I'm having an electrical problem with my 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo!! I am really hoping that one of you have seen/heard of this demonic behavior before and can help me out. I am recently unemployed and am trying to do a little legwork ...to find what might be a solution without getting soaked by a garage! I didn't get an owner's manual with my car, so I have absolutely no idea what fuses/relays etc. are where and what they control. (I've been trying to download a user's manual - but have not had luck finding one for free )
I started hearing clicking sounds coming from my fuse panels, to which I was able to pinpoint to relays. Here goes......The relay on the driver side would click ONLY when you had the car in REVERSE...if I put it in neutral or any other gear....it stopped. (Stereo display flashed when this happened) This relay, where I found the noise coming from, is behind the enclosed box that has wiring leading to it...in the drivers side fuse panel. Within approx a week....the passenger side fuse panel (relay) started clicking as well, BUT it does it non-stop - doesn't matter what gear I'm in. While this short-circuit/spaz attack is happening, I discovered that my reverse lights and headlights were flashing with the same pattern as the sporadic clicking... it won't not stop even though the car is shut off... UNTIL my daytime running lights time out.
It only used to happen IF and WHEN it was really hot out.... however, that does not seem to be a factor anymore. It will not do it ALL the time/from the same side, but it's increasing to multiple episodes daily. Only once has it happened, that both sides have acted up @ the same time.
I had an after-market Command Start installed in Dec/07, (x-mas gift from parents) and my local GM/Chev dealership (sure that the command start is THE problem) didn't want to even book my car in... until I had the command start not only disconnected, BUT totally removed! Well....I had it removed...all connections checked thoroughly. THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM! I have replaced 1 relay (passenger side), which did not solve the problem either. I have had it to a trustworthy/efficient (old school) mechanic (not a GM/Chev dealership)..but without technology/manual/etc, (and he has never worked on a Monte this new)..he isn't sure what is causing this demonic behavior. He removed the relay from my passenger side fuse panel (the one that I had already replaced) and the problem stopped on the passenger side. (Which was a temp fix so I could nurse it home and the lesser of the two evils-at least it stopped the reverse lights from going wonky while I drove).
I have been told the following:

For the headlights and the back up lights to be doing that, then the BCM is freaking out. You might try unplugging it and plugging it back in a few times to try to make sure the connectors are clean. (Can I do this w/o being @ a dealership to have it reprogrammed?)

Replace the ECU.This is the only solution.

Sounds like the BCM(body control module)is faulty. Computer located under pass.side dash right side. I have replaced quite a few. It needs to be programmed once installed.

I'm curious to know if this would be an after affect/direct result... from installing a command start??? (Installed 18 months ago - well over a year before any possession symptoms) ** It is my understanding that car alarms systems/command start/ etc. are run through the BCM. Does this mean that the company that installed my command start would be responsible for the repair/replacement???? Guess I don't want to have GM/Chev tell me it's a command start installation issue after ringing up a hefty bill.


HELP.... anyone?

 

i doubt it is the fault of the remote start. It could indeed be a bad BCM though. that does happen.

did you or your mechanic look and see what those relays actually control that were cycling like that??

 

I haven't found out yet - had to end up picking my car up after hours and have not touched base with mechanic yet.... like I said, I didn't get an owner's manual with my car, and am having problems finding the info! I'm not an avid PC user these past few years....I keep running into dead ends with the time I do have to get on here.