Loose wiring maybe

Tiny
CHARLI ADAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 128,000 MILES
I leased a car through Carhop and it started having electrical issues, which were, not surprisingly, not covered by the warranty. It wasn't a big deal because it only happened once in a blue moon, but now it's happening quite a lot. When it happens, my dashboard turns into a haunted house, my gauges go absolutely nuts, I get fifty different warning messages popping up, I can't get a read on my coolant temperature, my power steering sometimes goes out, the A/C doesn't work, and the car lurches around every time it switches gears (automatically).
Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
This definitely sounds like a wiring issue. Possibly a loose ground wire. However, we need to get a little more to go on so can we check for codes and see if there is anything that points to a starting point.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Let's check for codes and go from there. Hopefully there is a fault against a specific component so that we can start testing some wiring and see if we can turn anything up.

Thanks
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Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
CHARLI ADAMS
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  • 7 POSTS
I ran the codes. There are so many, P0128, P0442, P0455, P0700, P2544, U0073, U0101, and U0100.
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Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 AT 9:25 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. That is good information. Clearly I am thinking we have a couple different issues because you have EVAP codes in there as well as transmission codes and sensor signal codes.

I attached the testing for the P0128 and P2544. I suspect if we go through these two codes and check for connection issues the we may fix the issues you are experiencing.

If you don't find anything, I would recommend replacing the TCM as it states in the P2544 at the end. Let me know what questions you have. Thanks
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Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 AT 6:54 PM
Tiny
CHARLI ADAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
About ten minutes after I posted my reply, I pushed in some loose wires, cleared the engine codes, and so far, it seems like it's completely fixed. There's no check engine light, no more codes, everything is working fine.
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Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Haha. That is great. Thank you for the update. You have to love it when it is a free repair!

Thanks again and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
CHARLI ADAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Well, it's not fixed, replaced the coolant temperature sensor, but it's still throwing that code, plus the evap code, even though I replaced the gas cap, which makes me think it's the seat, not the cap. It's also occasionally throwing the throttle position sensor code. But if I keep the A/C on, it doesn't throw any codes. If I turn the heater on, it throws code and I can't get a read on the coolant temperature.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
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Just to clarify, when you turn the heat on the ECT sensor reading goes blank?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 6:40 PM
Tiny
CHARLI ADAMS
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  • 7 POSTS
Yes.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 12:00 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. So let's start from square one. Erase the codes and get it to act up again and let me know what codes return.

I suspect a lot of the issues are caused by the ECM not having the ECT reading but that is an electrical issue that could be causing 100% of it.

Let me know what codes come back and we can decide where to go.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:02 AM
Tiny
CHARLI ADAMS
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The codes that pop are the evap and ECT codes.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:04 AM
Tiny
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Okay. Can you list the specific codes just so we don't get it wrong? Thanks
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:09 AM
Tiny
CHARLI ADAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
P0128 and P0455.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:31 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. So we have to go through the P0128 testing again and solve this issue. Again, if we fix that code, I bet we fix most if not all the issues.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:51 AM

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