where to start =(
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 34
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From: TEXAS
where to start =( Well I have a 98 vert trans am. Here is the problem. Last week when I went to work in the morning the car was fine. That afternoon wehen I left I noticed my fogs didn't turn on when I unlocked the car. I put the key in and all the warning lights turned on fine all the needles worked. My radio did not turn on. My trunk release doesn't want to work. I try to turn on my lights so I can have tail lights to drive at night and they don't work either. Brake lights and signal lights work fine. Also my miles aren't showing. The little box glows but no miles show. What could this be?? I already checked all the fuses and they are fine... all comments welcome.
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County, NJ
First question I always ask is have you done anything to the car recently?
Next whenever you're dealing with electrical issues, start by removing both battery terminals and thoroughly cleaning and tightening.
The items you describe are mostly controlled by the BCM - located behind the glove box - the connector is on the bottom. Rmove the cover under the dash in the passenger footwell and check those connectors.
Let us know.
Next whenever you're dealing with electrical issues, start by removing both battery terminals and thoroughly cleaning and tightening.
The items you describe are mostly controlled by the BCM - located behind the glove box - the connector is on the bottom. Rmove the cover under the dash in the passenger footwell and check those connectors.
Let us know.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 34
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From: TEXAS
I've changed the battery for a redtop. I got a new alternator. A fog light hid kit and that's about it for the recent stuff. Ill check the connectors tommorow and ill keep you posted thanks for the help..
That sounds like a BCM problem if I've ever heard one. Check it at the solder points. There's many a thread stating they crack over time. Usually you just reheat the solder where its cracked and its good as new.
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Can you give us more info about the fog light kit? Did you do any wire splicing? Can you turn them on with the fog light switch?
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Teching In
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 34
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From: TEXAS
The fog lights are just a plug and play kit. No cutting or anything. The light on the switch doesn't turn on. When I turn the awitch to the fog light option nothing turns on. the second turn turn the headlights on but when I turn the headlights off and leave it on the fog light switch the headlights close. They should stay up just turn off but they don't. I unplugged the radio and fogs and still nothing...
Can you be more specific about what works and does not work? The thread is a bit confusing.
How do the headlight doors function?
Do the headlight bulbs work?
Do the tail light bulbs work?
Does the radio play sound at all? Is it just the lights that don't work or is everything on the radio dead?
How do the headlight doors function?
Do the headlight bulbs work?
Do the tail light bulbs work?
Does the radio play sound at all? Is it just the lights that don't work or is everything on the radio dead?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 34
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From: TEXAS
Radio is completly dead no sound at all. Headlights work fine. Tail lights only work when I press the brake put my hazards on or signal a turn. My headlight open and close fine. I replaced the driver side motor a while back cuz it was grinding. I checked everything under/behind the glove box everything is ok on tight nothing broken or loose
I would attempt reseating the gauge cluster if you havent aready. I know the mileage is recorded and held in the cluster itself. There was also a TSB for 98-99 gaugeclusters cycling the needes and flashing the tripmeter. Although it wouldnt do anything with the actual mileage of the car though. That is pretty damn weird though, your going to have to do some real ripping apart to get to chasing wires possibly. I do know that the tail lights run in parrellel so if one goes they both do. I dont have my diagram on me but I will take a look when I get home tomorrow. I dont remember the tail lights and gauge cluster even being tapped into each other at all and are on their own circuit. Wish you luck til then.
These circuits are pretty isolated. Are you sure everything went bad at the same time?
How are is your rear defogger, power seats, steering wheel controls, instrument panel dimming function, HAVC blower motor, DRL lamps?
You said that your hatch button isn't working either, right?
Have you done any wiring work behind the dashboard?
How are is your rear defogger, power seats, steering wheel controls, instrument panel dimming function, HAVC blower motor, DRL lamps?
You said that your hatch button isn't working either, right?
Have you done any wiring work behind the dashboard?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 34
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From: TEXAS
No never done anything behind the dash. The morning it happened everything was good and 8 hours later nothing worked. My rear defogger is not used cuz I replaced the back window 2 years ago for a plastic one. Power seat works, idk if the stearing controls won't light up. The dimmer works when I turn on the rear view mirror light only( when I put the dimmer all the way to the top). The trunk release button is not working. All you hear is. Click coming from the button but that's it.
What's the havc blower motor??
What's the havc blower motor??
I think you are going to need to trace things electrically one by one. I can't figure out what would be common between the driving lights, hatch release, fog lights and radio.
It would surprise me if the BCM is at fault since you can't manually turn on any of these components.
It would surprise me if the BCM is at fault since you can't manually turn on any of these components.
Pick any one and you'll need to trace the wires with a multi-meter. If you haven't done this before, you'll need some help or will need to take it to someone to have the tracing done.