1995 GMC JIMMY Electrical System Problems

BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS HAVE FALLEN OFF BEFORE 90K MILES. THIS WAS DUE TO THE PLASTIC DETERIORATING AT THE JUNCTION WHERE THE MIRROR "FOLDS AWAY." REPLACED EGR VALVE SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST THREE WERE UNDER WARRANTY, THE REST HAVE BEEN ON ME. IN ADDITION, MOST MAJOR FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, OR REPAIRED. THE IDLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROUGH, AND IT WILL ON OCCASION, SMOKE AND OMIT STRONG ODORS OF UNBURNED FUEL. WIPERS FAILED AT 20K MILES. I RESOLDERED THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DRIVERS SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION, WHICH CAUSES ME SOME CONCERN. BY THE WAY, THE FIRST WEEK I HAD THE CAR (BOUGHT IT NEW), THE SEAT WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND WAS PROMPTLY TOLD THAT "IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION." HMMM, AS A DESIGN ENGINEER I HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT THE LOGIC BEHIND THIS; AS ANY FORWARD OR REARWARD IMPACT WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT TO FLEX WHICH COULD MAKE A MINOR NON-INJURY ACCIDENT SOMETHING FAR WORSE. THE WATER PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, ALTERNATOR TWICE, BATTERY FIVE. ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED WITH ORIGINAL PARTS THROUGH GM. I HAVE HAD ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND STILL THERE IS A PAINFUL CHATTER OF THE PEDAL UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE ABS PARAMETERS. WIND NOISE IS QUITE LOUD, AS THE FIT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, TERRIBLE. THE PLASTIC WHICH COVERS THE A/C WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS BROKEN AND FALLEN AWAY, PIECE BY PIECE, SOMETIMES LODGING ITSELF ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING SOME RATHER UNPLEASANT ODORS. OH, AND SINCE THERE IS NO LONGER ANY COVERING OVER THE A/C, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE COLDNESS, WHICH WAS THE SAVING GRACE OF THIS VEHICLE, HAS BEEN REDUCED TO THAT OF A GLORIFIED FAN. *NM

THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED IT TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN THE GARAGE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURRED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. *SC *JB

1995 GMC JIMMY SLS 4 DOOR 4WD VORTEC 4.3 L V6. WE HAVE HAD THIS THING FOR 7 YEARS AND NOTHING I HAVE EVER OWNED HAS TAUGHT ME MORE ABOUT BEING A "SHADETREE" MECHANIC! THE LIST IS AS FOLLOWS, BREAK BOOSTER REPLACED 2 TIMES. EGR VALVE REPLACED 3 TIMES. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AT LEAST 12 TIMES (THEY FAIL EVERY 1500 TO 1800 MILES!) BACK HATCH WONT OPEN. BOTH SET OF WIPERS, FRONT AND BACK DO NOT WORK( SAFETY ISSUE!) ENGINE OVERHEATS. WATER PUMP REPLACED 2 TIMES. THERMOSTAT REPLACED 3 TIMES. LIGHTS FLICKER AS IF THE ALTENATOR IS GOING BAD,(RESULTING IN POLICE ASKING ME TO CHECK INTO THIS.) BATTERY REPLACED 4 TIMES (AVERAGE LIFE OF NEW BATTERY, 4 YEARS!) TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN ENGINE IS COOL/ HOT! STARTING TO SEE RUST IN TRANS, DIPSTICK. SOMETIMES CANT SHIFT FROM 2 WD TO 4 WD AND WHEN ABLE, TRANSFER CASE MAKES CLICKING SOUND. THIS IS NOT A PHONY COMPLAINT! I NEED HELP WITH THIS AS I NEVER SEE A RECALL, WARRANTY IS OUT AND I CANT AFFORD TO TAKE IT IN. I DON'T THINK I LEFT ANY THING OUT, BUT IM SURE MY WIFE WILL LET ME KNOW. YOU CAN GIVE MY NAME TO WHO EVER WHEN EVER IF IT WILL HELP US FIX THIS SITUATION. *NLM

Mileage: 7,000

THE MAIN COMPUTER HAS FAILED TWICE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE POOR AND IDLE ROUGHLY. NLM

THE BATTERY FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE RAN ROUGH AND STALLED. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN SITTING STILL. PROBLEM HAS BEEN SINCE 1996. EGR VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND CLEANED ONCE. MANUFACTURER SENT A WARRANTY LETTER OUT FOR SERVICE REGARDING THE EGR VALVE, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL. *AK *YH

THE BATTERY LEAKED AND DAMAGED THE CABLES. *YH

AFTER ABS BRAKE RECALL WAS FIXED EXPERIENCED MAY PROBLEMS. BATTERY AND ALTENATOR FAILURE WITHIN A WEEK AND 4-WHEEL SWITCHES DO NOT WORK, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO OVERDRIVE.*AK

AFTER ABS BRAKE RECALL WAS FIXED EXPERIENCED MAY PROBLEMS. BATTERY AND ALTENATOR FAILURE WITHIN A WEEK AND 4-WHEEL SWITCHES DO NOT WORK, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO OVERDRIVE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE CAMPAIGN NOS. 96070 AND 99041 WERE SERVICED IN AUGUST, 2000. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS THE BRAKE FUSE BEGAN TO BLOW EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED MODERATE TO HARD. EASY BRAKE APPLICATION DOES NOT BLOW THE FUSE. THE BRAKES ARE ALL GOOD, FLUID IS FULL, ALL WIRING HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE, WHEEL SENSORS ARE FUNCTIONING, AND NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE SINCE THE CAMPAIGN WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM IS UNRELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, BUT I DISAGREE. MECHANICALLY, EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT FINE AND IN ALL PROBABILITY I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, WHICH WAS MODIFIED DURING THE CAMPAIGN. THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST UNTIL RIGHT AFTER THE CAMPAIGN WAS PERFORMED. I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BECAUSE IT STARTED AFTER THE CAMPAIGN WAS PERFORMED AND IN ALL PROBABILITY AS A RESULT OF IT. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT. CONSUMER GOT INTO T VEHICLE AND TURN IT ON, AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. HE COULD SMELL IT, AND HE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. TOOK KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND CAR WAS STILL PARKED. GMC DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

BATTERY HAS GONE BAD/DIED DUE TO LEAKING ACID, CONSUMER NOTED BURNING ACID IN THE UPPER CORNER OF THE BATTERY TOWARDS THE ENGINE. THE ACID WAS EATING UP THE WIRING. ALSO, AROUND AXLE AND WHEEL CHASSIS THERE WERE ACID BURNS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. EA-00-013. WIRING HARNESS TAPED AND INSPECTED BY DEALER. SOME WIRES BURNT THROUGH TO EXPOSE METAL AND ALLOW FOR SHORTS. *AK *ML

WITH THE FIRST EVENT THEY REPLACED-BATTERY NAD SERB BELT. THE NEXT EVENT HAPPENED 2 MONTHS LATER. THE NEXT EVENT OCCURRED WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN SO ROUGHLY THAT THE BRAKES WOULD BARELY STOP THE CAR. THAT TIME THEY REPLACEDAN EGR VALVE. WITHIN THE WEEK A THIRD EVENT OCCURED. THE CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF A DEAD BATTERY. THE PROBLEMS WERE FINALLY TRACED TO A LEAKING BATTERY AND CORRODED BATTERY CABLE. SO FAR I HAVES SPENT A TOTAL OF $935.86 HAVING THE THINGS FIXED THAT EVENTUALLY WAS TRACED TO THE BATTERY/BATTERY CABLE LEAKAGE

THE OEM BATTERY DEVELOPED A SLOW LEAK. THE HIGHLY CORROSIVE FLUID DRIPPED ONTO SEVERAL BRAKE LINES AND THE ACTUATOR CABLE FOR THE 4WD TRANSFER CASE. THE CORROSIVE DESTROYED THE CABLE AND BEGAN TO EAT AWAY AT SEVERAL BRAKE LINES THAT RUN TO THE FRONT BRAKES. IF I HAD NOT FOUND THE LEAK IN TIME, THE BATTERY CORROSIVE WOULD HAVE EATEN THROUGH THE BRAKE LINES CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE BATTERY ACID ALSO CORRODED THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME MEMBER. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT OTHER GMC TRUCKS (NOT JIMMY/BLAZER) HAVE HAD THE SAME/SIMILAR PROBLEM WHICH TRIGGERED A NHTSB PRODUCT SAFETY ALERT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED GMC AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS...THEY SEEMED INDIFFERENT. I TRIED TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE PRODUCT SAFETY ALERT FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM TO THEIR YUKONS & SUBURBANS BUT GMC WOULD NOT CORROBORATE MY INFORMATION. THE FILE NUMBER GMC ISSUED FOR MY COMPLAINT WAS 00048689. THANK YOU. *AK

BATTERY FAILED. NLM

GENERATOR FAILED. NLM

CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE PLAGUED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF FAULTY COMPONENTS FIRST FAILING WITHIN THE 36,000 MILE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY PERIOD: 070396 (SEE 033199)-LEAKING CENTRAL PORT INJECTOR REPLACED @ DEALER; SUBSEQUENT PROBLEMS NOTED 091897, 042098, 112198, 022399. 091897 (SEE 030998): SMOKE & FLAMES FROM DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER HOOD-CONNECTION @ JUNCTION BOX REPAIRED @ DEALER. SLOW START ALSO NOTED (SEE 033199). 030998 (SEE 091897): WIRES UNDER HOOD SMOKED-IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT & REPLACED @ INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. ALSO NOTED WIPERS NOT WORKING (SEE 112198). 042098: PINION SEAL LEAKING/REPLACED @ INDEPENDENT FACILITY/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON-ROUGH START (SEE 033199). 060198: HEAT/SMOKE @ DASH & ALARM MALFUNCTIONING-SHORT IN DRIVER SIDE SEAT LUMBAR SUPPORT SWITCH WIRING REPAIRED @ INDEPENDENT FACILITY. 112198 (SEE 030998): WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED @ INDEPENDENT FACILITY/HARD STARTING ALSO NOTED (SEE 033199). 022399: EGR VALVE REPLACED @ DEALER BUT 0699-CODE 32 ON COMPUTER @ INDEPENDENT FACILITY (EGR VALVE); DEALER ADVISED CENTRAL PORT INJECTOR LEAKING (SEE 070396) . 033199: CENTRAL PORT INJECTOR REPLACED AGAIN, @ INDEPENDENT FACILITY (ORIGINALLY REPLACED 070396, REPORTED FAULTY 091897, 042098, 112198, 022399). 070499: ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED @ 65 MPH, RESULTING IN TRIPPED ROLLOVER & 3 INJURIES-VEHICLE TOTALLED; WHEELS LOCKED, SKIDDED 300' ON STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD (WET/DRY). INJURIES INCLUDED SEVERE LACERATIONS FROM BROKEN GLASS, CONTUSIONS, SEAT BELT BURN @ NECK (SEAT BELTS NON-ADJUSTABLE), AND ABRASIONS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED (072299).

MEM-CAL/EPROM FAILURE CAUSED SEVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON. YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH VEHICLE DIES OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN CONSUMER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE AND SHUTS THE DOOR, SHE CAN HEAR ALL TYPES OF NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP NINE TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ALARM SYSTEM/ WINDOWS/HEAD LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH VEHICLE DIES OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN CONSUMER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE AND SHUTS THE DOOR, SHE CAN HEAR ALL TYPES OF NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP NINE TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ALARM SYSTEM/ WINDOWS/HEAD LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

ELECTRICAL WIRING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING WINDSHIELD WIPERS/MIRRORS/ALARM SYSTEM AND DOME LIGHTS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY, MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. BEEN TO DEALER 7 TIMES. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE NEVER REPAIRED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. AFTERWARDS DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR.

CIRCUIT BOARD FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION INTERMITTANTLY.

ABS BRAKES/RADIATOR/GENERATOR FAILED.

BATTERY FAILED.

WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. *AK

WHILE GOING ABOUT (45) OR (50) MPH DRIVER LOST THE STEERING, BRAKES AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS, /HAPPENED ON 10/26/95. ON 10/10/95, WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF, HAPPENED AGAIN ON 10/14/96. *AK

WHILE PARKED, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

STARTER FAILED TWICE. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS/FAILS TO START WHEN TANK IS 1/4 FULL AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND/OR WHEN VEHICLE NEGOTIATES A RIGHT TURN. *AK