When I changed the battery in my Sunfire, I must of done something to F the car up... First, the positive cable sparked as I was tightening it. Then the trunk popped open, then when I went to start it, the Theft Loc engaged. Disconected the battery for a while, carefully reconnected the battery. Theft Loc was turned off... But now the stupid dome light, and trunk light don't work! I checked the fuses, none are popped. I am quite certain this is not going to be an easy fix, just as my extended warranty ran out! Figures!
Anybody got any ideas?
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
I'm guessing that you have a ground missing...check your grounds.
I'm curious how the positive cable could spark while you were tightening it. Since the negative was disconnected (it WAS right?) the positive cable was not completing the circuit from ground so could not have sparked. Your negative could have sparked though. But, this is moot of you installed the cables in the wrong order. Negative should always be removed first, installed last. Theres a possibility you could have buggered up something with the BCM. Or as Mr. Paquin said, a possible bad ground. The trunk light and dome light share the same supply wire according to my 2000 manual so they should share the same fuse as well, your '02 OUGHT to be the same, but don't hold me to that.
Thanks for the replies... Yeah, I did install the cables backwards... Like I mentioned I checked the fuse panel, no specific fuse for the two lights; (shared or otherwise), except the Int. lights fuse... That one is still intact. Looks like I'll need to check the ground. Any idea where the ground in question is? I may seem dumb, but I'm really not... I swear. (I assume there is more than the just the neg terminal on the battery.) I appreciate all the advice.
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
I did some checking in the repair manual, the wiring diagram shows both lights, (as well as a glove box light), running on an orange wire from the "convenience center"... What is that? And each wire has it's own ground wire, Any one know how accessible these are?
I also wonder why this wasn't a fused circuit? The other interior lights are.
As a side note: I don't think I have a glove box light! If so it hasn't worked in a looooong time!
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
if you installed them backwards by mistake its a possibility your fried something...i mean you accidentally created a big short at the main source....check all your fuses...If all are good every single one then you might have a bigger problem. Just make sure the battery is installed correctly and tightly
Just to clarify, I didn't literally connect them backwards... I just connected them in the wrong order. I connected the negative cable before connecting the positive.
What I was basically wanting to know is, if the reapir was one I could do myself with relative ease... Before I took it to someone, and paid an arm and a leg for it. I am still wondering about what exactly the "convience center" would be. It isn't the fuse panel?, or is it? The wiring diagram from a Haynes manual shows them as seperate entities, but I can't figure out what else it could be.
Thanks for the help so far.
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
Quote:
Just to clarify, I didn't literally connect them backwards... I just connected them in the wrong order. I connected the negative cable before connecting the positive.
What I was basically wanting to know is, if the reapir was one I could do myself with relative ease... Before I took it to someone, and paid an arm and a leg for it. I am still wondering about what exactly the "convience center" would be. It isn't the fuse panel?, or is it? The wiring diagram from a Haynes manual shows them as seperate entities, but I can't figure out what else it could be.
Thanks for the help so far.
The reason for connecting and disconnecting ground first is safety (yours, not the car's). If you're trying to bolt on the positive battery cable and your wrench slaps the body of the car, you're going to get a shower of sparks, and you might get burned. Neither the car, nor any of its accessories has ANY IDEA which cable you fastened first.
I think the manual refers to the BCM when it says "convenience center".
The sparks you got could be from anything that would normally have been drawing current (dome light if you left the door open).
Take off the ground for an hour, switch on your headlights so the relay drains any leftover charge. Then turn the switch off, close your doors and reattach the ground. The BCM is just probably in a weird state.
2002 Cavalier 2200 5spd
Wow, Thanks Solid Snake! (I thought the post may be dead.)
Your idea seems like a good one, and something I never would have even ever thought of.
I'll let you know how it works after I give it a try.
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
Gave it a try this morning, it didn't change anything. I guess I'll have to take it to someone to fix. I am out of ideas.
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
I would like to try, and raise the dead... This post!
Its been a while, and there is no change in my situation at all. Any fresh ideas, anyone?
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
Hi
my '93 2.2 has a "Convenience Center" (also called a Multi-function Alarm Module), later models the Body Control Module(as per Solid snake)
My diagram shows a Diode after the Dome/Courtesy lights and on to the left and right rear door switches and the convenience center.
If your later model has a similar system, you may have open circuited the diode and caused the dome light etc, to be inoperative.
Alont
The above post sounds about right. I'd look into that.
Dan Trump
2004 Cavalier LS Sport - Victory Red
How do I even begin to fix that? Replacement?
Where exactly is the BCM at?
Thanks for all the help so far... I appreciate it a lot.
I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...
