Electrical Gremlins

[H32NV]

So, the past few months have been really maintenance heavy on my H3. First a coil went out on cyl #3, then the plug going to the coil on cyl #4 went out, and now im getting some new weird issues. MAF sensor errors combined with a Traction Control System Failure, that come on together always, and also this messes with the engine idle and makes it rough. Got a few throttle body position sensor errors, that come and go. It seems like when I am driving on the highway, the CEL and Stab Sys alarm go off intermittently and then go away for 30 miles...maybe it's a loose wire somewhere?

Fast forward to today: Truck starts fine, driving around in town in Golden, and come to stoplight, all of a sudden every light and pixel and digit lights up on the instrument cluster for about 5 seconds, the engine rpm's pickup and then the whole instrument panel goes dark and the engine dies.

Ive looked at some of schwartzzy(sp?)'s wiring diagrams posted here, and thank you BTW those are a great resource, and havent been able to come up with something common between the systems that could cause this. it looks like the Common signal ground for the ABS system goes to the EBCM, left of the master cyl, and the MAF/Throttle position sensor go to the ECM. It's possible that the problem could be in the fuse box, but that seems unlikely. Seems more like a broken wire or connector pin somewhere, which is going to be a PITA to track down.

SO i dropped it off at the shop, Golden Auto Clinic. I hear that they do good electrical work. I'm just ready for these pesky maintenance items to stop. Seems like it's something else every month....

Any ideas friends? Thanks,

-Rob


A few of the CEL Codes:

P2135
P2176
P1516
P0102
P2101

 

[Steve #1]

As odd as it sounds, the MAF and Traction Control issues are probably stemming from a Throttle Position Sensor issue, but before replacing it, check the wiring harness for the MAF and make sure it is plugged in well especially if it was disconnected while dealing with the coils.

Your today issue could very well be a battery issue or more likely a battery cable issue if you still have the OEM battery clamps.

 

[owlxxx]

As odd as it sounds, the MAF and Traction Control issues are probably stemming from a Throttle Position Sensor issue, but before replacing it, check the wiring harness for the MAF and make sure it is plugged in well especially if it was disconnected while dealing with the coils.

Your today issue could very well be a battery issue or more likely a battery cable issue if you still have the OEM battery clamps.

My h3 did that whole light dimming and tones sounding thing and then died. It was battery terminals for me. I haven't had an issue yet, I cleaned and treated them with FROGLUBE, it's a weapons CLP but it does the job. I'm not saying that's your problem, but just something to look at like steve#1 stated...

 

[H32NV]

Thanks! looks like the TPS will have to be replaced. The shop wants $900. $620 for the part. Rockauto has a new TB with the sensor for $212. I'll just pay the $100 diag fee and take the truck home for the swap. I did replace the (+) battery terminal with a distribution block, but that was months ago and so far it seems tight and clean. Maybe I'll just do a once over on them anyway. The shop agrees, sounds like all issues coming from the TPS.

Thank you very much H4O!! I'll report back with hopefully good news.

-Rob

 

[Hayden]

Thanks! looks like the TPS will have to be replaced. The shop wants $900. $620 for the part. Rockauto has a new TB with the sensor for $212. I'll just pay the $100 diag fee and take the truck home for the swap. I did replace the (+) battery terminal with a distribution block, but that was months ago and so far it seems tight and clean. Maybe I'll just do a once over on them anyway. The shop agrees, sounds like all issues coming from the TPS.

Thank you very much H4O!! I'll report back with hopefully good news.

-Rob

Super easy to do yourself too

 

[Mr_Rich]

I just replaced my throttle body in the last couple of months. In the shop manual a code 2135 guarantees a replacement since the TPS is an integral part of the throttle body. When the throttle body goes bad you get all kinds of spurious codes that aren't indicative of the real problem. That's one thing that can throw you off track. I went with a factory replacement since I have a friend who works at the local Chevy dealer and I got a good price on the unit. You can also get a good deal on this site's sponsor. I don't care for rebuilds if I have other options.

 

[H32NV]

UPDATE:

Replaced Throttle Body with new unit. Motor fires up okay now. Sometimes nothing happens when I turn the key. Maybe that's a relay going bad? 10 of the 12 codes are gone.

Still pulling P0102, even after clearing it a few times, and I JUST replaced the MAF sensor. I did clean and re-oil the air filter last week though, maybe I'll spray some MAF cleaner and put a fram paper filter on and see if it goes away.

Also, still having the SERVICE STAB SYS/TRACTION CONTROL FAILED alarm going on, everytime it comes back shortly after startup. Could my TCCM have gone out too?, or is there sometimes problems with the plug? I heard that there might be a bulletin out on this, I'm at 120k, so I'm out of warranty. Does that affect whether or not they will service a TSB?

 

[Best4x4]

Yaw sensor for the stab sys possibly.

 

[H32NV]

Yaw sensor for the stab sys possibly.

how does one test for that? I just get a general warning light, no code for my scangauge to read.

 

[06 H3]

Damn man sorry to hear about these electrical gremlins

 

[3Hummers]

They should take care of the TSB regardless of the warranty being expired.

 

[Best4x4]

Good question, but I know my wife's H3 had that fault before I went and picked it up at the dealership. They took my H3 to the Chevy dealership and they replaced the yaw sensor. Fault has not come back since I bought it. From what I read it can get wet and corrode, or just fail.

 

[H32NV]

UPDATE 2: Now all of my data measurements are reading incorrectly on my ScanGauge. Water temp reads correct on the scan gauge(~170, for how cold it is this is ok), but does not read correct on the instrument panel(needle is close to the bottom). All other gauges on ScanGauge are not reading correctly, and all other gauges on the instrument panel ARE reading correctly. Says I'm getting 150mpg on the scangauge, and 9999CFM, and 3.0HP no matter what acceleration is. Sometimes it doesn't turn over right away when i turn the key.

Could a bad ECM cause all of this? For ~$180 on amazon, it might be worth replacing, but obviously i'll lose my PCMforless tune. What all is entailed in teaching a new ECU to the truck?

Thanks,

-Rob

 

[Best4x4]

Wish my 07 H3 ran that cool. Here in TX with all new coolant, radiator, water pump, thermostat I'm at 195-206F and at the middle of the gauge or just above half. You could have a stuck open thermostat, or bad coolant temp sensor.

The MPG stuff has to be setup to be anywhere close. I use it for the digital gauges n code scanner. The HP or MPG stuff has never been very accurate.

 

[H32NV]

I am guessing that it's not a bad temp sensor, as it is reading fine and normal on the scangauge, but all other data points on the scan gauge are reporting crazy values. this has to be a wiring issue. If it were isolated to just the temp reading incorrectly between the two systems, then I would agree, but its too many things to list.

I run that cold because I have a Ron Davis prototype radiator, and it's cold outside right now. It'll hover near 185 on the highway on a 60 degree day.

I am thinking that there is something wrong with the ECM or in the wiring....

UPDATE: Ordered a new ECM. if anyone has any advice on necessary programming, please reply below. I'll owe you a beer!

 

[3Hummers]

Did you try wiping and resetting your Scanguage?

 

[H32NV]

I have not. That's a good idea. I will go do that now.

 

[Best4x4]

Battery terminals good? I think she'll run with the new PCM, but it has to have something with "case" if I'm not mistaken programmed.

 

[alrock]

If you lose your tune, and keep the same parameters, I believe Kelly at pcmofnc.com will reflash for a much lower price. Send her a PM

 

[H32NV]

Did you try wiping and resetting your Scanguage?

Thanks Dave. Resetting the ScanGauge brought all but one parameter back to working correctly, and the temp gauge on the instrument panel is now fixed. The parameter that is still funky is HPR, which I assume is a calculation based off of the torque sensor on the transmission, and I assume this is tied to the traction control failure, whatever that might be. loose wire or bad connector or something. Everything else is back to normal.

I am still getting P0102, even after replacing the MAF sensor two weeks ago, and I am still getting SERV STAB SYS/TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE.

The new ECM should be here in the next few hours, I'll report back. Thank you for the help! Making Forward Progress!

 

[H32NV]

Looking into some grounds now.