Body Control Module Repair
In the Staging Lanes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
From: Morton, IL
I have done this repair once several years ago with great success. Now the problem has come back! Until I am able to contort myself to do it again would it be ok to "Hotwire" my radio so I don't have the constant interruption?
Jeff
Jeff
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 13
Why Hotwire?
Seems to me the repair is simpler than hotwiring.
I didn't have to contort myself to do it. (Too old to do so if I needed to). I just sat on my creeper on the garage floor next to the car.
In the Staging Lanes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
From: Morton, IL
Hmmmm that's an idea. When I did it I was in the car having to reach up under the dash after removing the glove box and of course had difficulty getting it un plugged from the harness. Not sure why its happening again now but whatever. Just seemed like its easier to sit in the drivers seat and pull the radio. Others have suggested that the factory theft system could be an issue so I suppose I'll just do it as soon as the heatwave we are having dies down.
Thanks for the idea!
Thanks for the idea!
April 2011 ROTM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 22,027
From: Tokeland, Washington
ROTM Winner's Club
no bcm. not sure what would cause same issue. bad ground, bad fuse connection, bad wire connection.
In the Staging Lanes
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 39
Body Control Module Repair
I got those symptoms with my new-to-me 1998 Z-28. Found out about the BCM, and a reflow (re-solder) of the pins fixed everything for me.
For anybody who has trouble with soldering, I work in electronics, and FLUX is the key to success. I can help. Do not use acid fluxes on electronics. Rosin fluxes are lame, but might work. Never leave flux on a finished job, it just causes problems. Wash/scrub any flux away, before you call the job Done. This is a great flux for anything from electrical to plumbing (non-acid, and safe for use on drinking water pipes). Wash away any of this flux with water, not chemicals, when done. Two ounces is all you need for many, many repair jobs.
https://markal.com/products/regular-...=9204786921519
HTH.
For anybody who has trouble with soldering, I work in electronics, and FLUX is the key to success. I can help. Do not use acid fluxes on electronics. Rosin fluxes are lame, but might work. Never leave flux on a finished job, it just causes problems. Wash/scrub any flux away, before you call the job Done. This is a great flux for anything from electrical to plumbing (non-acid, and safe for use on drinking water pipes). Wash away any of this flux with water, not chemicals, when done. Two ounces is all you need for many, many repair jobs.
https://markal.com/products/regular-...=9204786921519
HTH.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29
From: Pennsylvania
I got the board out of my BCM and used a Weller soldering gun to heat up the joints and flow new solder unto them. The bottom of the "T" was the coldest solder joint I have ever seen. Just to be sure everything worked properly, I plugged the board back in to the circuit under the dash to try it out. The radio works fine, as does the power windows, but the ignition no longer works. What the heck happened??? I got some solder overflowed onto the little component marked "122" next to that lower cold joint, but I heated it and cleaned it off. Did I fry something? BTW, GM should get a letter of comendation for thier fabulous soldering process. Shouldn't this all be covered by some sort of recall in that it is so common with their vehicles?
Attachment 15526
Attachment 15526
Fourth Generation Moderator
October 2009 ROTM
October 2009 ROTM
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,561
From: Eastern PA,
ROTM Winner's Club
Just a FYI, Recalls are safety related items only. Air bags, seat belts. Anything that is considered dangerous not to fix. Failed design or manufacturing issues have to be handled with class action law suits. They are normally limited to 10 years 100,000 miles but that is subject to negotiations. Example: 3800 intake gaskets. GM was sued to and agreed to extend the warranty to 10 years 100,000 miles in the early 2000's . They also had to pay to anyone one that had already fixed the issue out of pocket. I can not remember any settlements that went more then 10 years.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29
From: Pennsylvania
Just a FYI, Recalls are safety related items only. Air bags, seat belts. Anything that is considered dangerous not to fix. Failed design or manufacturing issues have to be handled with class action law suits. They are normally limited to 10 years 100,000 miles but that is subject to negotiations. Example: 3800 intake gaskets. GM was sued to and agreed to extend the warranty to 10 years 100,000 miles in the early 2000's . They also had to pay to anyone one that had already fixed the issue out of pocket. I can not remember any settlements that went more then 10 years.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 1
From: OKC area
Intermittent power windows, radio, rag top
Discovered on a different forum several years ago about poor soldering on BCM boards while researching intermittent windows and radio problem.
It was a bit of work to get the BCM out of my 2000, but doable. If I remember right that writeup said the joints in question were larger than most and made a cross shape on the board. I could actually see a crack in one joint.
New BCM was a few hundred plus needed dealer to program. Took my board it to a computer repair guy. He resoldered. Cost me $10.
Been working great for years.
Great forum!
It was a bit of work to get the BCM out of my 2000, but doable. If I remember right that writeup said the joints in question were larger than most and made a cross shape on the board. I could actually see a crack in one joint.
New BCM was a few hundred plus needed dealer to program. Took my board it to a computer repair guy. He resoldered. Cost me $10.
Been working great for years.
Great forum!