weird electrical problem

First, sorry for my bad english, I'm from Quebec, Canada, so I'm a french canadian!

This summer my TB (2002 LTZ) don't start sometimes, intermittent problem. I check in this forum and found it was the ignition switch, but before I put a new switch, my TB start fine...so the new switch go in the glove box...

No more starting problem for 2-3 month.
recently, my FOB don't work also, I can't unlock my door.
I search in this forum again and I found the problem, the wiring harness on the rear door was cut ( 2 are cut and the rest are very damaged)

So I repair my harness this morning...don't work, I check the fuse in the cab and I found one burned, change it. Great! Now my FOB work, my rear wiper also, but I can't start the engine..no click, radio ok.
I change my ignition switch for the new one I have in my glove box...nothing, don't start. I try 50 times, changing the little white gear position...rotating the gear by hand to try to start the engine...but nothing work.
I put the old swtich....the damn thing start....:suicide: I reinstall the new...now it work...

Now i'm not sure that my problem was the ignition switch at first.
When my engine don't start, I notice that my heating seat ( both driver and passenger ) don't work, I also, my radio turn off immediatly when I turn the key to the "off" position.

Now all work great ( until when??), it start, my heating seat work, my radio stay "on" until I open my door when the engine is shut...



Any idea?? :hail:

-Pierre

The copper contacts on the ignition switch you had in the glove box might have become oxidized. Just from being in the air, and not being used. Using the switch is one way it stays clean.

When you installed it, there might have been a dirty contact on the wiring harness, but this is not as likely.

When your engine wouldn't start, and the heated seats didn't work, that could also be the ignition switch - a different contact from the one that runs the starter. It could have confused the Body Control Module, which controls the dome lights, radio, and seat heaters.

If everything works great, then you win! Just observe it carefully for the future.

Thank the roadie:)

But after I repared my harness ( at the rear door) this morning, the engine start fine. I remove the truck from my garage, shut the motor, try it again just to see if my rear wiper work...and it won't start.

I when a try my new switch 50 times or more, I disconnect/reconnect it a few times, with no results.

And I just check 2 minutes ago if my heating seat work when the key is on the "Acessory" position (no start), and it won't work so I guess the heated seat work only when the engine run.

Do you hear a click in the front fuse block when you turn the key to START?

Do you have a meter and some experience troubleshooting electrical problems, or are you going to take it to a mechanic?

If it isn't the switch, it's the starter relay, the wiring to the starter, or the starter itself.

I hear nothing...I think!
A bad relay could to this intermittent problem?
I can't check now, all it's fine!

Probably that my vehicle will not start , at the worst place, at the worst time, when my pregnant wife is going to break her waters. :woot:

Stay tuned!

And yeah, I'm not too bad in mechanic, but for electrical problem, I'm a big zero!

You need to find an electrically-experienced mechanic who can hopefully see the problem happen in front of him.