No electrical power in cabin while running

Tiny
TYLER JEWELL
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 162,000 MILES
My car has been acting up recently. At first when I started my car, nothing in the cluster, windows, air conditioner, cruise or radio would turn on. Within a minute or five everything would kick on all of a sudden either while running idle or driving down the road. Currently no electronics have turned on while the car is running despite being on for more than fifteen minutes. Here is the weird part. I checked all of the fuses to the cabin electronics and everything is fine there. If I put the key onto accessories, the radio turns on along with oil, security, and battery lights. Once I start it, everything shuts down and only engine light is on. Headlights will only turn on manually. Turn signals work also. Just no power to anything in the cabin. What is going on? This has me completely stumped.
Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 5:58 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Have the ignition switch checked that may be the problem.
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Friday, September 30th, 2016 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
TYLER JEWELL
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Today when I left for work it started fine including the cluster and radio. I left from work and it was all dead again, so I shut the car off and started it again. Sure enough everything lit up again.
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Friday, September 30th, 2016 AT 10:22 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,512 POSTS
It really sounds like an ignition switch, but it could also be the fuse panel or possibly the BCM is shorted. Whatever the case it is a main system electrical problem.

Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken
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Tuesday, October 4th, 2016 AT 9:57 AM

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