2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Really bizarre electrical gremlins

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Sunday since it was nice out I spent some time detailing my truck and hosed down the engine & underhood like I've done dozens of times before. Well the next day I discover more than a thing or two that's whacked out!



My power door locks quit working right. At first they would unlock but not lock with the Fob. If I use the door switch on either side they don't work at all. Today they totall quit working!



My EGT gauge whacked out. It just sits between 600-700F all the time.



My stereo is whacked too! When I turn it on only the speakers on the passenger side work, but after awhile the speaker on the driver's door starts fading in. The rear quad door one is totally dead.



I spent some time checking all the fuses and relays and they check out fine, both in the cab and at the PDC. I spent awhile trying to chase it down with no luck. I can't figure out a common thread to this. Like I say I've done this dozens of times before without one iota of trouble and it has me baffled why so many things went cuckoo at the same time. I think my truck is mad at me since I'm thinking about selling it for an '03



If anyone has any pointers I'd sure appreciate it.



Vaughn

 

[jmeehan]

This sounds like a tough one Vaughn.

I just woke up so I may babble a bit but I'll think out loud here.

Maybe a loose or wet connection from the PDC to the cab? Did any water from under the hood get through the firewall? Maybe a loose or wet drivers door connecter, that would mess with your stereo and door locks. Maybe your EGT thermocouple lead connecters have the same problem. That's all I can think of at the moment.

 

[Rman]

you've got to start pullin connectors and regreasing them. There's water somewhere where it shouldn't be. Washing an engine is a delicate issue nowadays. Computers and electronic devices don't like baths very much. I never hose down my motors, just a good wipe down and some compressed air.

 

[Dane]

Bummer Vaughn:{



99% of the time this is going to be caused by wet connectors. Problem is that there is a billion or so of them in the engine compartment.



I'd start by trying to blow water out of the connectors and fuse boxes with compressed air, starting with the PDC. Those connectors are fairly water tight, problem is that once water is in them, it stays there.



2nd, I'd try and find a whats in common on the schematic in the FSM to the stereo, door switches and whatever you wired the EGT gauge to.



If you hit something with air and you see water, take it apart and blast it with air and then spray it with WD40. You may not see water, but stuff may start working again, in that case take apart whatever things you blasted with air and spray WD40 on the contacts.



Don't overlook ground straps. They may have corrosion built up underneath and the water finished the job of creating a bad connection.



Good luck mi amigo

 

[illflem]

Something's weird here, I can understand water in the connections causing problems with everything but the stereo. Doesn't make sense, good luck

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks for the tips guys. Well it's pretty nice today so I may just take a long drive to air things out. It rained like the dickens yesterday which probably didn't help, plus I haven't driven very many miles since my little electrical calamity started.



I recently dielectric-pasted about every connector underhood but 'guess that doesn't always do the trick. I don't know about the PDC because I barely shot the hose on the passenger side of the engine compartment. I went pretty easy overall 'cause I didn't have the AFE covered up and used low pressure. That's what's weird about it.



Anyway I will keep y'all posted



Vaughn

 

[fmj]

Vaughn, remember that squeak you had, now you found it If nothing else works, pull off your grounds at both batteries and clean them up. I think you have a bad ground and the water probagated it. Worth a try.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Some of the wierdest electrical things I ever saw, were caused by a bad, broken or corroded body ground.