Need help, the "key stuck no gas gauge" problem

Kael · #1 (**permalink**) 03-24-09, 11:54 AM

Alright, yes I got the key out, I found the little hole underneath and I am able to do that.
2004 cadillac cts 3.6L
Symptoms:
Traction control light is on,
No temp or gas gauge,
Service anti-theft comes on.
Most of the INFO screen information is toast "--:--"
The shift gear indicator light is out and so are the sports and winter buttons (no effect when pushed)
No secondary gear shift actions (locks don't unlock when you put it into park).
Other than that the car drives fine.

Alright fellows. Give me options.
What to check, what to fix.
If its the ecu don't just go "dude, ecu"
go "dude, you need a new passenger side ecu unit, and then you need to take it to the dealer to have it flashed for your car"

Freaking bad ground (i think, its fixed now)

Kael · #2 (**permalink**) 03-24-09, 01:27 PM

I meant the ground is fixed now.
Still having all the other entertaining issues.

Weird point:
The battery voltage is reading around 15.3 - 15.4.
it used to be lower than that on average.

So any fuses that I should check first?
Should I wait and do the twenty cycle thing before ordering a new ecu from the parts yard?

Oh, gmpartsdirect.com
and monsterpartsonline.com both have the powertrain control module (ecu) for around 230-250. monsterpartsonline has cheaper shipping.

dkozloski · #3 (**permalink**) 03-24-09, 02:27 PM

Disconnect the battery. Let the car sit for a few minutes. Reconnect the battery and see what you get. This reboots all the electronics and cures 95% of electrical problems.

Kael · #4 (**permalink**) 03-24-09, 04:07 PM

Did that while fixing the bad ground last night.
I will try it overnight tonight.

Sammy Z · #5 (**permalink**) 03-24-09, 08:55 PM

remove the battery cables and measure the battery with no load. You may have a bad battery.

Kael · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-09, 12:59 PM

okay, pulled the battery positive over night, reattached it this morning.
still the same behavior.

Sammy, wait.. you are saying a battery going bad could cause this?
The car IS a 2004 with 100k on it, original battery.

Kael · #7 (**permalink**) 03-26-09, 04:25 PM

Alright, so lets say I have to get a new ecu.
is the correct part number:
12592124
?

Thanks for any help guys

GT! · #8 (**permalink**) 03-26-09, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

okay, pulled the battery positive over night, reattached it this morning.
still the same behavior.

Sammy, wait.. you are saying a battery going bad could cause this?
The car IS a 2004 with 100k on it, original battery.

Sounds about right for battery replacement. Don't know if this is the actual problem, but I can tell you that your battery's days are numbered

-GT

Sammy Z · #9 (**permalink**) 03-26-09, 09:47 PM

If the battery is 5 years old and your getting strange reading, I'd start there. or if you have access to another battery, like a friend or relative try a temp. swap and see if the symtom changes. Like GT said, its days are numbered anyway, so invest the $100 and eliminate it as a posibility

z06bigbird · #10 (**permalink**) 03-26-09, 11:12 PM

Don't let anyone sell you an alternator and a battery. They never go out at the same time. (almost)

allday · #11 (**permalink**) 08-12-09, 03:15 PM

hey i have the same problem with car did u ever have any luck fixing your car

ewill3rd · #12 (**permalink**) 08-12-09, 04:09 PM

It is likely the ECM when this happens.
Some essential data is lost and the ECM seems to be the guy dropping the ball when this happens.

It has to be programmed and coded for the theft system if it is replaced.

allday · #13 (**permalink**) 08-12-09, 06:34 PM

ok thanks for your help. im going to try this out and hope that it works

RoyalFlush · #14 (**permalink**) 08-13-09, 01:45 AM

I had a similar issue and dkoz is correct. also check if the negative is making any contact. I found that the "teeth" on the cable attatched to the battery was not touching the battery node at all since movement from the battery caused the teeth to eath through the node. The rubber covering over the ends of the wires were creating a little bit of a gap just enough to prevent contact. key would get stuck and lights on the dash were bugged out. so i scrapped at the battery terminal until it was flat again and just tightened it as much as i could when reconnecting. if thats not the prob you might want to check your fuses

ewill3rd · #15 (**permalink**) 08-13-09, 09:08 AM

Please notice I said "likely".
It certainly isn't the only cause.
You could have a communication issue caused by something else that could be at fault here.
As with most things it should be properly diagnosed before you go throwing parts at it.
My suggestion was just that... a suggestion.

Good luck.