electrical problem?

[Aguila]

I just started having a weird problem with my 2001 Impala LS about a month or so ago. When I start the car the overhead information console doesn't come on, the blower fan doesn't come on, and the cruise control doesn't work. Sometimes if I shut it off and restart it, everything starts working. Other times everything starts working after I drive a few blocks.

When I was sitting in the garage the other day I was turning the ignition on and off without starting the engine, trying to get things to work, and everytime I turned the ignition on I could hear a faint frying sound like contacts arcing on a relay.

I don't know if it's just a coincidence, but it seems like the problem has gotten worse since our weather has turned colder, today I drove six or eight miles before I could get everything working.

Anyone else heard of or had this problem?

[bermis519]

where does the crackling sound sound like it's coming from. Might be a relay or a bad ground. I don't know, just an idea.

mike

[Aguila]

Originally Posted by bermis519

where does the crackling sound sound like it's coming from. Might be a relay or a bad ground. I don't know, just an idea.

mike

It's more like a frying sound, I have heard relay contacts do it many times when they get pitted. It's hard to pinpoint it, it sounds like it's coming from the dash area, maybe the driver's side fuse block. When I get some spare time, I have an electronic listening device that I'm going to use to try and pinpoint it.

I wish I would have bought the service manuals for it as the owner's manual doesn't show much. I can't see where there is any connection between the three things that don't work.

[Aguila]

Originally Posted by Aguila

It's more like a frying sound, I have heard relay contacts do it many times when they get pitted. It's hard to pinpoint it, it sounds like it's coming from the dash area, maybe the driver's side fuse block. When I get some spare time, I have an electronic listening device that I'm going to use to try and pinpoint it.

I wish I would have bought the service manuals for it as the owner's manual doesn't show much. I can't see where there is any connection between the three things that don't work.

I wanted to update you guys on my problem. I was on the right track with my problem, it was contacts alright, but not where I ever dreamed it would be. It was the ignition switch! $320.00 worth with parts and labor.

It seems the GM engineers put the load bearing contacts for some of the circuits in the ignition switch instead of using plugin relays (which would be easy to change) and just using the switch to feed the relay coils. But who am I to tell the brains in Detroit anything.

[bermis519]

Did they replace it with the same one or did they have an updated part to put in it????

mike

[Aguila]

Originally Posted by bermis519

Did they replace it with the same one or did they have an updated part to put in it????

mike

I don't think they have ever came up with an update, the mechanic said they had quite a few of them in stock, so that told him they sell quite a few of them.

By the way, that isn't a complete switch, that was just the part with the contacts in it for $145.07