10-07-2007, 11:29 PM
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#1
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The Founder
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rutgers, NJ
Posts: 6,505
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Some wierd issues
I'm trying to figure out what the heck is happening with my alero. I have had a bunch of wierd issues lately, and I think they must all be somehow related.
First, and most importantly, my passenger side headlight seems to randomly not go on when I turn my car or just the lights on. The siginals still work, and when this happens, the high beam bulbs come on as if they're in DRL mode... they're dimmer than normal, but the low beam on my driver side is on fine. When this happens, also the passenger side low beam comes on very faintly. Every time this happens, I get a Service Vehicle Soon light.
Secondly, I've been having some issues with my low tire pressure light come on. No other dummy lights come on when this happens, and my tires are at full pressure. I just reset the dummy light when I stop, but it has happened a couple of times over the last few days.
Lastly, tonight on my way home from my in laws, my siginals stopped working for about 30 minutes on the highway. This is not the first time this has happened.... as I can remember at least 3 other times this has occured. It started working again before I got home.
Any ideas what could be causing these strange issues?
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10-07-2007, 11:31 PM
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#2
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V.I.P. Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: northern wisconsin
Posts: 2,428
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when the signals stop working hit the hazard switch a few times... (that's where the relay is and it's prolly going bad) that's my .02
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10-07-2007, 11:42 PM
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Long Grove, IL
Posts: 5,002
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check and make sure the splice pack for the grounds is securely attached to the body.. I had my drivers side get a little corroded and it made the signal mess up as if the bulb were out.
__________________
Cliff Scott
2004 Alero GX w/sport pkg - Sold, living somewhere in WI now.
2011 Saab 9-5 Turbo4 M6
2004 Corvette Convertible M6
1994 Chevy Beretta - Quad4/M5
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10-08-2007, 03:22 AM
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#4
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GLS member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fairfax, VA
Posts: 3,505
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splice pack(ill bet this) or melted harness(es)(mine blew the fuse)?
hub?
hazard switch
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10-08-2007, 06:57 AM
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#5
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The Founder
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rutgers, NJ
Posts: 6,505
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Where is the splice pack, and what does it look like? I suck at electric wiring lol.
Any help would be appreciated, and thanks for the help already provided.
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10-08-2007, 10:32 AM
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#6
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GL Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 267
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its on the drivers side inner fender, near the electrical box. Its a little black box with a bunch of black wires feeding into it. I've had mine all apart, and its easy to clean, if necessary.
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10-08-2007, 10:44 AM
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#7
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Owner
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 19,932
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i have the same headlight issue as you Nick and i have yet to find the problem. It wasn't the split pack or melted harness on mine. so good luck. let me know if you find out the problem. I am sure it is an easy fix once the problem part is found.
__________________
72 442 "THE BEAST", 99 Alero - OSV Replica w/ original OSV parts, HURST Dual/Gate Shifter
Beware of the BackStabber
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10-08-2007, 10:49 AM
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#8
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GX Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 123
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Hey Bud,
It sounds like you may have a "hot" wiring harness in one of your headlight bulbs.
Check to see if any of the prongs have widened and if your harness hass melted or not. If this problem doesn't happen at night, then it's your highbeams. etc..
try that
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10-08-2007, 12:53 PM
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Long Grove, IL
Posts: 5,002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Naich
Where is the splice pack, and what does it look like? I suck at electric wiring lol.
Any help would be appreciated, and thanks for the help already provided.
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There's quite a few of them actually. I believe there's one on the passenger side too. But the drivers side one is easy to see so you know what you're looking for. It looks like an electrical connector with a handful of wires connected to it and it's just screwed to the body.
__________________
Cliff Scott
2004 Alero GX w/sport pkg - Sold, living somewhere in WI now.
2011 Saab 9-5 Turbo4 M6
2004 Corvette Convertible M6
1994 Chevy Beretta - Quad4/M5
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02-19-2008, 02:41 PM
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#10
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The Founder
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rutgers, NJ
Posts: 6,505
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Bump.
Ok, so I have been lazy and havn't taken care of these issues. My headlight problem isn't my harnesses, because I replaced the headlights (one was cracked anyway), and I still have the issue. The only thing else I can think of is that when I installed my HID's back in the day, I cut the wires that plug into the headlights. I have used a metallic fastener thing that you crimp on, as well as a lot of electrical tape. But I think I can do a better job. However, the wires look kind of brittle now. Anybody know the part numbers to replace these plugs? Is that something you can even buy? Maybe I would be better chopping them off a junker.
Anyway, other question is how hard is it to replace the relay? Do I have to take apart the dash board? The siginals work like 70% of the time, but I'm sick of having to hit my hazzards.
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02-19-2008, 03:53 PM
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#11
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3500 DONE!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 5,915
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Naich
First, and most importantly, my passenger side headlight seems to randomly not go on when I turn my car or just the lights on. The siginals still work, and when this happens, the high beam bulbs come on as if they're in DRL mode... they're dimmer than normal, but the low beam on my driver side is on fine. When this happens, also the passenger side low beam comes on very faintly. Every time this happens, I get a Service Vehicle Soon light.
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Could be a high resistance in the wires going to the passenger side. Check the wires and make sure there arent any cuts in the wire. You should also use a voltmeter and check the voltage of the wires. If the light comes on very faintly, its usually high resistance.
__________________
2002 3400 & 3500 GL "Ruby"-->R.I.P. 163k. My first car. Put 130k on her.
2000 3500 GLS "Robin"-->Intake,Headers,Exhaust,H&R springs,KYB AGX,Sway bars,Strut bars and more
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02-19-2008, 03:55 PM
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#12
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3500 DONE!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 5,915
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Naich
Bump.
Ok, so I have been lazy and havn't taken care of these issues. My headlight problem isn't my harnesses, because I replaced the headlights (one was cracked anyway), and I still have the issue. The only thing else I can think of is that when I installed my HID's back in the day, I cut the wires that plug into the headlights. I have used a metallic fastener thing that you crimp on, as well as a lot of electrical tape. But I think I can do a better job. However, the wires look kind of brittle now. Anybody know the part numbers to replace these plugs? Is that something you can even buy? Maybe I would be better chopping them off a junker.
Anyway, other question is how hard is it to replace the relay? Do I have to take apart the dash board? The siginals work like 70% of the time, but I'm sick of having to hit my hazzards.
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well, i didnt read the thread when i posted, but if you used electrical tape, that could be the problem. Moisture probably got under the tape and the wire started to corrode. You should have used shrink wrap!! heh. I would go take off all the electrical tape, and the metallic fastener and check the wires.....
__________________
2002 3400 & 3500 GL "Ruby"-->R.I.P. 163k. My first car. Put 130k on her.
2000 3500 GLS "Robin"-->Intake,Headers,Exhaust,H&R springs,KYB AGX,Sway bars,Strut bars and more
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02-19-2008, 04:13 PM
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#13
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The Founder
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rutgers, NJ
Posts: 6,505
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The wires are corroded a bit. But the cut is so close to the harness that I'm screwed now... i need new harnesses. Does anybody know the part number?
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02-19-2008, 05:26 PM
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#14
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GX Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 37
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i have had the same thing with the turn signal would blink once then not at all got it checked out and it was a short in the turn signal switch had to replace that ....had no problems since then ...i think it was about $80.00 and took about 20 minutes or so to replace ....because the cruse control and the blinkers are on one switch....
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02-20-2008, 08:47 AM
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#15
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The Founder
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rutgers, NJ
Posts: 6,505
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Well, here's the update.
Today, car goes into the tint shop to get the tint removed from front windows.
Tomorrow, I will go to a junk yard to try to salvage some headligth wiring harnesses.
Monday, I have a scheduled appointment with the caddy dealer to fix my hazzards under recall. If my headlights don't work by Monday, then I'll have the dealer try to fix them too.
After that, its on to inspection next tuesday or wednesday.
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02-20-2008, 09:09 AM
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#16
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GLS member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: dayton, ohio
Posts: 1,100
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billytheman1188
Could be a high resistance in the wires going to the passenger side. Check the wires and make sure there arent any cuts in the wire. You should also use a voltmeter and check the voltage of the wires. If the light comes on very faintly, its usually high resistance.
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sounds like you learned a few things in your automotive electrical class.
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02-20-2008, 09:30 AM
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#17
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The Founder
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rutgers, NJ
Posts: 6,505
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I just dropped Ruby off at the tint shop, that is also a shop that installs systems. I told the guy about my headlight problem, and he says that he will test it for me with a voltmeter and fix the harnesses for me if thats the problem. If not, he'll find the problem. So that's good.
I am not good with wiring at all, so I would rather just pay sombody to do it for me at this point.
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02-20-2008, 09:33 AM
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#18
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They call me 8 point!!
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 12,209
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Did you get busted for your tint or are you just tired of it? You said you were taking it off the front.
__________________
R.I.P. Dennis J. Willis July 14, 1977 - Jan 19, 2007
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02-20-2008, 09:38 AM
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#19
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The Founder
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rutgers, NJ
Posts: 6,505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doubleN0alero
Did you get busted for your tint or are you just tired of it? You said you were taking it off the front.
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I have to pass inspection (its a year overdue now). I got pulled over and got nailed for tint and no inspection. Its my 4th tint ticket. I have no points on my license, and have never had a moving violation (knock on wood) but the tint has cost me $600 in tickets so far. Every time I've been pulled over it's been for tint. So, off it goes. I've gotta get the car back in drivable condition. I feel like its falling apart on me lately and I'm too nervous to drive it anywhere.
I need the car to last me another 8 months to a year... so at this point, the less the headaches the better.
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02-20-2008, 02:55 PM
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#20
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3500 DONE!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 5,915
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankTheTank
sounds like you learned a few things in your automotive electrical class.
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yeap, ive learned the most in that class than any other one.....so far. heh.
__________________
2002 3400 & 3500 GL "Ruby"-->R.I.P. 163k. My first car. Put 130k on her.
2000 3500 GLS "Robin"-->Intake,Headers,Exhaust,H&R springs,KYB AGX,Sway bars,Strut bars and more
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