Um, Bill 2.........I think orbitz was actually hoping for a little guidance, you know, H.E.L.P on WHAT and WHERE to check :?

I am heading for the FSMs right now...........will post some info as soon as I find something that might be useful

OK. orbitz, before you get too excited, at this point, all I can do is relay some info that I have come across in the FSMs. The steps to diagnose/fix will be coming as soon as I understand where to start/what to do. I just wanted you to know that I am looking up items and trying to help

There is some good news and some bad.

Good news is that the beeps from the BCM and the seatbelt light are self diagnostics mode signals from the BCM. (Dang our cars are smart! I had no Idea). Anyway, the BCM can be commanded to do this self-diagnosis by pressing the door lock buttons a certain number of times (just like you did). The beeps and lights are "reporting" to the technician working on the car, a diagnotic code. I need to read through the section/codes and will guide you once I understand more. I did see that we can reset the BCM, like erasing the codes, so we can go thru the diagnostic procedures if we need to. SO, the beeps and seatbelt light are not a problem, but a diagnostic tool.

Also, as far as the other problems, I confirmed that all of the problems you are having (including the shift to park/door lock issue) do indeed run through the RFA, which is connected to the BCM. The foglights are not specifically mentioned, but the headlamp controls/circuits are connected to the RFA. There are about 10+ pages of diagnotic charts to sort through, but all the fixes end up in shorts/bad wires/grounding to the RFA or replacing the RFA.

Now, the bad news, the RFA, once replaced by a new one, MUST be recoded using a tech 1 scan tool, to be functional, so just "replacing" the RFA module with another module may not "solve" the problem. As far as using a module from a scrapyard, these modules are coded from the factory differently for Buick/Olds/Pontaic. And even then a Pontiac module is coded specifically to the car and the options the car has, so It may not work either.

I know this is a lot of reading, and we haven't solved ANY problems yet, but this is pretty complicated stuff. I will be reading some more and will hopefuly come up with some step by step stuff you can try.

Bottom line is that it is probably, either:

1. Short/bad wiring/ground to the RFA module or BCM

or

2. Bad RFA mocdule or BCM.

FWIW, the RFA module is located under the dash, passenger side. I will try to find a pic from another thread. I would not remove it yet, though, just as a precaution.

I thank you very much for all the time you are putting into this. As for now, I think I will try and find the RFA and check all the connections to and from it. I will also look for more ground connections.
Thank you again

The RFA is a thin, flat, rectangle box, mounted under the passenger dash near the kick panel. Seems to mounted to a large metal support along with other electronics/realy boxes/etc. I still am looking for a pic to use.

I need to review the wiring diagram again. Among several wires, there are two black wires coming from the RFA, one is ground, and one goes to the retained power module, i think. Be careful. For now just check for good wire attachments or loose wires until I can make sure which color/guage wires are going where.

Sorry for my slowness. Never been in this part of my car or the FSMs for this diagnosis.

Hmm. While looking around this afternoon I did find a small rectangle shaped lightish-green box down under the dash on the passenger side. I will do as you say and just check for good connections and what not (hopefully I did not disconnect it when I found it). And please do not apologize. Take all the time you need, and I appreciate your help very much.

If you did disconnect, that is OK from what I read.

OK. This is the best I can do to guide you at the moment. I borrowed this pic from another thread (Thanks randman1). Anyways, if you look way over, near the passenger side door, you will see a black metal dash support, right next to the door. I believe that the RFA module is mounted low on that black metal support, near the large bundle of wires, furthest to the right. Remember, I have never seen the RFA before. All I have to go on is a diagram in the FSM. RFA could be any color. I'll keep looking for better pics or a diagram.

Good Morning!!!!!!!!!

After reviewing the diagram again, I believe the RFA is on a different support, near the black metal dash support shown in the pic above, but a couple of inches further toward the center, maybe in front of the BCM location. Did an internet search, but no diagrams/pics of the RFA :? Maybe one of our better computer equipped members with the 96-99 FSM (ahem...BillBoost) can scan and post the diagram for us! I have a daylong meeting at work today, so I may not be able to help out too much more until tonight .

Keep the faith, we will work through this yet. Electrical at this level is heavy stuff. Hopefully, there is a bad wire/connection somewhere along the path.

Good Morning to you as well!! Thank you again for the location, I think you are talking about the same piece I saw the other day. I am going out today to take a look and see if all the connections are right. Have a good day

Actually guys the manual will usually only give a general reference..Bob probably has the right one. The guy to answer the question would be Randy..he pulled apart the 97 donor car.

I am at lunch. Got a few minutes before the meeting re-starts back up.

Here is the plan:

1. We (you) double-check all wires/grounds from BCM and RFA module. (you probably have done so already)
2. Unplug and check terminals/connectors on BCM and RFA module for broken/dirty/bent connectors. (let me know if you find any).
3. Tonight, I will post the steps to "clear" the BCM of codes and then we can "re-run" the self diagnosis to see what we get.
4. Then on to the RFA module tests. Many of these involve resistance and test lights to determine if there is a short in a circuit or if the RFA is bad. If testing electrical circuits is not your thing, then you may want to consider acquiring a new RFA module and have it installed by a mechanic with a tech 1 scantool.

I wonder what a new module and install/coding would cost?

Orbitz, I am going to PM you my cell phone number, and maybe you are willing to PM me back a phone number I can reach you at, in case we need to do some of this over the phone.

Man, I wish there was someone near you with a FSM.

Back to the meeting!