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BCM Blowing Fuses

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1K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  Impoor  
#1 ·
Hello, I've got a 2012 Impala LT with 67K miles on it. A week ago on a Tuesday, I got a stabilitrak error that stayed on for 5-10 minutes, then cleared itself. Then the following Friday, the car died in traffic. The key would not rotate to come out and the transmission was locked it park. I had all the dash lit up, the HVAC blower would run, radio would work, but no start, no power windows or locks that would work. I had it towed home.
The next day (Saturday) I found the key release button and removed the key. Tried my spare key and the same thing. No start, key would not come out without using the release button.
Then I started checked fuses under the hood. The third one I checked was the BCM fuse and it was blown. I replaced it, the car started and ran fine. On Monday, I drove it to work, skeptical, but it ran fine. Later that morning, I drove to the doctor and on the way back it blew another BCM fuse. Replaced it and dorve back to work and then home ok.
Could Stabilitrak issue cause the BCM to blow a fuse or are the two unrelated.
I took apart the passenger side plug for the wheel sensor and it was full of water. I blew it out and di-electric greased the connections and plug. But I am worried and another breakdown in traffic. Any ideas out there? TIA
 
#3 ·
Yes, it's possible. The BCM has a few different connections to the ABS and EBCM (electronic brake control module). iirc, the fuse for the wheel sensors is 60A but the fuse for the BCM is only 10A. The water might have caused enough resistance across the data line to blow the BCM fuse but not the sensors' fuse.

No way to say for sure if this is the culprit though without spending some time testing the wiring with a multimeter. That service bulletin may be a factor, or the wiring harness may be damaged somewhere or you may have a bad ground.

I would stash a few extra fuses in the glove box and keep an eye on it for a while to see how it goes.
 
#6 ·
When it blows, ignition is dead, Dash lights all are on, Radio is on and lit up, HVAC blower is on, adjustable and lit up, when it was on the flatbed being towed, the light sensor tripped and turned on the headlights and tail lights. The power windows were dead, the power locks were dead. Evidently the Security was dead, which is why the key would not come out of the ignition switch and the shifter would not come out of park. The turn signals and hazard lights were dead.

Once we got it home, I pulled the negative cable for 10 minutes to see if anything would reset. (before I found the blown fuse). Once I hooked it back up (battery cable) the dash would never relight and everything appeared dead. Once the fuse was replace everything was back to normal.
 
#10 ·
As it was going to take 3 weeks to get it in to be looked at, I removed everything in the way, unplugged everything, then started to look. The harness was not rubbing anywhere, so I removed the plastic caoting on the loom cover and checked all wires, everything was good. Resealed it back up, then took contact cleaner and cleaned the plug contacts and devices they were plugged into. After that I dielectric greased all of them and reassembled everything. Lastly, I decided to pull the dash covers and look at the BCM for oddness. That is when I found that the blug plug into the BCM appeared to not be seated correctly. I unplugged all plugs, cleaned them with contact cleaner and reassembled. Then I let the car go thru all of it's relearning and have been driving it for a month and everything so far is good. I bought the car new and other than a recall, have never had anyone else under the hood. (I only touch my cars, except tires) I wonder if the factory just did not get that plug seated well and vibration was causing the issue? Anyway, happy to have my Impala back. At only 67K on her and the body with no rust underneath, I plan on keeping her a looooong time.