Serious Electrical Problems... driving me crazy!!!!

[Baugzie]

I am new to the forum... I have a 1998 GT, 2 Dr Coupe….

My problems started when the interior lights stopped working altogether.

Then the lowest speed on the fan for the HVAC system stopped working.

Then later on the steering wheel lights for the radio controls quit working.

Now, my radio seems to have a mind of it’s own. While listening to the radio or a CD at a reasonable volume the volume will shoot up to maximum. What the heck is going on…? I believe that this has something to do with the steering wheel mounted radio controls. However I am hesitant to mess with the steering wheel too much for fear of deploying the air bag…

I don’t want spend the money to have this fixed by a dealer or anyone else for that matter. Is there anyone who has experienced this or any of these problems? I have the Haynes Repair manual, but it does not say all that much concerning the steering wheel mounted radio controls… Point me in the right direction… heck any direction would be greatly appreciated at this point. I am sure that some electrical troubleshooting is required, but I would like to know where to start. I've got an automotive circuit tester and a digital multimeter. I am keeping the car for another 6 – 7 months and I am going to sell it. It’s a great car and I want to make things right so everything is in working order when I do sell it.

[BIG-L]

Then the lowest speed on the fan for the HVAC system stopped working.

Sounds like a problem with the blower motor resistor Click Here for help

Then later on the steering wheel lights for the radio controls quit working.

Try this fix for the lights

Click Here


~Larry~

[Baugzie]

Thanks Big-L...

[phaelax]

i had similiar problems on my 99 gtp. slowly, one after another electrical thing stopped working. I took it in to get checked out. Almost $500 in labor later, they said it was the sunroof. There was a wire short cause all the problems. Funny, the sunroof worked the whole time though.

[Baugzie]

Originally Posted by phaelax

i had similiar problems on my 99 gtp. slowly, one after another electrical thing stopped working. I took it in to get checked out. Almost $500 in labor later, they said it was the sunroof. There was a wire short cause all the problems. Funny, the sunroof worked the whole time though.

phaelax... that's exactly what mine is doing... but I don't have a sunroof. I'm sure it is a short somewhere only I don't know where to start to trouble shoot. Maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet and take it in... and at $77/hour for labor I hope they find the problem sooner rather than later.

[kustomkid54]

As far as your radio goes, I had a tech at GM said that the radio's are junk. He says they send out a stack every week for repair. Oh yea, they charge $260.00 to repair.
Fixed my display with a little help from Big-L. It's back to looking like everything is Korean. And the vol. goes up and down at will.
Buy an after market radio and get rid of that junk.
I don't know why there has never been a recall on them. They have known that thet were junk from the start.

[anelder1]

Originally Posted by kustomkid54

I don't know why there has never been a recall on them. They have known that thet were junk from the start.

Probably there was no recall was issued because they figured that the radio wasn't safety related - and most people probably end up changing the stock radio anyway, lol.

[BIG-L]

Originally Posted by Baugzie

phaelax... that's exactly what mine is doing... but I don't have a sunroof. I'm sure it is a short somewhere only I don't know where to start to trouble shoot. Maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet and take it in... and at $77/hour for labor I hope they find the problem sooner rather than later.

What kind of problems are you having????

~Larry~

[Baugzie]

Originally Posted by BIG-L

What kind of problems are you having????

~Larry~

The interior lights quit working a little over a year ago. This circuit has a 10 amp fuse... which was blown when I checked it. I replaced the fuse but still no interior lights. So I turned the key to the on position (did not start the engine) and the fuse blew. Replaced the fuse again... same thing. I took the car to an automotive electrical shop who "specialize" in this sort of thing. They worked on it for about 1.5 hours... had the door panels off, center console out, checked the visors (lighted mirrors)... still couldn't find it. I told them to quit looking when he said he was getting ready to take the dash out.

Then there is the radio... which the volume goes up and down at will. But it sounds like this can be fixed by replacing the radio with an aftermarket unit according to kustomkid54... and if I want to keep the steering wheel mounted controls there is an attachment I believe that will allow that.

One more question for ya Big L... I replaced the rear rotors and pads approximately 1 year ago. They already need to be replaced... what pads are the best bang for my buck. I plan on replacing rotors and pads all the way around soon... but this time I want to get something that will last longer than 1 year.

[BIG-L]

The interior lights quit working a little over a year ago.

Do you have a sunroof ???

what pads are the best bang for my buck

Ive had great luck with the AC-Delco Durastops and they have been on the car for almost 4 years,about 30,000 miles.They are 42.45 shipped for the rear set part # 88909660.You can get them from www.gmpartsdirect.com


~Larry~

[Baugzie]

Originally Posted by BIG-L

Do you have a sunroof ???



Ive had great luck with the AC-Delco Durastops and they have been on the car for almost 4 years,about 30,000 miles.They are 42.45 shipped for the rear set part # 88909660.You can get them from www.gmpartsdirect.com


~Larry~

I do not have a sunroof...

AC-Delco Durastops... thanks Big L... same price for the fronts as well??

[BIG-L]

same price for the fronts as well??

They are the same price.The part # for the front's are 88909661.

Sorry that I cant help with the short,some have a short from a slight water leak from the sunroof.


~Larry~

[Baugzie]

Originally Posted by BIG-L

They are the same price.The part # for the front's are 88909661.

Sorry that I cant help with the short,some have a short from a slight water leak from the sunroof.


~Larry~

Thanks for all of your advice Larry... I appreciate it!

[Baugzie]

Originally Posted by kustomkid54

As far as your radio goes, I had a tech at GM said that the radio's are junk. He says they send out a stack every week for repair. Oh yea, they charge $260.00 to repair.
Fixed my display with a little help from Big-L. It's back to looking like everything is Korean. And the vol. goes up and down at will.
Buy an after market radio and get rid of that junk.
I don't know why there has never been a recall on them. They have known that thet were junk from the start.

So... the problem with the volume going up and down at will is a deal with the stereo head unit being junk and replacing this unit will resolve this problem?