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2009 Suburban intermittent electrical problems


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heritageadam
New User

Mar 16, 2018, 1:49 PM

Post #1 of 5 (2733 views)
2009 Suburban intermittent electrical problems Sign In

Hello! I have two intermittent electrical issues with my 2009 Chevy Suburban. Looking for some help. I am not sure if they are related to each other or not. has 140K miles.

1) Occasionally when driving along, suddenly all the power locks in the vehicle lock and unlock, lock and unlock, repeatedly. At the same time, the vehicle intermittently loses driving propulsion for a brief second then back on and off. The gauges also drop and then pop back up. This all starts and stops for several seconds and then resumes driving normally. I've noticed that perhaps this is triggered by accelerating the vehicle and letting off the gas helps it end. Obviously this whole situation is disconcerting such that my wife no longer wants to drive it. Can go for weeks without doing it then will do it again.

2) Other issue that happens occasionally - car sitting, engine off and get in to start it, it's like there is no electric to anything in the vehicle, no interior lights, door locks don't work, key fob doesn't lock or unlock doors, put key in and turn and nothing happens, but at the same time I hear a rapidly firing clicking (but not lock/unlock) coming from both the drivers and passengers door locks. it almost sounds like a "sizzling" (but is not burning) its kind of a quiet rapidly firing click. I'm not sure what makes it stop but it seems to stop at some point when I open the hood and get out of the vehicle. This also can happen once in a while, not for weeks then will do it.

Any ideas how to try to diagnose or fix these issues? Thanks.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 16, 2018, 2:55 PM

Post #2 of 5 (2725 views)
Re: 2009 Suburban intermittent electrical problems Sign In

? Depending feature and also what it's supposed to first guess is battery connections, cables to each both ends and condition of battery true and tested fully charged. If it can behave like there's no battery in it then it's just constantly confusing itself. Improper power can make anything with a motor go nuts (lock actuators are really a motor) plus resetting it's drive functions trying to learn again and again fast enough which it wont and run lousy.


Why it can start at all is the (by educated guess) a bad delivery of power to starter, gets hot in trying some or most of the time and makes the connection enough fooling you. Strong guess. Try for codes but it properly has a ton or not ready to read if behaving that moment try anyway for some clues,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 16, 2018, 3:30 PM

Post #3 of 5 (2717 views)
Re: 2009 Suburban intermittent electrical problems Sign In

I would look it over carefully for any bare wires or cables that might be intermittently grounding out. That could be really dangerous if not caught in time.



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heritageadam
New User

Mar 17, 2018, 10:19 AM

Post #4 of 5 (2680 views)
Re: 2009 Suburban intermittent electrical problems Sign In

Hello, thank you for the replies.


I did bring it in to a shop last fall and they went through the wiring and did find one bad ground that they replaced but it didn't seem to affect the issue. it is tough because it only happens intermittently. I was glad it happened once when they had it so they didn't think I was crazy. They also tested the battery and said it was good. Also checked it for codes and there aren't any.
















Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 17, 2018, 10:47 AM

Post #5 of 5 (2674 views)
Re: 2009 Suburban intermittent electrical problems Sign In

Hope they still have it and can look again for another if they found one could be more. Not surprised at no codes it can behave like the battery has been taken out.
True that if it's going to be that intermittent you (they) might think it's fixed is a PITA hard to catch and know for sure if it can snap out of it by itself. Keep looking or they do is all I can think of clearly not normal,


T







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