let accumulate......

[snappy|nuts]

You have a list of problems, that could be individual problems in themselves.....

• radio works sometimes

What do you mean? Does the faceplate light up? Or is it just a sound problem or reception problem?
- sometimes when I press the display button on the radio I will get the clock, but I can't turn the radio on. Its almost like its doesn't know the ignition key has been turned on. Other times it works perfectly, but very rare!

• "THEFT SYSTEM" light flashes as soon as I turn the key on to "ACC"
• car starts, then shuts off immediately

You oviously had a Security system problem.....the relearn may only be a temporary fix....Was this PassKey or PassLock? If PassLock, was the PassLock module replaced?
- I'm not sure about PassLock or PassKey.... I did change the lock cylnider with the ignition

key-less entry/lock doesn't work at all
panic button and trunk pop buttons on keychain do nothing

Possible bad key fob or battery.....
- tested with two FOBs and new batteries. Even tried a "re-sync" by holding down the UNLOCK and LOCK buttons simultaniously... still no go.

trunk sometimes pops open on its own when I turn the key

Disconnect the actuator in the trunk.
- I think this is a symptom of the larger electrical problem I'm having.

• door chime rarely works

Are you talking about opening the door with the key still in the ignition?
- yeah exactly or opening the door with the head light switch still on with the engine off

• fuel gauge rarely works

Usual problem is a sending unit in the tank.

• temp gauge rarely works

Need to hook up a scan tool to see if it's a sensor or cluster problem.
- yeah I'm being told that this is needed.... I'm trying to spend as little money possible but it seems this is unavoidable

• A/C compressor will not kick on when the button is pressed

You have bypassed the whole system by removing the relay and jumpering the feed to the A/C clutch with power.....possibilities are bad relay, a code is set, low freon, bad pressure sensor, etc.
- I did this just to make sure the problem wasn't the compressor or the hydrostatic clutch. I'm going to start with a new control head unit for this as the heat/cold door actuator isn't working either

Sounds like you've had a list of problems that you let accumulate......
This all started after I left the car for 7 weeks parked in a friends driveway. He had to boost it a few times using a battery charger with a "boost" option on it. Personally I think he fried something as everything worked perfectly fine prior to me leaving the car there. Now I have to fix all of this so I can at least sell the car. No one wants to buy it with nothing working. I appreciate your help!! I will provide updates as I get systems working again. As mentioned, I'm trying the control heads next..... I'm being told by others that this is a BCM problem though.....

[Tech II]

Sounds like your electrical system was "spiked", especially if he did this while the key was "on"......

[snappy|nuts]

I also checkde all fuses in both internal blocks and the under hood block and none are blown.

Any relays related to systems that aren't working seem fine too.... definitely computer/BCE related issue I'm thinking.

[snappy|nuts]

when I remove the truck release fuse everything miraculously starts working again.

With the fuse back in, I lose the fuel gauge, temp gauge, A/C and stereo

This makes no sense.

With the fuse in the trunk release works fine... but the keyless entry with the fobs doesn't work in either scenario.