94 bravada

[nooldcars]

Constant problems with starting!! Rebuilt alternator installed. Battery changed 3 times already, along with new cables. I bought this vehicle as a "one owner" (61,000 miles showing) from an older man who had bought it new,was retiring and didn't need a big vehicle anymore. I had it "checked out" and was told all looked ok, but for some undercarriage rust from the Northeast winter salts. I drove it for about 8 months and then gave it to my single daughter in GA when her old Ford Explorer died. After about 6 mos of her driving very short distances to/from work, she started experiencing problems starting the truck. A mechanic that she picked out of the phone book, since none of her friends felt they could recommend anyone reliable (that's pretty sad, huh?), said that the alternator was bad. He replaced it with a rebuilt and it started ok for about two weeks. The same problem occurred. He checked the alternator and said that it was no good and replaced it with another rebuilt. Again, ok for a few weeks and then starting trouble. This time he said the battery was bad and, since it was under warranty (I had a new one put in before I drove it to her), he replaced it. Same scenario ... ok for a week ... no start after letting it sit overnight. The problem has escalated. The battery has been replaced 3 times. The mechanic said that the fuses were fine; now the electric locks, seats won't work. The other day the entire digital dash, except for the speedometer, went out. She had the entire post production alarm system removed since she was told that the alarm was shorting the electrical system and causing all these problems. The truck was working ok after that for two weeks and we were praying that the problem was solved. She e mailed me this A.M. saying that the truck wouldn't start. Is there ANYONE out there who recognize these symptoms and have a REAL answer for us? Neither she nor I have more money to invest, but she has to have a vehicle for work. Thanks!

[ericn1300]

sounds like you have a short or something somewhere draining down the battery over night and the short drives aren't fully recharging the battery, just enough charge to delay the problem about a week. a car on the lot where i worked as a lot lizzard during college had a simular problem, turned out the cabin light was on all night and nobody had noticed it.

the most common short on these Bravadas seems to be in the electric seat, try disconnecting that and see if it helps. See Chris' post at the top of the forum for more info on seat wiring.

here's the link
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=543328

[Chris Stewart]

Sounds like some of that salt may be in the carpet in front of the drivers seat doesn't it? If the floor gets wet, salt water.
Disconnecting the lumbar support connector may help.