ABS and 4WD lights on dash/chime Intermittently

Good evening,

Did they tell you code that was set for the ABS? Even though the light is off, it has long term memory and will store the code that was set.

It will help me narrow the area of failure.

As far as there guess, tell them if you approve the repair, you will not pay for it until it is a verified repair. If the light comes back on, then the repair is on them.

Roy

Roy, no codes were mentioned today or before. Said they did a ground wire due a service bulletin per their word. sorry I know this does not help at all.

Can you go to a parts store and see if they can read the memory codes?

Roy

As you can see it has been sometime. I am wanting to revisit this issue as it continues.

We have pretty much confirmed that the intermittent chiming, dash lights, ABS, brake, 4WD, etc and sometimes the dash does not work at all and it always happens when there is moisture....

Meaning if it has rained out or humidity is high, etc. It always acts up.

When the moisture is gone... it never happens and the dash works as expected - no chiming, dash lights, ABS, brake, 4WD, etc.

I have a cheap-o scanner (Autel MaxiScan MS309) and understand it does not do a deep scan but there are no codes that this scanner detects.

Thanks.

This is one of those things that you have to wait until it is consistently doing this issue in order to track it down.

Roy

It does when it's wet out. happens every time it rains.. been raining for the last two days...

Then if the light is on, please get me the code so I can help narrow the area of failure.

Roy

That is the thing... the lights never stay on. They come on blink and chime and then go off and then back on, etc. Check engine never comes on. Today I noticed that the dash stopped working all together after the chiming and lights blinking.. then it started working again. That is rare, most times it starts with the chime, brake and ABS light.. then those go off and then the 4wD lights up and then it repeats.. all while the chiming going on.... maybe I could record a video to show.

That would be great.

Please try and capture it.

Roy

So I got out today to drive it.... I started the video as I was driving down the road so sorry about the sideways and my cussing at the end..... trying to get gas and the gas station pumps have been down for over a week.

Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtxwYFeW2KI

Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUr2RGLpBD0

So it rained the prior three days... today it clear up and the envoy was in my garage. It was driven on the day of the rain.

So you can see the wacky dash and then when I stopped to get gas and shut off and then back on the dash is dead. It was that way after several restarts.

I am hoping it will work tomorrow it usually comes back and the dash issues go away when the moisture is totally gone.

I have no clue what the issue could be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtxwYFeW2KI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUr2RGLpBD0

Did you respond?

I got an email but nothing came through.

Roy

Yeah that is really odd.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Roy

Video - https://tinyurl.com/y4f5mjv8

2nd video - https://tinyurl.com/y66t7crh

I had written the details but for some reason it didn't post....

So like I said the three prior days it rained where I live. The vehicle was driven in the rain and then parked in my garage and the issue started again.

Today I left to go to get gas and while driving not thinking of doing the video right away I took the video part way as I was driving to the gas station.

The second video shows where the dash is completely not working after turning off the vehicle .

I ran to the grocery store and after stopping and starting the dash was not working.

Got home and turn it off and back on still not working.

I just now went out and started it and the dash is back.........

(sorry) I was cussing at the end of the first video... my gas station has almost all of its pumps down and not marked very well.... and they have been down for almost a week. UGH>....

Okay, got it.

This could be the ignition switch dropping out.

GM had a huge recall on ignition switches for all kinds of issues. I would call the dealer and give them your VIN and see if you were in the recall.

Roy

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

Caution: Refer to SIFI Caution in Cautions and Notices.

2. Disable the SIR system.
3. Remove the hush and knee bolster.
4. Remove the steering column trim covers.
5. With the key installed, turn the key to the RUN position.
6. Install an alien wrench into the hole on top of the lock cylinder housing.
Push down on the alien wrench to release the tab on the lock cylinder inside the lock cylinder housing.


imageOpen In New TabZoom/Print


7. Slide the lock cylinder out of the lock cylinder housing.
8. Disconnect the PASSLOCK and key buzzer from the lock cylinder housing.


imageOpen In New TabZoom/Print


9. Insert J 42759 into the lock cylinder housing to release the tabs on the ignition switch.
10. Pull the ignition switch out of the lock cylinder housing.
11. Disconnect the connector from the ignition switch.

Would it only drop out during periods of moisture/high humidity?

I had to go out of town this morning so I had a 2 hour round trip.

When I left this morning it was in the mid-50's and for about the first 25 minutes the dash would do its full cycle of blinking, dinging, etc. At times when the check gauges light came on the oil, temp, fuel and battery gauges turned off. The speedometer and tachometer continued to work.

After the first 40-50 minutes when I got to my destination it had stopped all together meaning it was working as expected.

I turned off the vehicle... made my quick stop and then got back into the vehicle and drove home about 40 minutes..... never had any issues the entire way home.

Also, I just checked our service log... we keep the worksheet from the dealer when they work on it.... Back in 08/16 the ignition switch was replaced.

At the time my compliant they listed was "customer states Thursday the service 4wd light, abs, and brake light were coming on while driving. Saturday and Sunday the lights were not on.

They wrote "C0379 U1000 C201 P0128 U1041 B0790 Tested circuits found TSB to check power and ground at ignition switch. Removed and replaced ignition switch rechecked okay."

Then 12/19 took it in for oil change and the same issue listed above "customer states the abs and 4wd lights come on intermittently. check and advise."

They wont "Z999 test for fault codes C0201 ABS relay control Ckt test and isolate control ground clean and repair"

So I am not sure if that gives you anymore information but the thing that may support your note above is because we do not have a service records showing that same complaint until December of 19.

I think you are back at the switch. I would check the connector as it may be dirty.

I'll try replacing the switch this weekend and see if that makes any difference.

Sounds like a plan.

Keep us updated.

Roy

So tomorrow turns into 6 months later, got to love that....

I did replace the ignition switch that week and again it's still really odd.

it seems to have went away but then when we have lots of moisture... snow rain, etc. the intermittent dash lights and dinging come back.

Could an ignition switch go back in that amount of time? I bought it at local auto parts store so not sure if there is variability in quality vs getting it at the dealership.

Vehicle is just shy of 200,000 but given we live in Minnesota is still not what I would call a rust bucket... I am not one to ever walk into a car payment ever again but am thinking about getting rid of this and buying something newer... however, to make it easier to sell would be nice it figure out this one gremlin.

Yes, it can fail in that short period of time.

Make sure there is no damage to the connector, pins.

Roy

Roy, fast forward from April. We have a new car and now I want to sell the Envoy but this darn issue is still present. Went and bought a brand new AC Delco switch.. installed, same darn thing. I really have no idea where to even begin and I certainly do not want to give the vehicle away because of this issue because when it's working. it's a pretty good reliable vehicle.

Okay, this does sound like the ABS module which is what the dealer recommended anyway way back in the beginning.

Roy

no far from it. Ignition switch. not sure why it would work then not and then again.

cluster was working before I pulled the current one. Still had the intermittent issues but with the new the cluster is not working.

That is another issue besides the ABS and TRac.

Site rules state one subject per question. The cluster is a separate issue.

Please start a new question for the cluster and I will be glad to help.

Roy

Read through the thread... it's not a multiple issue..... you said multiple times it's the ignition switch.

Issue solved: Replaced Instrument Cluster .

Good glad you found the issue.

Roy