1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Electrical Trouble ( LSS )

Old Jul 21, 2003 | 09:37 PM
  #1  
lght1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
lght1 is on a distinguished road
Default Electrical Trouble ( LSS )

Hi

I have a 1997 Olds LSS that is having iisues with the courtesy lights.

The problem is simple...they wont shut themselves off.

The interior lights are able to be controlled by either their individual switches, or as part of the illuminated entry system.

I replaced the the BCM yesterday, as a diagnostic tree from a GM tech manual seemed to indicate that it was the problem. However, it has seemed to make no difference.

The lights worked just fine for a trip that took several hours. Once I arrived at the destination, the car sat idle for several hours. When I restarted the car, the lights came on..and would not shut back off...even if i tried to turn them out by their own respective switches.

The only way to kill the lights was either by disconnecting the battery, removing their individual bulbs, or by disconnecting the BCM. I did the latter, and the lights soon went out. While the BCM is unplugged, the lights will not function , save for their own switches.

However, I did notice that if I disconnect the neg cable from the battery, and then using a test light, connect the clip to the cable and touch the neg terminal of the battery I get a dim pulsating light in test light.

ANy ideas ?
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2003 | 09:53 PM
  #2  
fuddyduddy121's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 2
fuddyduddy121 is on a distinguished road
Default

Strange, a friend'* Grand Prix did this until he replaced the alternator, then all was fine. I can't explain that one.

Anyway, you might try the BCM diagnostic test in the service manual. There is a signal (it may be a ground) that tells the lights when to turn on. If the signal is always there, then your lights may not want to shut off.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2003 | 10:39 PM
  #3  
lght1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
lght1 is on a distinguished road
Default

Hi

I have been thinking bad ground. HOw would you fix such a problem ?
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2003 | 10:50 PM
  #4  
fuddyduddy121's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 2
fuddyduddy121 is on a distinguished road
Default

You have to start at the BCM and work your way back to the short-to-ground with a test light.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2003 | 10:55 PM
  #5  
lght1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
lght1 is on a distinguished road
Default

Hi

OMG, that harness gets quickly buried in the dash.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2003 | 11:17 PM
  #6  
fuddyduddy121's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 2
fuddyduddy121 is on a distinguished road
Default

First you want to see if it is coming from the "Door open" circuit, or the "Door handle lifted" circuit, or the rotating **** on the dashboard.

You don' t need to follow the wire! You need a good electrical diagram, and then you test the wires in locations where there are harnesses that are accessible. If you can find the junction point where all of the wires from all of the doors come together, then you could test each wire for a short-to-ground. Or you could test each of the door switches.

To do both you need the service manual, though.

Does the LSS use a relay to turn the lights on and off? Another possibility is that it could be stuck in the "on" position.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cidi
Oldsmobile
4
Aug 15, 2015 04:27 PM
JIMSLSS
General GM Chat
9
Dec 26, 2007 08:46 PM
1996 Bonneville SE
1992-1999
8
Jul 30, 2007 10:08 PM
jbmark33
2000-2005
25
May 22, 2007 09:11 PM
theeue
Everything Electrical & Electronic
8
Oct 18, 2005 11:37 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:39 AM.