Electronics Malfunction....Need Some Problem Solving

[BSP10]

Over the past month as I start my car I get this failure cluster at start up. As I drive the failures go away and most of the time the wrench stays on. When I turn off the car and turn it on, or I go somewhere and get back in the lights don't come up. it seems to be sporadic, and usually happens with a start up in the morning.

I took it into the dealership...they said there was a cable lose with the control module. They fixed that. Test drove it, and when I went to go pick it up....the lights came on again. After keeping it another couple of days they think they have fixed it. Here is the issue. They are saying "after market" wires are could be causing the issue. There is nothing I have that is connected to the control module. All my aftermarket items are connected to the Aux switches or the battery itself. Unfortunately this stuff was already done when I bought it...so I am really figuring it all out as I go.

Here is what I have connected to the battery

- Aftermarket Sub/amps
- ****** Radar
- Hand Held radio in the console

All my lights, etc are hooked up to the Aux swathes.

I am new at this, so I apologize for my ignorance. Here is my question why would any of those items interfere with the control module or car CPU to cause this issue? It appears they are running straight from the battery to power the item with no integration to the Control module or CPU.

Any ideas on what could be causing this, or a better way to hook things up so the aftermarket items wont cause this in the future if in fact they are the cause? Any insight would be appreciated.

here are some screen shots of the malfunction alerts

 

[Jughead]

I would get those type warnings in my corvette....turned out I needed a new battery.

 

[smurfslayer]

I presume you’re setting DTC’s here, you can pull the codes with a reader or get / use FORSCAN which allows you to make a printout. listing all the codes will assist for sure. How is your battery health? a couple of quick checks you can do to see if the truck thinks there’s a battery issue
- for 802a trucks, try the passenger side unlock by putting your hand behind the door handle. if it unlocks as normal, the battery should be ok, assuming nobody messed with the battery management system in forscan
- once your truck is warmed up, ensure auto stop start is not disabled and see if the truck shuts off at a stop sign or stop light. The driver’s menu has an option to display this function. if it doesn’t engage it will give you a reason why

Have you traced the wiring to make sure previous owner did not tap into something connected to one of the major modules in the truck? The lights are pretty easy to validate, what about the radar detector and radio?


I think you’re saying that

After keeping it another couple of days they think they have fixed it. Here is the issue. They are saying "after market" wires are could be causing the issue. There is nothing I have that is connected to the control module

I think you need to be sure there’s actually nothing tapped into or tied to anything that could interface with any of the truck modules first, just in case. In other words, make sure you know, not that you think you know. If you can confirm this, then the stealership should engage to assist.

If you find something tapped into or tied to a harness wire, or accessory that attaches to a harness, that could be a thing. Those wires are notoriously thin, easy to damage so easy to cause trouble. I’d remove any accessories like this one at a time and retest until you were ‘clear’.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

wheres the power for the radio and turn on for them amps? thats the only wires i see that could cause a problem depending on where they are connected

 

[BSP10]

I presume you’re setting DTC’s here, you can pull the codes with a reader or get / use FORSCAN which allows you to make a printout. listing all the codes will assist for sure. How is your battery health? a couple of quick checks you can do to see if the truck thinks there’s a battery issue
- for 802a trucks, try the passenger side unlock by putting your hand behind the door handle. if it unlocks as normal, the battery should be ok, assuming nobody messed with the battery management system in forscan
- once your truck is warmed up, ensure auto stop start is not disabled and see if the truck shuts off at a stop sign or stop light. The driver’s menu has an option to display this function. if it doesn’t engage it will give you a reason why

Have you traced the wiring to make sure previous owner did not tap into something connected to one of the major modules in the truck? The lights are pretty easy to validate, what about the radar detector and radio?


I think you’re saying that


I think you need to be sure there’s actually nothing tapped into or tied to anything that could interface with any of the truck modules first, just in case. In other words, make sure you know, not that you think you know. If you can confirm this, then the stealership should engage to assist.

If you find something tapped into or tied to a harness wire, or accessory that attaches to a harness, that could be a thing. Those wires are notoriously thin, easy to damage so easy to cause trouble. I’d remove any accessories like this one at a time and retest until you were ‘clear’.

Thanks for the feedback. I picked it up from the dealership today. I am fairly certain the culprit was an aftermarket DS4 Direct Link remote start module. Why they installed that is beyond me and I didn't even realized it was plugged into the control module. They disconnected that and as of now there are no issues. fingers crossed. still baffled that someone put and after market start/stop on a car that already had it.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

Thanks for the feedback. I picked it up from the dealership today. I am fairly certain the culprit was an aftermarket DS4 Direct Link remote start module. Why they installed that is beyond me and I didn't even realized it was plugged into the control module. They disconnected that and as of now there are no issues. fingers crossed. still baffled that someone put and after market start/stop on a car that already had it.

the ds4 is a remote start system that allows longer range and the ability to control more features as well as add gps control. you normally pair it up with a remote of some kind. but can be a stand alone unit. i would see if tberes a gps unit in there as well. previous owner could still have access to it and open your doors from their phone

 

[BSP10]

the ds4 is a remote start system that allows longer range and the ability to control more features as well as add gps control. you normally pair it up with a remote of some kind. but can be a stand alone unit. i would see if tberes a gps unit in there as well. previous owner could still have access to it and open your doors from their phone

Great call. Thank you for the advice. At this point everything has been disconnected, but I am going to take into car stereo/electronics shop and see if they can permanently remove.

 

[smurfslayer]

good find. glad you got it sorted out.

 

[BSP10]

wheres the power for the radio and turn on for them amps? thats the only wires i see that could cause a problem depending on where they are connected

It looks like it is wired into the battery itself. Would that be a cause of the issue?

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

It looks like it is wired into the battery itself. Would that be a cause of the issue?

there should be an ignition connecrion somewhere. one that turns the amp and radar on