Sorry because of the length but I have searched for answers and maybe can answer some questions for others and find some for me.
First the problems.
1. I lost speedometer and fuel gauge.
2. Vehicle would not start without trying several times. Fuses were OK. Starter OK. Battery good.
3. At times, all gauges went off and all instrument lights would come on. At the same time, windows, Door locks, and radio quit working.
Steps to repair.
I removed the instrument panel and replaced all the stepper motors. This correct problem #1.
Still had the problem with #2 and #3,, so I checked all fuses and relays. The problem would come and go at steady times like an automatic breaker tripping from an overload and them re-setting. I also noticed that when a bump was hit, it would go off and then come back on when I hit another bump. While standing outside the vehicle, I leaned in to look at the instruments and applied weight on the seat and everything started working. I hit the seat with my hand and everything went off. Each time the seat was hit, the condition changed. My solution was this. There are 2 electrical plugs on the front of the seat. One is the power including data line and the other is the yellow air bag plug. I unplugged the seat plug only and everything started working. This indicated to me that the problem was in the seat. How did that effect the instruments? I think that it was killing the data line either by short or open connection. I ohmed all wires from connection to connection. Everything checked good. I removed the seat Module and since it is only snapped together, I opened it up. There is 4 plugs on the module. One of the plugs has 2 power inputs, a ground and a data line. I found a line around 1 power and the ground prong on the circuit board. I re-soldered the prongs and replaced and re-plugged everything. Now all the original problems are repaired.
Now the new problem. Sometime during all the checks and looking for the solutions, the DIC quit working. The Instrument panel is getting the signals from the stearing wheel switches but I can't locate any schematic's on the instrument board. Can anybody point me in the right direction?
My thoughts about how the computers work and please correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe it will help some people that are having a problem and can't find a solution.
The engine computer and the body computer talk back and forth. When you try to start your engine, the ECM checks the BCM to compare the VIN number. If it doesn't see it or its different, the ECM will not let the starter engage. Seat and Door modules can also cause a problem on the data line so that the ECM and BCM can't commuicate causing a no start. If you unplug a module and it will start, the problem could be in the module. Do not unplug the ECM and BCM as they have to be able to communicate in order for the starter to work. Of course the fuses and relays have to be good. My point is that a bad door module or seat module can give you a problem on the data line that can effect a lot of things on the vehicle that could be over looked. Radio, instruments, locks, windows, etc. Again, this is my thought, not a fact. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Now back to my DIC problem. My thought on it is that the data line must be OK if the trouble lights and gauges in the instrument panel are working so that the problem with the DIC being dead has to be on the board itself. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.
Sorry for the length but I hope that this helps someone else.;
First the problems.
1. I lost speedometer and fuel gauge.
2. Vehicle would not start without trying several times. Fuses were OK. Starter OK. Battery good.
3. At times, all gauges went off and all instrument lights would come on. At the same time, windows, Door locks, and radio quit working.
Steps to repair.
I removed the instrument panel and replaced all the stepper motors. This correct problem #1.
Still had the problem with #2 and #3,, so I checked all fuses and relays. The problem would come and go at steady times like an automatic breaker tripping from an overload and them re-setting. I also noticed that when a bump was hit, it would go off and then come back on when I hit another bump. While standing outside the vehicle, I leaned in to look at the instruments and applied weight on the seat and everything started working. I hit the seat with my hand and everything went off. Each time the seat was hit, the condition changed. My solution was this. There are 2 electrical plugs on the front of the seat. One is the power including data line and the other is the yellow air bag plug. I unplugged the seat plug only and everything started working. This indicated to me that the problem was in the seat. How did that effect the instruments? I think that it was killing the data line either by short or open connection. I ohmed all wires from connection to connection. Everything checked good. I removed the seat Module and since it is only snapped together, I opened it up. There is 4 plugs on the module. One of the plugs has 2 power inputs, a ground and a data line. I found a line around 1 power and the ground prong on the circuit board. I re-soldered the prongs and replaced and re-plugged everything. Now all the original problems are repaired.
Now the new problem. Sometime during all the checks and looking for the solutions, the DIC quit working. The Instrument panel is getting the signals from the stearing wheel switches but I can't locate any schematic's on the instrument board. Can anybody point me in the right direction?
My thoughts about how the computers work and please correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe it will help some people that are having a problem and can't find a solution.
The engine computer and the body computer talk back and forth. When you try to start your engine, the ECM checks the BCM to compare the VIN number. If it doesn't see it or its different, the ECM will not let the starter engage. Seat and Door modules can also cause a problem on the data line so that the ECM and BCM can't commuicate causing a no start. If you unplug a module and it will start, the problem could be in the module. Do not unplug the ECM and BCM as they have to be able to communicate in order for the starter to work. Of course the fuses and relays have to be good. My point is that a bad door module or seat module can give you a problem on the data line that can effect a lot of things on the vehicle that could be over looked. Radio, instruments, locks, windows, etc. Again, this is my thought, not a fact. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Now back to my DIC problem. My thought on it is that the data line must be OK if the trouble lights and gauges in the instrument panel are working so that the problem with the DIC being dead has to be on the board itself. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.
Sorry for the length but I hope that this helps someone else.;
