Intermittent PITA, Intermittent ignition switch or door latch/actuator?

[ORVietVet]

At the moment, I have a very intermittent problem. At times, when I have the radio on and shut the engine off and then open door, with key out, the radio will not shut off automatically as the door opens. I suspect the ignition switch but am also aware that it could be the driver's door latch/actuator or maybe even wiring in between, in the umbilical cord in the door hinge area. Last night it did the problem long enough that the door was open, key out and radio still on and I wiggled the umbilical cord with no difference. I had a rubber mallet and tapped pretty hard at the latch area and at the ignition switch area with no change and then all I did was close door, installed key and started engine, shut engine off and removed key and opened door and the radio then went off. I know I have not replaced the latch before and am forgetful about the ignition switch. Thankfully, I have always been able to get the radio to eventually shut off with a couple cycles.

The interior light is something I know about and since in daytime, I had not looked. No excuse, just reason I did not look. I will check passenger door as well. Unsure how my p/s door effects/works.

I have a Live Data/Bi-Directional scanner that I can attach and look for problems.

 

[Cadillacmak]

At the moment, I have a very intermittent problem. At times, when I have the radio on and shut the engine off and then open door, with key out, the radio will not shut off automatically as the door opens. I suspect the ignition switch but am also aware that it could be the driver's door latch/actuator or maybe even wiring in between, in the umbilical cord in the door hinge area. Last night it did the problem long enough that the door was open, key out and radio still on and I wiggled the umbilical cord with no difference. I had a rubber mallet and tapped pretty hard at the latch area and at the ignition switch area with no change and then all I did was close door, installed key and started engine, shut engine off and removed key and opened door and the radio then went off. I know I have not replaced the latch before and am forgetful about the ignition switch. Thankfully, I have always been able to get the radio to eventually shut off with a couple cycles.

The interior light is something I know about and since in daytime, I had not looked. No excuse, just reason I did not look. I will check passenger door as well. Unsure how my p/s door effects/works.

I have a Live Data/Bi-Directional scanner that I can attach and look for problems.

That is interesting, I would like to learn what causes this.

 

[ORVietVet]

Did not attach scanner today. Too busy running parts and doing work on landlord's wife's Highlander. Will attach scanner tomorrow and see what I can find.

 

[CPB]

I would test the door switch first, since that'll be the easiest with a multimeter. Then check ohms between the switch and the BCM harness plug. If that's all good, then I'd swap BCM.

 

[ORVietVet]

So, yesterday I got my Foxwell NT710 scanner out and first waited for some updates to get done and then I could not get the problem to happen, at all. I then went thru ALL modules, just for giggles, and all passed and then I used and abused the ignition switch and the door lock actuator and it would not malfunction and showed all good on the scanner. I then gathered up the scanner and cord and case and took the time to fold it all up and put away and then.......you guessed it, it malfunctioned for 2 cycles. I said, "screw this" and went inside to watch tv. I went at it this morning and I was able to duplicate the problem immediately and it kept playing the radio with key in/out and door open and I once again man handled the umbilical cord and no change. I got my rubber mallet and tapped all over the door lock actuator area, no change. Tapped at the ignition switch housing and then one time, there was a momentary glitch. I then hustled and removed the upper dash surround trim, lower dash cover and separated the column clamshell and maneuvered the tilt to get the two halves out. I then could see the ignition switch. I tapped it with a smaller rubber mallet and "low and behold", I could get it to stop and start the malfunction. I had that P*R*I*C*K swapped out in 5 minutes and did the mallet test again and no problems. PITA is now fixed. I could not find a Genuine GM replacement part, and I had a GM parts guy do a nationwide search yesterday and he found 2. One in Elk Grove, Ca. and it was not on the shelf and one in Tennessee that was spoken for. None at ebay either, except used. I installed a Standard Parts one, US331, and it had the updated grey cover on the one side.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... mallet test again ...

Percussive diagnostics & quality assurance should never be overlooked.

 

[ORVietVet]

Percussive diagnostics & quality assurance should never be overlooked.

When it first started happening, I immediately thought ignition switch but the problem was so erratic and hard to duplicate for a long enough period of time. Thankfully, I have replaced a few ignition switches on GMT800 trucks, over the years. I had the dash apart and the steering column clamshell cover off within 5 minutes. I mean, on the clock, 5 minutes. The book time is 1.4 hours. I did the whole job in less than 30 minutes. "I still got it"!

 

[ORVietVet]

3 days and several, 15-20 starts and shut offs and all is good and cannot MAKE it mess up. Will still monitor. One thing is certain, the turning of key is still smooth and effortless but there is less slop in the mechanism.