My 1990 Suburban has become infested with a nasty electrical issue. Over the past week I have noticed the stereo cut out and the dash lights come on like I just started it while driving down the highway. Yesterday when I went to leave work it would not start. I had no key buzzer, no radio, nothing, it was like I wasn't turning the key on. The dome lights still worked and I could still roll the power rear window up and down. I did not think at the time to check anything else. When my wife dropped me off this morning I asked her to drop me off at Big Blue so I could test a few other things. The minute I stuck the key in I got the buzzer and she started right up. Weird.

I drove it home at lunch without incident and checked the voltage at the alternator and battery. Everything looks good here at 14.13 volts. I noticed the positive cable had some corrosion so I cleaned it up. One half mile from work she died and I had to pull over to the side of the road. About the time she came to a stop the dash lights and the stereo came on. Cautiously I drove it home from work and it did this to me twice. I have no choice but to park her until this is fixed.

I'm thinking it may be the ignition switch, but I wanted some expert help from my fellow Camaro buddies. Anyone seen anything like this before? Got any ideas or do you agree with the switch? She is a 1990 Suburban Silverado 1500 2 wheel drive with a 350ci. 170,000 miles on her and I am not ready to replace her.

Thanks!!!!

This may sound silly, but, there is a bolt that holds the engine and front light wiring harness to the bulk head on the inside of the engine compartment, try tightening it up. I had a Chevrolet truck and it was doing the same thing-fixed it for me. The positive battery cable that goes to the starter may also be loose. Try the simple stuff before you try the hard stuff.

Good luck.

Nothing silly about it. I'm all for trying the simple things first. I also thought about a loose ground wire, but she should have plenty of those. Yet, still something to check.

I'll take a look at her tomorrow night and let you know. Thanks!

The wife had a similar problem with her 92 sub, so she went out and bought another car before I had a chance to diagnose it. A couple of days later I determined that she was driving with the factory, anti theft alarm on set to valet. It wasn’t sounding the horn or any thing, but it was disabling the ignition after she would drive a few miles and wouldn’t start until it sat for a while.
We didn’t know it had a hidden bypass button until I started tracing wires.

Have any work done to it recently?

I had my wiper motor (96 GMC Jimmy)repaired on the recall for loss of variable and slow speed operation. In order to replace the motor and circuit board the dealer had to unplug a harness connector above and to the left of the master cylinder. They didn't put it all the way back together and about 2 days later driving down the road the car cut out for about 1/2 second and came back on. When it did it all the dash warning lights went thru their normal start up sequence (parking brake light on ABS light on, Check engine light on, etc.) Did it about 3 more times over the next couple of days before I could send it back to the dealer. One time it did it, it shut off long enough to make me drift to the side of the road and stop in the breakdown lane. It did start back up after I stopped though. Check your harness connectors around the firewall area in the engine compartment.

ummgawa, I owe you a few cold ones!

The positive battery cable at the starter was not fully seated and it allowed the power lead to move around. I changed the starter back in November or December and I guess with the warmer weather the wire had gotten flexible enough that it could move around just perfectly to lose connection. Big Blue is back on the road!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

graemlins/beers.gif

Another day in Paradise... graemlins/thumbsup.gif And to think I was in Oklahoma just last weekend. :D