Dash lit up like a Christmas tree; any advice?

676 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by SS WOT, 14 d ago

LS3 VER33

Discussion Starter · 16 d ago

My car has developed an issue recently, which I believe to be electronics issues, but would like the advice of anyone here. The gauges will start going all over the place, in unison, waving around, or sometimes just all go to zero. Then the check engine light comes on, as well as service stabilitrac, power steering, and power brakes. Sometimes it will stay like that for a while; other times they will clear in a few seconds, then all come back a few seconds later and repeat. Then again sometimes all the warning lights will come on and the gauges act normal.
The last couple days it's been doing this constantly, but then all cleared up this morning. While this is happening the car drives 100% normal, not even a trace of a real issue.
Any ideas on what could cause this? I'm thinking a computer somewhere, or possibly a bad sensor, but I have no idea where to start.

Car is a 2015 6MT, suspension mods, exhaust, has been dyno tuned.

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CheeseShells

· #2 · 16 d ago

From my knowledge and a little bit of research this could be due to a weak battery. When was the last time the battery was changed? Could be worth looking into.

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Kevin0311

· #3 · 16 d ago (Edited)

Headers? wires by headers have know to have issues also down by driveshaft known wire issues.

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LS3 VER33

Discussion Starter · #4 · 16 d ago

Ok gives me a couple things to check into. I do have LT's and I did just a few weeks ago notice the starter wire resting on the header, did some damage to the insulation but looked ok. I zip tied it away so should be doing more damage now, but I'll take another look at it and double check for any others.

Should also mention it has also not started twice in the last week when i push the button. It just dings and says to push in the clutch. After 20-30 seconds and multiple tries it will start right up, cranks just like normal once it actually tries.

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Pinetree

· #5 · 16 d ago

May want to check for loose/corroded electrical connections, component grounds, etc. The SS is especially finicky about all things electrical, particularly any thing that causes voltage drop or low voltage.
Wiring diagrams can be found in the "Documents & Manuals" forum to aid in tracking down gremlins.

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SaberOne

· #6 · 16 d ago (Edited)

Anything plugged into the OBD port, or have you ever had an overheating issue, or drive like you stole it? Either one of these ‘can’ cause the DIC to go ‘Mayday Mayday Mayday, I’m going down. 🛩

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HoldenOn

· #7 · 16 d ago

As other stated, check the battery connections and condition. The 'push in the clutch' switch is above the clutch pedal, but I doubt that is your problem with the other issues it presents.

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LS3 VER33

Discussion Starter · #8 · 16 d ago

Checked the battery, it was at 13.7 volts with the car running, connections all tight and no corrosion.
I will definitely go through any other electrical connections I can find and see if there are any issues.

SaberOne said:
Anything plugged into the OBD port, or have you ever had an overheating issue, or drive like you stole it? Either one of these ‘can’ cause the DIC to go ‘Mayday Mayday Mayday, I’m going down. 🛩

Nothing in the OBD. Had some overheating; didn't refill the coolant all the way after having the heads off, didn't notice on my short, mostly down hill, drive to work, but on the way to the auto parts it started. However I was pretty careful to turn it off and let it cool down before it got into the red. This was also a little over a year ago.
Have been known to drive it like I stole it on occasion, but doesn't seem to be directly related to it anyways, the warnings come on very randomly.

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SS WOT

· #9 · 15 d ago

Any OBD2 codes to start diagnosing. Otherwise just guessing. On that note, loose or broken grounds at the back of cylinder heads. This is known to cause misfires and communication faults.

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oitdmser

· #10 · 15 d ago

LS3 VER33 said:
Checked the battery, it was at 13.7 volts with the car running, connections all tight and no corrosion.
I will definitely go through any other electrical connections I can find and see if there are any issues.

Nothing in the OBD. Had some overheating; didn't refill the coolant all the way after having the heads off, didn't notice on my short, mostly down hill, drive to work, but on the way to the auto parts it started. However I was pretty careful to turn it off and let it cool down before it got into the red. This was also a little over a year ago.
Have been known to drive it like I stole it on occasion, but doesn't seem to be directly related to it anyways, the warnings come on very randomly.

You’ll need to load test the battery and check its voltage with the car off.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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cfphelps

· #11 · 15 d ago

LS3 VER33 said:
Checked the battery, it was at 13.7 volts with the car running, connections all tight and no corrosion.
I will definitely go through any other electrical connections I can find and see if there are any issues.

Used to be a battery should be 14.4 while running, but I know more modern cars ease up on the alternator charging in some situations, so I'm not sure if that 14.4 metric applies to the SS

oitdmser said:
You’ll need to load test the battery and check its voltage with the car off.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yeah I'd also be curious about voltage with the car off. The issue happens when the car is running, so there may very well be other connection issues, but the charge system could be hiding battery issues.

One trick we used to do to load test a battery was to measure it with a DMM with the car off, then turn the headlights on for load, and see what the reading did. If it dropped some then held pretty steady, the battery was okay. If it dropped and then kept dropping rapidly, battery was bad.

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jtda7thfigga

· #12 · 14 d ago

possible bad ground somewhere?

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LS3 VER33

Discussion Starter · #13 · 14 d ago

Regarding battery; the 13.7 was at idle when it had just started. I want to say it was in the 12 range when off, and while driving it quickly rose to 14.4.

Picked up a cheap code scanner, figured it would come in handy. Here's the codes it pulled:

Seems to definitely be electrical as suspected, and looks like I should check out fuel pump related stuff first...

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SS WOT

· #14 · 14 d ago

If it goes so far as accessing pump:

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This fuel pump access panel is made to fit over the factory landscape and allows you to easily access your fuel pump while also offering the added space for larger fittings required for some aftermarket fuel pumps. (tested with Fore Triple Pump setup, using 10an fittings) 1 - Stamped Steel...

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LS3 VER33 said:
Regarding battery; the 13.7 was at idle when it had just started. I want to say it was in the 12 range when off, and while driving it quickly rose to 14.4.

Picked up a cheap code scanner, figured it would come in handy. Here's the codes it pulled:
View attachment 305131 View attachment 305132 View attachment 305133 View attachment 305134

Seems to definitely be electrical as suspected, and looks like I should check out fuel pump related stuff first...

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