2000 LeSabre electrical system goes nuts!

[smcginn]

Help! My parent's 2000 LeSabre has suddenly started displaying several bizarre symptoms.

The car works fine in the city but on their last highway trip the cruise control suddenly died. Then, simultaneously, the airbag and security centre warning lights (and chime) went off, the clock display disappeared and the dash lights dimmed. I think the check engine light also came on. Shortly thereafter, everything cleared and the car ran normally -- the clock even returned with the correct time. A few minutes later the cycle would repeat. If they stopped the car and turned it off, everything would be fine for about 10 minutes after they restarted it, then the cycle started again.

They limped home and since then, the car has been fine for short trips around the city. Does anybody have any ideas? I'd like to arm them with a bit of knowledge before they take in into a garage.

Scott

[garageman]

I have had the same problem with my wife's Buick for the last year. I have checked the grounds by the passanger door and had a new key ignition installed. The check engine light comes on but no codes read -it just turns on like the serurity, traction, etc lights. I have noticed that the car still runs and is dependable. It has been at two dealers for 2 weeks each for the problem with no solutions. It is intesting to note that it only acts up when the voltage dropes to below14.5. Any change in voltage (up or down) seems to set thing off. My wife gave me her car for a month or two for me to find the problem. Will keep you posted of my attempts and hopeful solutions.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by smcginn

Help! My parent's 2000 LeSabre has suddenly started displaying several bizarre symptoms.
The car works fine in the city but on their last highway trip the cruise control suddenly died. Then, simultaneously, the airbag and security centre
Scott

I assume that battery is new or has been replaced. Cables checked closely for contact, and connections all checked for power and ground cables?

Battery could have a cracked post or bad cell causing something like this.

[garageman]

Originally Posted by imidazol97

I assume that battery is new or has been replaced. Cables checked closely for contact, and connections all checked for power and ground cables?

Battery could have a cracked post or bad cell causing something like this.

I did check the battery voltage for a period before and during an "act" and saw no difference in voltage at the battery terminals. My conclusion at the time was the battery was ok.

[93buicklesabrelmtd]

Get the Alternator scanned. See if its charging correctly. Also double check the grounds.

[smcginn]

Originally Posted by imidazol97

I assume that battery is new or has been replaced. Cables checked closely for contact, and connections all checked for power and ground cables?

Battery could have a cracked post or bad cell causing something like this.

The car still has the original battery but I think a mechanic did take a look at the connections.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by smcginn

Help! My parent's 2000 LeSabre has suddenly started displaying several bizarre symptoms.

The car works fine in the city but on their last highway trip the cruise control suddenly died. Then, simultaneously, the airbag and security centre warning lights (and chime) went off, the clock display disappeared and the dash lights dimmed. I think the check engine light also came on. Shortly thereafter, everything cleared and the car ran normally -- the clock even returned with the correct time. A few minutes later the cycle would repeat. If they stopped the car and turned it off, everything would be fine for about 10 minutes after they restarted it, then the cycle started again.

They limped home and since then, the car has been fine for short trips around the city. Does anybody have any ideas? I'd like to arm them with a bit of knowledge before they take in into a garage.

Scott

Scott

I had a ground problem on my 97 where my dome lights dimed when the power locks were used, the starter didn't act like it had full power, the check engine and ABS lights would come on for a bit, and finally the car died when I held the power window switch on too long when putting the window up. After hunting around for a while I came across a ground near the battery that looked corroded. I took the bolt out, cleaned the wires up, put it back together and the car started up. The starter had more kick, and the dome lights didn't dim with the power lock use.

I hope this may help.

Regards

Dan

[jgeorg]

My father-in-law's 02 had trouble with gas guage, abs light, traction and the lighter kept blowing fuses. He took to the dealer. The ground on the fuse box had loosened and compromised the connection. It's located on the right side of the engine compartment (if you're sitting in the car). Make sure the ground nut hasn't lossened. It could save you $367.00 and 4 hours at the dealer doing all kinds of tests. Good luck

Jerry

[garageman]

I was wondering if you had ever resolved the problem and what the final cause was. I am still having the same problem about half the time I use the car but still no solutions from any garage.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by garageman

I was wondering if you had ever resolved the problem and what the final cause was. I am still having the same problem about half the time I use the car but still no solutions from any garage.

Garageman

Have you checked the suggestions that were offedered in this thread?

Dan

[garageman]

All of them. The only thing I haven't done is open the fuse box in the engine compartment to check the ground connections inside. I looked at the box and it didn't look like it was easy to open the box to check the inside connections hidden under the fuses.

[evolakos]

I have a 2000 Buick LeSabre Custom that had the same problems, door chimes went out, radio would come on, then go out, the dash would go blank... I found a great mechanic who discovered it was a cracked fuse box under the rear seat near the battery. He also found a used replacement, which saved us $$$ I could not even see the crack in the original fuse box, but the replacement has worked for over a year now.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by garageman

All of them. The only thing I haven't done is open the fuse box in the engine compartment to check the ground connections inside. I looked at the box and it didn't look like it was easy to open the box to check the inside connections hidden under the fuses.

It opens up easily. I have to go look at mine, but I don't recall any difficulty or tricks to opening it.

[kram5527]

My 96 was also having a problem, and it turned out to be a corroded battery connection.

When you are doing voltage measurments PLEASE find a good chassis ground and use it as a reference.
1. check the negative terminal of the battery against this ground, the voltage differential MUST be 0 volts.
2. check the positive terminal of the battery, both without the vehicle running and the vehicle running and under load. The voltage shoudl be ~13.7 to 13.9 not running and ~14.4 running.
3. Find an live open terminal in the fuse box(es) and test the voltage under load, it should be 14.4V.
4. bad connections show themselves as the system experiences high loads and shows up as a voltage deviation from 14.4 (as long as the engine is running at sufficient RPM).

[Bassasasin]

Bad grounds can cause alot of wierd stuff.. Unfortunately finding them takes some research...
I had bucking and stalling fantom stalls, wierd panel dash indicators and good restarts after a brief cooling period.. Only remaining code was the camshaft code... turned out to be Crankshaft position sensor.. seems they are on the same return line.. to the Ignition module.