Electrical Problems 2000 Silhouette

[Beachghost]

Hi

I have had a couple of strange electrical problems:

1. My cruise diengages when I turn on the signal light.
2. My brake lights stopped functioning
3. My fuel gauge is all over the place

I checked my lights and I found both bulb ends where they go into the sockets were melted for the brake light bulb only.

I cannot not find problem with cruise control.

Any suggestions are welcome, and any explanaton for melted lights also welcome.

[463]

i found this in the chev venture form (same van)

02-26-2007, 04:30 PM #4 cjstew4 vbmenu_register("postmenu_4639784", true);
AF Newbie


Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 80


Re: Brake lights out/cruise shuts off when changing lanes with turn signal???
Check to see that all your turn signals, running lights (orange lights up front) and brake lights work when activated and flash at normal speed. Could just need a bulb replacement. Those bulbs are known to look good, filaments are not broken, etc, but still need replacing. If rear brake lights do not work, but 3rd brake light (at top of hatch) works, could be a short or ground issue on one or both rear circuit bds. (tailight assemblies). Check fuse first of course, but probably a short. Make sure that your plug in harness connector hasn't shorted as well, as my 97's did. Both rear brake lights out, only third brake light on, as well as ABS and TCS idiot lights on. If you buy new cicrcuit bds only to solve your problem, goop weatherproof silicone caulk over the connection on both sides once you prove it works to prevent this shorting out from happening again. Design flaw by GM. Who would ever place any connection in the direct drain path of the rear hatch. The other option you have which costs about $5 is to label the harness wires that plug into the circuit board as to their location on the mating plug, cut the plug off the harness, attach connectors to each wire, cut down all 4 sides of the circuit bd plug about 3/8th to 1/2 in exposing the 5 pins. Be sure to clean off the shorted middle, thin prong/pin carefully. Attach the mating connector from the location markings you did earlier. Test the brakes, notice that your ABS/TCS dash lights are now out, and apply weatherproof silicone to the connections so that water, etc cannot collect at the harness or connections. The McGyver way, but my circuit has worked for over a year incident-free. Any questions, email me directly at [email protected]

['97ventureowner]

You also might find that solving the problem with your rear brake lights by repairing or replacing the boards, your problem with the cruise will also be solved. I discovered that while repairing my van, and talking with other owners, have discovered similar findings. Concerning your fuel gauge issue, there could be a number of causes. Some have reported certain fuel additives were causing problems, some have found the sending unit to be at fault, while some say other electrical problems have caused their fuel gauge to go haywire. A good read on the subject can be found here:http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ght=fuel+gauge
And if you have more time, go over to the Chevrolet Venture forum and enter "fuel gauge" in the "search this forum" box (upper right of page above first post,) and read over the results that come up.

[Older than dirt]

side slideing door light goes on during night---batery dead in morning ?????

[463]

Older than dirt : welcome to Automotive forms. Good news my son informed me when i told him that i was 3 days older than dirt, that dirt renewed it's self every 30 years, so i think i have apx 12 years to go to a 2nd full restoration. now about the dead battery, you said that the dome light was the battery drain. if you had the door closed as normal i would have a close look at the contacts on the sliding door and the door frame contacts to make sure that they a clean and move as they should. it might not hurt to check the rest of the door switches. to save the battery the van may have a over ride switch to shut off the dome lights till this is solved. to clean the slider contact points i used a fine sand paper #600 wet and dry then wipe clean and put a fine coat of dielectric grease on the contacts. for now 463.

[463]

more infro: haveacar
04-03-2006, 09:26 PM
Okay - I am embarrassed After going over the van again, I found that the dome light switch was on. I thought I had checked it but not good enough.
scooter72908
04-03-2006, 10:37 PM

boss44057, I have the same '99 van and had the same problem. I found the bottom door gasket (which is connected to the plastic threshold) had come loose, which causes the door to bind when the door was closing and would cause the door to open back up.