2004 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical System Problems

One day, after I turned my truck off, I noticed that my taillights and overhead cargo light remained on. Key was out, truck was off, but the lights stayed on. So for the time being, I disconnected the battery. I brought it to a mechanic, who ran the codes that came back that the rear driver turn signal was high, the rear passenger turn signal was high, and the overhead cargo light was high. He checked the entire truck for a short, replaced the taillights, replaced the fuse box, replaced the body control module, and numerous other attempts at a repair, with no success. I was without a vehicle for many months, since I can't afford the absurd prices of the current vehicle market and was hopeful it could be fixed. Reading through some other complaints/online threads, this seems like a fairly common problem with these vehicles. Electrical issues that affect my ability to use a turn signal are a huge safety concern and this needs to be addressed.

Body Control Module, BCM. Controls everything. Air bag can deploy, breaks can lock up. Mine, the hazards were staying on. Chevy Dealer says they are on National Back Order and GM is canceling those orders after so long placed. “We can get you one from a junk yard for $350 but GM won’t let us properly program them with correct codes, and so many times they won’t take, and I can’t return the part”. My response to GM already and to Congressman Westerman, BBB, and the WH. A part such as the on board computer, SAFETY first, should never come from a junk yard and if GM doesn’t want to supply the part AS we all know they need them for newer cars right now….. You, the NHTSB and all of us are in danger. There is an expiration date on our cars, but we’re not being told. A computer that controls EVERYTHING in a vehicle is more important than a safety belt. Me not wearing it kills me. Me being told by the dealer I could leave my fuses out and put my arm out the window. Boy I hate being a retired SGM, cause I ain’t allowed to put my boot in a six.

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 2 HEATER BLOWER RESISTORS DUE TO A MELTDOWN, THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE PUT ON A RECALL NOTICE. I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH AT THE TIME .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING, DOOR CHIME, AND RADIO DID NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAYSE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (2032 S ELLIOTT AVE, AURORA, MO 65605) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRES RUNNING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

VEHICLES BCM-BODY CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE OR THE SYSTEM IN ITS SELF IS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLES WILL NOT START OR MAY SHUT OFF AT RANDOM FROM TIME TO TIME. SCAN TOOLS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS THE BCM. SO REPAIRS MADE MAY MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT A COUPLE HOURS/DAYS/WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM WILL DISGUISE IT SELF AS SOMETHING ELSE OR EVEN COME BACK AS THE SAME PROBLEM. I MYSELF WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STARTER AND HEY IT WORKED, UNTIL 3 HOURS LATER. THEN TOLD THE IGNITION PASSLOCK WAS DEFECTIVE, GOT IT FIXED UNTIL 1 HOUR LATER. NOW I HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO WHAT CONTROLS THE WHOLE SYSTEM, THE BCM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ALL OVER THE WEB FORUMS, I DONT KNOW IF ANY HAS BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA. SO I FIGURED I WOULD START. I HAVE THIS SYSTEM EFFECTS 2004-2012 MODELS OF CHEVY COLORADO, GMC CANYON AND HUMMER H3.

IDLE CONTROL VIA ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY RAISES RPM VERY HIGH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED, CAUSING UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE DURING COASTING OR WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF WITH THE KEY IS THE ONLY ACTION THAT HAS RESULTED IN A CESSATION OF EXTREMELY HIGH IDLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SYMPTOM IS GONE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY. THIS BEHAVIOR IS ERRATIC AND INCONSISTENT, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE DURING DIAGNOSIS. ALL TESTING AND INSPECTION OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY, WIRING HARNESS, CONNECTORS, AND FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPUTER HAS SHOWN NO DEFECT OR INDICATION THAT A WIRING FAULT, DIRTY THROTTLE BODY, OR OTHER "WEAR AND TEAR" ITEM IS THE CAUSE OF THIS INTERMITTENT REVVING AT IDLE. THE MOST RECENT EVENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 9TH 2017. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS, ON AVERAGE ONCE A MONTH IN FREQUENCY.

PROBLEM # 1: HAD TO REPLACE THE HVAC RESISTOR AND ITS WIRING HARNESS. RESISTOR PLUG AND THE HARNESS PLUG WAS BURNED AND MELTED...FIRE HAZARD! THIS SAFETY HAZARD COULD HAVE BURNED UP MY VEHICLE. PROBLEM #2: THE ABS WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS (EVERY DAY OR SO) THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT PARKED ON A LEVEL SURFACE. THE FAULT OCCURS ONCE THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD FROM THE PARKED POSITION.

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2014 WITH ONLY 86000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE BRAND NEW KEY CUT AND PROGRAMMED WHEN I PURCHASED IT. STARTING IN JULY OF 2016 I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH IT NOT STARTING AND CUTTING OUT. NOW IT WON'T START AT ALL. IT IS THE THEFT SYSTEM NOT ALLOWING IT TO START. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE OVER MANY DIFFERENT GM VEHICLES. SOME NEARLY CAUSING WRECKS, STRANDING PEOPLE WITH KIDS , ETC. WHY HAS THIS ISSUE BEEN LET GO FOR SO LONG. DOES GM NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. I BOUGHT ANOTHER CHEVY RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK. WE GOT RID OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING.

I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM OF THIS TRUCK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NO LESS THAN 4 RESISTORS AND CONNECTORS DUE TO MELTING AND BURNED CONNECTIONS. I HAVE NOT HAD TO REPLACE A SINGLE FUSE. MY HVAC IS ONCE AGAIN INOPERABLE AND I HAVE OPENED AND INSPECTED EACH CONNECTION POINT TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE CONNECTORS TO BE BURNED OR MELTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FLAGGED BY THE NHSTA IN THE HUMMER H3 VEHICLES WHICH USE THE SAME HVAC SYSTEM. THE CHEVROLET/GMC/ISUZU COLORADO/CANYON (GMT355) SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THERE IS NO REASON THESE CONNECTIONS SHOULD GET HOT ENOUGH TO BUBBLE AND BURN PLASTIC BEFORE BURNING OUT A FUSE. I CAN PROVIDE IMAGES UPON REQUEST. I CAN ALSO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A FAILED CONNECTOR IN THE HVAC SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FOR PHYSICAL INSPECTION. I HAVE SET THE "FIRE" FLAG ON THIS REPORT AS THERE HAS BEEN EVIDENCE OF MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FIRES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN THE HVAC SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE. *JS

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THROUGH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THE WIRING IN THE DOOR BREAKS. *TR

A/C HEATER RESISTOR AND PLASTIC CONNECTOR FOR BOTH RESISTOR AND BLOWER MOTOR ARCED AND MELTED. ALSO AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. *TR

TURN IGNITION TO OFF POSITION AND PARK INDICATOR LIGHT AND RADIO STAYS ON. HAVE TO JIGGLE KEY TO GET TO GO OFF. COME OUT SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND PARK INDICATOR LIGHT AND RADIO ARE BACK ON./ ALSO, HEAT AND AIR CONTROL FAN ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SPEED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A RESISTOR ,I REPLACED RESISTOR AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO THIS. I CAN REACH DOWN AND JIGGLE THE RESISTOR AND IT WORKS ON ALL SPEEDS FOR A SHORT WHILE ONLY. HAVE A FRIEND WITH GMC CANYON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE HIS WAS NEW ALSO. *TR

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND I LET THE CLUTCH OUT A LITTLE TOO FAST WHICH STALLED THE ENGINE. I WENT TO RESTART AND ENGINE JUST CRANED OVER AND OVER WOULD NOT START. THAT IS WHERE I ALMOST GOT HIT. HAD TO PUSH TRK THRU INTERSECTION .I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH IT NOT RESTARTING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I GO TO START IT DOES NOT START. IT JUST CRANKS OVER.THE BOOK SAYS ITS AN ANTI-THEFT SWITCH.I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING.I HAVE SEEN ON CHEVY COLORADO TRK SITES THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED HER VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY AFTER IT WAS TURNED ON. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED, BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE. IT INVOLVES THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR ASSEMBLY. 8 YEARS AGO MY DAUGHTER USED PUT HER BACK PACK ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR WHERE IT REPEATEDLY MADE IMPACTED THE CONNECTION TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RELAY ASSEMBLY. THIS EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE PIN AND SOCKET ON THE ORANGE WIRE TO SEPARATE TO THE POINT WHERE IT ARCED AND BURNT. I FOUND AND REPAIRED THE SOCKET WHEN THE HEATER WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH. ON THE 16TH OF DEC 2013, A PASSENGER SIZE 12 SHOES ACCIDENTALLY, AND UNWITTINGLY KICKED THE SAME SPOT AND CAUSED THE SAME FAULT. I REPAIRED THE SOCKET AGAIN. MY COMPLAINT IS THE RESISTOR CONNECTION IS IN A SPOT TO EASILY SERVICE, BUT IT IS IN A VULNERABLE SPOT FOR ACCIDENTAL CONTACT. I BELIEVE IT NEEDS A ROBUST PROTECTIVE COVER, EITHER METAL OR PLASTIC. FOR PEOPLE THAT CANNOT REPAIR THEIR OWN VEHICLES, THIS SITUATION COULD COST THEM A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS. MY OTHER ELECTRICAL FAULT IS THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW MOTOR. IT QUIT WORKING COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT APART AND CLEAN THE BRUSHES. IT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS UNTIL IT STOPPED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I REPLACED THE MOTOR BECAUSE I COULD NOT FIND BRUSHES TO REPLACE. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE BRUSHES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE MADE BRITTLE FROM SLAMMING THE DOORS TOO HARD BY THE PASSENGERS. THE DOORS ARE LIGHT AND IT IS COMMON FOR THEM TO SLAMMED. THE BRUSHES OR THE MOTOR NEED TO BE MORE ROBUST. *TR

THE SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS THE FAN SPEED FOR THE HEAT AND A/C QUIT WORKING. THE FAN ONLY WORKS WHEN THE IT IS SET ON HIGH. *TR

I PUT KEY INTO ON POSITION AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME IN FACE. MY FACE WAS RED & SWOLLEN ON RIGHT SIDE WHERE I WAS HIT BY BAG. MY TRUCK NOT MOVING WAS PARKED MY SEATBELT WAS OUT SIDE I WAS GETTING IT ON WHEN BAG DEPLOYED. GM IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME! I KEEP GETTING 1800 CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBERS THEY GAVE ME A PAC # BUT THEY HAVE NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH ME OR DEALER. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IT HAD 101,000 ON IT HAS 176,000 ON IT NOW. GM ONLY AGREED TO TAKE CARE OF IT AFTER I TOLD THEM I WAS IN VEHICLE WHEN THE BAG DEPLOYED. STILL WAITING FOR MY TRUCK TO BE FIXED. DEALER TOLD ME THE COMPUTER IS FRIED SO IT NEEDS BAG AND COMPUTER THEN MAYBE THEY CAN FIND OUT WHY IT BLEW. COST IS $1500-2000 TO FIX THEY SAID IT MAY DO IT AGAIN. SO I LEFT WAITING AND WONDERING WHAT NEXT? LUCKILY I HAD STOPPED FOR WORK SUPPLIES ON MY WAY HOME, AND DID NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT HOME! OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A WRECK! AFTER IT HAPPENED, I WONDERED WHY CAB FILLED WITH POWDER. I CALLED DEALER! THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS, SO I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THEM. THEY CUT BAG OFF WHEEL AND TAPED HORN COVER ON. I RETURNED IT TO THEM TO FIX. THE USED CAR DEALER TURNED IT OVER TO A GM DEALER BY THEM AND THERE IT SITS? WAITING FOR GM TO CALL AND GIVE GM DEALERSHIP THE GO AHEAD TO FIX!, AND FOR GM TO CALL ME AND GIVE ME A REASON FOR ALL OF THIS! *TR

HEATER FAN DOES NOT WORK. IT IS WINTERTIME AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AGES 4 1/2 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS. FAULTY WIRING FOR THE FAN. *TR

EVERYDAY NOW WHEN I TRY TO START THE TRUCK IT TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START, WAIT 15 MINUTES THEN IT WILL START. TODAY WHEN I TRIED IT THE FIRST TIME IT TURNED OVER BUT WOULD NOT START SO WHEN I TURNED IT OFF AT THE KEY IT STOPPED THEN TRIED TO START AGAIN ON ITS OWN FOR ABOUT 8 TO 10 SECS. THE STARTER TURNED THE ENGINE OVER WITHOUT TOUCHING THE IGNITION SWITCH IT THEN STOPPED FOR ABOUT 3 OR 4 SECS THEN TRIED TO START ON ITS OWN AGAIN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE KEY, IT DID THIS START SEQUENCE 3 TIMES IN A ROW. THE GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS TERRIBLY DEFECTIVE AS REPORTED BY ALL THE REPORTS ONLINE AND I BELIEVE MY PROBLEMS ARE A RESULT OF THIS SYSTEM. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STARTED UP DUE TO THE SNOW/ICE TO MELT THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAN WOULD ONLY WORK ON THE HIGH SETTING WHICH IS "4". I REPLACED THE RESISTOR AS IT WAS BURNT. IT WORKED OK FOR A WEEK AND THEN BURNT OUT AGAIN. IF I JIGGLE THE WIRES IT WILL SOMETIMES WORK ON 1, 2 OR 3 SETTING BUT NOT FOR VERY LONG. I HAVE REPLACED 3-4 RESISTORS AND I'M TIRED OF REPLACING THEM. SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS TENS OF THOUSANDS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHEVROLET COLORADOS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. JUST DO AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FIND THE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS YET GM IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING THE FAN QUIT AND THE ENTIRE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAUGE AND FUEL/BATTERY GAUGES. *TR