Electrical Help

[1978steven]

I need help diagnosing an electrical issue that recently came up with my ECSB 2001 Silverado. Last night my alarm started going off, honking the horn and flashing the lights. I rush outside to find the truck still locked and nothing out of place. I notice the interior lights (over head light, and door lights) would not extinguish when the doors were both closed or when you start the vehicle like they normally did, and the only way to get the lights off was to use the dome over-ride switch on the headlight control panel.

This morning I go out there to investigate a little further. While sitting in the truck I notice that the SECURITY light flashes the whole time and never goes out. Once locked the SECURITY light illuminates and also never goes out. The only way to get the interior lights turned off is by using the dome over-ride. I think I have a bad door closed switch (for lack of a better word), but I wanted to get this on here and see if any of you have experienced this and have a simple solution.

There are no visible switches for either door (that I saw) so where are those guys located? Unfortunately my truck doesn't tell you if you have a door open like my wife's 04' Tahoe, so I'd have to look into each door I guess. I may be way off base with the door switch so I am open to any suggestions, but that was the only thing that made sense to me.

[1978steven]

Mods, I did not notice that there was an Electrical sub-section. If this needs to be moved please feel free...

[GasGuzzler]

Hey bro!

It's kinda weird but there are two types of latches on that vintage truck and I'm not really sure the different options that declare which trucks get which....

Long story short, I'd guess you have the type of latch that has the extra switch...and small and fairly fragile slide switch with a small plastic lever the hooks to one of the moving parts on the latch. For a while GM sold the same latch either way and we had to carefully break the switch off (only "glued" from the factory) and reattach it with super glue to the new latch. I do know it was related to the content theft system...then again, GM is so genius using the same light for CTD and VTD.

Although have seen hardly any issues with it I can see how there could be one. Might have broke from age or someone might have slim-jimmed it and broke it. I know you know how to take off the door panel and have a look see...call me if you need more help.

[1978steven]

Thanks Nathan. This morning I went out again to go over everything before I start to tear into anything, just to get a better visual as to what mechanical stuff is happening when the doors are shut. I noticed on the extended cab doors there is a little lever under the handle that the main door would actuate when fully shut. Is there any switches associated with this lever? I also armed the security system and waited inside the truck for just over 5 minutes, the security light illuminated the whole time, I then manually unlocked the driver door and opened it, no alarm sounded and the security light started to flash repeatedly. I have a feeling it is something to do with the passenger door or passenger extended cab door because with the key in the ignition and open the driver door I get the normal ding ding ding ding.

Thanks for the help.

[1978steven]

Took the passenger door panel off and inspected the latch mechanism. There were 3 harness' plugged into it and all were intact to the latch, nothing felt loose but I did notice some moisture. Unplugged all 3, dried them off along with the latch with compressed air, put a little dielectric grease on each one, and reinstalled. Works like it should now. I went ahead and broke down the driver door and did the same. Interior courtesy lights now work as they should, alarm arms and sounds when door is opened, and everything is back to normal.

Thanks for the direction Nathan, greatly appreciated as usual.

[GasGuzzler]

Good show. Three connectors mean you have the extra slider switch. I think you fixed it with the treatment you did...