A while ago I wrote a thread regarding some issues I was having with my 03 SS. Thank you to all who offered advice. As a quick FYI, I replaced the MAF and the majority of the codes I was getting have disappeared.

I still have one weird problem with my Monte that I have NO IDEA what's causing it. For some reason - and at VERY random times - my dashboard goes nuts. All of a sudden, all of the gauges EXCEPT the speedometer flip to zero (RPM, voltometer, gas gauge, temp gauge and oil pressure). When this happens, the message center pops up with the red battery light, the seatbelt light comes on, and the check engine light comes on. The odometer doesn't change, and the car doesn't hesitate or anything when this happens - just the gauges go bananas, nothing else. Does anyone know what might be causing this?! It's freaky and I've taken to calling her "Spawn of the Devil" and claiming she's possessed. This was happening fairly regularly up until a few months ago when I replaced the air idle valve - like, every 500 miles or so - and now it's done it twice in the past 6 weeks or so. I have NO CLUE what is going on!

Also...my radio doesn't work. The clock and the station information comes up, but there is no sound. Before the radio completely died, whenever I would open or shut the driver's side door, the speakers would crackle - even if the key wasn't in the ignition. I know my amp is shot, but what else could be the problem?!

Lastly...does ANYONE know where I can get a replacement passenger's side door for my model from without paying a fortune? I've looked all over in my area (Central NY), checked RockAuto.com, and even tried posting on the net (don't remember where) looking for one. I got one offer on a used door (they never e-mailed me pics), and another who would give me a quote if I gave them my VIN#, which I refuse to do just for a quote. I kind of caved in my passenger's side door one morning on my way to work when I cut the turn out of my driveway too short and 'had words' with a decorative Japanese maple tree. It's starting to rust along the rocker panel and I'd like to replace it ASAP.

So, if anyone knows why my dash goes psycho, why my radio may not work (aside from the amp being shot), or where I can get a door cheap, PLEASE let me know!!!

BTW - keep your fingers crossed that the fourth time I take her back for a reinspect all of the systems in the computer come back clean...she currently has a catalyst system and evap system not ready and won't pass!

ArcherGirlCordner

 

For the dash panel problems with the spedos and stuff sounds like your BCM, mine was doing the same thing and sometimes it wouldn't even start! The dealer put in a new one for me, it was about 285 for everything. It is pretty scary when that happens while your driving!

As for the radio, I have to clue. But I'm sure someone on here knows! Check your local craigslist for a door, usually pretty cheap on there if there is any!

Good LucK!

 

Dash i have seen pirry much the same issue on a dodge van where the ground in the engine bay, was not making full contact, to me sound like a bad conection somewhere,

radio if your amp is toast probably start there replace the amp and you may have sound,

door car-parts.com searches used parts of a large aray of junk yards, i have seen them for about $200 on there complete

 

My first guess on the dash/radio issues is a bad ground (especially the dash issues). It's odd the speedo is unaffected, but the rest of it sounds like the power was reset to it.

 

Thank you, everyone! I truly appreciate all of your input.

I know for a fact that it's not my BCM...I took her to a Chevy dealer to have them verify if that was the problem when I had other issues going on with her, and they said there was nothing wrong with the BCM; she kicked out 4 other codes, though, and since replacing the MAF sensor, they all went away (one was a bad MAF, two were gas tank related and one was a transmission code). The only code she's coughed up recently was P0440, and we're PRETTY SURE it was the gas cap since the gasket was really cracked and rotted...we replaced that.

I don't know why I didn't think about a bad ground! My husband said he thought I had a bad ground that was causing the issue with the speakers crackling back before the radio completely died since that started happening after I had words with that tree, but I never put two and two together to come up with a bad ground causing the dash to go schizo.

I guess the only question left is where that bad ground may be. Like I said, my husband (who's pretty good with cars) thinks I may have knocked a ground loose when I hit that tree, but I don't think a ground on the passenger's side would cause the dash issue. I'm guessing it's probably on the driver's side? Does anyone have a schematic of the wiring system for an 03 Monte Carlo SS? If you know where I can find one, or if you have one, please let me know...if I can look at a schematic, I may be able to isolate which ground is the problem.

Thank you again for your help!!!

 

Go out to the engine bay and clean the ground that goes from the battery to the body. There is a TSB on it. Let us know what happens.

 

I'd start with looking around where the damage was done by hitting the tree, see if there are any grounds and if you had a body shop do any repairs, they may have disconnected a ground but not completely tightened it back up. I just had the entire dash out of my Monte, the dash has 3 ground points. Two reall close (to about the between the steering column and the radio) and another near the HVAC controls. NOW, I don't know which grounds feed what.

 

Awesome, awesome, guys...thank you! I will definitely check the ground aussiek mentioned.

My husband said something about taking apart the dash and checking things out as well, Maniac, so we'll also do that since whomever tinkered with the car before I bought her apparently monkeyed around behind the dash (you can tell because the dash pieces aren't flush where they meet on the left side of the middle air vents).

I did not have the passenger side door fixed...I thought it would be stupid to file a claim since it was my own stupidity that it happened, plus I was totally broke when it happened LOL My husband said something about a possible loose ground on that side as well, so I'll have to spend some time crawling around inside the car checking things out...provided it stops raining!

Thank you all, once again! I'll let you know what I find out after I do some digging around. Keep your fingers crossed....the check engine light didn't come back on so I'm hoping she'll FINALLY pass the emissions portion of her inspection today!

 

Best of luck and hopefully your gremlin problem is found