1996 GMC SUBURBAN Electrical System Problems

1996 GMC SUBURBAN, CAUGHT ON FIRE. BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0580-91 UPDATED 05/03/10 *BF

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SUBURBAN. WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT. HE WAS PULLING A TRAILER, WITH THE TRAILER AND THE TRUCK IT WEIGHS FROM ANY WHERE 10-15,000 POUNDS. THERE IS A BOLT THAT 3 QUARTERS INCH LONG . PUT THE TWO CABLES TOGETHER AND BOLTED IT INTO THE SIDE BATTERY. THE BOLT BECAME LOOSE. HAD ALL THE POWER NECESSARY TO STEER OR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE PULLING THIS TRAILER IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE INSERT IN THE BATTERY, WHERE THE THREAD SECTION WAS PUT THE BOLT INTO. IF TIGHTEN EDIT IT PUTS A HOLE IN THE BATTERY AND STARTS TO LEAK BATTERY ACID. EVERY MORNING HE TIGHTENS THE BOLT A LITTLE BIT. CONSUMER SPOKEN WITH GM , AND THEY IGNORED IT. ALSO SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP . THEY DID NOT EVEN BELIEVE HIM. ONE OF THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONE CABLE BECAUSE IT DETERIORATED. HE HAS REPLACED FOR FOUR BATTERIES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE .*AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE IGNITON WAS OFF THE SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS DOOR FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SUDDENLY IGNITED . THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE CAR AND IN FACT THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN IN USE FOR OVER FIVE HOURS. LUCKILY OUR SON WENT OUT INTO THE GARAGE AND REPORTED BACK THAT THE CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE. WHEN I WENT OUT THE FLAMES WERE ALREADY COMING UP THROUGH THE MELTED HOLES IN THE DOOR TRIM PANEL.

ON GOING ELECTRIAL PROBLEMS, REPLACE BATTERY, BATTERY CABLE, ALTERNATER, DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING DOWN CABLE AND CORRODED CABLE.

ELECTRICAL WIRES OVERHEATED. *AK

EA00013. BATTERY LEAKED ACID AND CORRODED MAIN BATTERY CABLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY

PROBLEM STARTED IN MAY WITH PREVIOUS OWNER. BATTERY LEAKING, ALTERNATOR WENT. RADIO WENT INYO ANTI-THEFT. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES (BATTERY LEAKING) & ALTENATOR 2 TIMES SINCE MAY. THE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER ANTI-THEFT MODE WAS FIXED, ONLY CD WOULD WORK. CAR HAS JUST FIED AGAIN. SAW ARTICLE IN PAPER REFERRING THIS PROBLEM BUT WHEN CHECKED WITH DEALER (RT 22-BRIDGEWATER) THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. *AK

THE BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID FROM THE POSITIVE TERMINAL, CAUSING VEHCILE NOT TO START. ENGINEER ANALYSIS# EA00013. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE BATTERY WENT BAD. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY WITH NEW GMC ORIGNAL AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR. NEW BATTERY FAILED MONTHS LATER. POSITIVE TERMINAL ON BATTERY LEAKED AND DESTORYED CONNECTOR. FAILED WHLIE DRIVING CAR ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. CAR STATRED BACK UP. FAILURE WAS ON AND OFF AND HARD TO DETECT. FINALLY FAILED FOR GOOD FEW DAYS LATER. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $600 FOR NEW CABLES & BATTERY. BATTERY DESTORYED ALL POWER CABLES. HAD "COMING TO JESUS" TALK WITH DEALER. WASN'T GOING TO PAY FOR DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE BY THEIR BATTERY THAT THEY INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY. AGREED PAINFULLY TO PAY FOR NEW BATTERY ($79). INSTALLED INTERSTATE BATTERY INTEAD. NO PROBLEMS SINCE.

VEHICLE BATTERY WENT BAD. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY WITH NEW GMC ORIGNAL AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR. NEW BATTERY FAILED MONTHS LATER. POSITIVE TERMINAL ON BATTERY LEAKED AND DESTORYED CONNECTOR. FAILED WHLIE DRIVING CAR ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. CAR STATRED BACK UP. FAILURE WAS ON AND OFF AND HARD TO DETECT. FINALLY FAILED FOR GOOD FEW DAYS LATER. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $600 FOR NEW CABLES & BATTERY. BATTERY DESTORYED ALL POWER CABLES. HAD "COMING TO JESUS" TALK WITH DEALER. WASN'T GOING TO PAY FOR DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE BY THEIR BATTERY THAT THEY INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY. AGREED PAINFULLY TO PAY FOR NEW BATTERY ($79). INSTALLED INTERSTATE BATTERY INTEAD. NO PROBLEMS SINCE.

BATTERY CASE CRACKED AT ENTRY OF TERMINAL CAUSING ACID TO LEAK OUT. OWNER REPLACED BATTERY AND FLUSHED AREA WITH WATER/BAKING SODA SOLUTION TO NEUTRALIZE ACID. POSSIBLE FURTHER CORROSION DAMAGE TO A/C PLUMBING AND OTHER COMPONENTS/WIRING IN THE VICINTIY OF THE BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS INOPERATIVE.

BATTERY LEAKING ACID CAUSED THE SIDE POST TO CRACK AND CORRODE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BATTERY FAILED AND LEAKED BATTERY ACID INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INTERMITTENT FAILURE TO START WAS SUBSEQUENT TO BATTERY FAILURE. NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO BRAKE SUBSYSTEM APPARENT YET, WILL INVESTIGATE BRAKES FURTHER. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED, UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNIT MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE INSULATION WAS BURNED ON THE WIRING INSIDE OF THE TANK. WE HAVE HAD THIS NONE FUNCTIONING FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT COMPLETELY QUIT AND WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT AMP DRAW ENOUGH TO MELT BACK WIRE INSUALTION INSDE THE FUEL TANK SHOULD BE FUSE PROTECTED! LAST TIME THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START THE DEALERSHIP WE USE IN CLINTON MO ( RAYSICK GMC, CLINTON MO) TOWED THE TRUCK IN AND ONCE INSIDE IT STARTED. BUT THE TRUCK HAS LEFT US STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE. *AK

1996 GMC SUBURBAN EXPERIENCES A COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER UPON ACCELERATION. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT RECRANK. AT TIMES, WILL NOT CRANK INITIALLY. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY (TWICE) AND ALTERNATOR. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS BATTERY.

WHILE THE TRUCK IS RUNNING THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF AND ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. WHEN STARTING THE TRUCK, IT WILL NOT START. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 WEEKS. THE BATTERY/STARTER AND ALTERNATOR HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *SLC

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

BATTERY FAILED.

STARTER FAILED.

BATTERY FAILED.