Lost of total power

Tiny
ROBERT FULWIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CADILLAC STS
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,200 MILES
While car shuts completely off, lose all lights in dash, no brakes steering, put over into park and starts back up.
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 AT 7:19 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi,

The first thing I would recommend is checking the alternator output. Here is a link that explains how to do it. All you need is a voltmeter or multimeter.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Let me know if this happens slowly or all at once everything is off. Also, are there any electrical components that continue working?

Let me know.

Joe
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Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 AT 8:27 PM
Tiny
ROBERT FULWIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
The alternator was checked and found good. No power to anything at all. Pull over put in park and starts right back up.

Thanks, Bob
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi Bob,

This is going to be a tricky one without scanning the can-bus. CAN stands for controller area network. Basically, all the modules/computers are tied together via a few wires. Scanning the CAN will identify any areas of issue.

As far as this condition, I have my suspects, but I can't be sure without the scan. On vehicles that have several control modules connected by serial data circuits, one module is the power mode master (PMM). On this vehicle, the PMM is the instrument panel module (IPM). I'm questioning if it is failing.

So, to save time and money, I recommend having the can scanned. Here is a video showing how it is done:

https://youtu.be/InIlnsjOVFA

If possible, have that done so we can determine if there are codes specific to the IPM.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 5:52 PM

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