A better ground

[Tkachuk69]

I have strange electrical issues with my 2001. Things that made me suspect the battery or alternator. Power windows suddenly stop working....cruise control intermittent shUT off with directional use.....just weird. I think my headlight wiring and sockets are good to go IMO.
Has anyone solved strange electrical issues by simply adding some heavy gage wiring (in a couple different spots) and solved any weird issues? I've traced existing grounds as best I can....I still feel it's a power drain somewhere.....car starts fine every AM. TIA

[Tkachuk69]

...to aid in any shitty grounds that may be causing me grief?
I think I failed to mention I do not doubt my ignition swithch....am I stupid?

[Tech II]

You have problems that are on completely different circuits, so instead of one problem, I think you have more than one.....

I doubt it's a power drain or you would have trouble starting the vehicle.....

You have to treat the power windows as a separate problem, which is easy to diagnose by pulling you master switch and checking the various circuits with a test light...

As for the cruise going out using the directionals, that sounds like a broken wire or bad switch...

[fhofstra]

For what it's worth, I can comment on one of your symptoms: the loss of cruise control when you turn on a directional indicator.
I noticed the same symptom when my LF wheel hub speed sensor quit working. This is tied into the ABS system for braking and traction control, of course.
Disabling the ABS module by pulling its 10A fuse reverts to normal (pre-ABS) driver-controlled braking. This resulted in normal operation of the cruise control.
I'm not necessarily suggesting you settle for that permanently, but offering the observation as a trouble-shooting step.

[Tech II]

Fhostra, he had no mention of an ABS light coming on....

[Tkachuk69]

I do have BRAKE and TRAC lights on.....I appreciate the tip regarding the fuse.
I replaced the driver's side windows control unit a year ago to try to fix the driver side window from just stopping to work....intermittently....and would stop on its way up sometimes. It's doing the same thing again. Directionals sometimes work and not work.....and seems to matter if the headlights are on...strange things going on. I'm gonna try new grounds. My alternator is putting out what it should.....maybe it is the ignition switch.

[Tobey]

I know I'm super late to the party, but this is classic ignition switch failure. You can get a GM dealer to replace it for free because it's a part of a safety recall (airbags might not deploy because that system also intermittently cuts off)

[Tech II]

We never did find out if there was a fix.....

It could be an ignition switch.......but I could only find a safety campaign only for an ignition switch that was previously installed that may be defective....all the dealer does is inspect the number of the switch....if it has the same # of a defective replacement switch, it is replaced......if it doesn't have that number it is not replaced....