Seth Rose Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Ok I'm having troubles with my car the inside electrical are flashing on and off the car runs just fine but the speedometer and the touch screen and interior lights flash on and off very spasticly. Ive read that it might be the BCM or the splices under the passenger seat i just have no clue what the problem could be. Any help would be much appreciated. Ive had this car for about 8 months and have had minimal problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mc_Reatta Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Best to start with the battery terminals making sure they are clean and tight, and that the battery is properly charged.Then check the grounding point behind the battery that those terminals are clean and secure also.Once you know that the power to the electronics is OK, then could be either connections at the BCM or CPS or either of those modules has gone south. A more detailed list of symptoms might shed some light on which one it is more likely to be. Do you have a spare of either on hand to swap out?Splices on the floor usually have more to do with body electrics, not the instrument panels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 no i dont have one of thoes laying around im 19 and use the car as the commuter it sounds like there is a clicking sound comeing from the relays down by the fuse block Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booreatta Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 the above poster is right it sounds like you are losing connection with the battery. Take the terminals off the battery clean with a wire brush and put them back on. You will hear the clicking sound when the terminals are not quite tight and yours are most likely corroded and loose. That would be the place to start and its free.Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 ok i just tried that scrubbed the crap out of the terminals and put new bolts on it and tightened them down ok nothing on the instrument panel is working besides the lights the rear and front defrost isnt working and nuthing lights up inside not the panel lights or the touch screen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 ok the head lights and blinkers work and so do the wipers but the defrost and the speedometer and crt dont illuminate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mc_Reatta Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 There is a Ground Junction Block above and behind the battery. Check this to ensure that the connections are also clean and tight. 'Instructions can be found on Ronnie's site at:Negative Junction Box Location - ReattaOwner.comA little more to the rear above the coolant overflow tank is another Power Junction Block. Do the same for this block, and check the condition of the fuseable links that enter it.This should give you stable power to the circuits and the fuse blocks. Can you measure the battery voltage? Is it in the high range of 11 volts or more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 If you can't maesure the voltage, Advance Auto offers free charging analyis. Do you mean the defroster doesn't work or that you can't run the climate and other controls thru the touch screen? [because it doesn't illuminate?] Please type so that we might understand you better. Also where are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Doc_Reatta Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Had the same issue with my 88. Checked and secured battery and also charged the heck out of it (a depleted battery of < 10V is NOT enough to secure the electrical). Checked all fuses and relays and ground connections to no avail. Finally replaced the BCM and everything worked as it should. Not saying it's the BCM, just that was my case and I checked everything out before hand. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 i am located south of knoxville iowa about 12 miles and the touch screen does not come on or work at all none of the screens come on or anything and no the defroster does not work either the head lights come on but only on low beams ill have to try the power junction block tomorrow after i get out of class and then let you guys know if that worked thank you guys for trying to help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 and can someone please explain to me what the BCM is and the general area of its location im not say thats it im just wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 The BCM is the Body Control Module (computer). Most of the lights and accessories are controlled by it. It is located behind the glove compartment. Your problem could also be the CPS (Central Power Supply) that supplies power to those items that are not working. Make certain that the CPS fuse #5 is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 ok thanks ill be sure to check that to if it does come down to the bcm or the cps would either one of thoes off of a 1988 park avenue work i know that might be a dumb question but i dont know much about my reatta and i have a park avenue sitting in my back yard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 ok thanks ill be sure to check that to if it does come down to the bcm or the cps would either one of thoes off of a 1988 park avenue work i know that might be a dumb question but i dont know much about my reatta and i have a park avenue sitting in my back yardPark Avenue I don't think so. Riviera yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 88atta Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 (edited) Seth,Go to Reatta.net and sign up for the Field Service Manual that is online there. Will help you a lot and it is FREE! Open the one for the 1989 which is almost the same as for the 1988; the 1988 and 1989 are almost identical vehicles with very few differences. The manual is a must and contains all the basic information that will help understand the terms and key abbreviations etc.. Edited February 1, 2011 by 88atta (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 ok will do thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 ok all the connections are clean and tight and the fuse is fine ill take the one out of my park ave and see if there the same and if not ill have to get one off ebay i guess but i checked the connections idk what to do now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Before I would buy my parts on ebay, I would try one of the suppliers listed at the top of the Reatta forum page, [The page you are on now]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 You will probably need to swap the PROMs (2 in BCM) but if the major assembly is the same part number, it will work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 BCM will probably transfer, but you'll need to get a CPS from a '86-'89 Rivi or another '88/'89 Reatta.Jim Finn has CPSs I believe. I personally am think the CPS. What happens when you press the "hard" buttons on the CRT (i.e. "Summary", "Radio", "Climate", etc.) Any beeps? or lights beside the keys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Keep in mind that the touchscreen is a seperate device from the CRT. The signal from the touchscreen goes to the BCM but the signal from the BCM goes through the CRTC (CRT Controller) before it goes to the CRT but the CRTC rarely fails.Given sporadic lights, speedo, and CRT it sounds more like a bad connection. Is your ALDL cover in place ? The 88 is different from other years and has jumpers for the data line in the cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 im pretty sure the cover is there ill check when i get a chance to make it to my car lots of snow up here and no nothing works on the crt besides the radio screen and after about ten minutes it shuts off like when you sit in the car and shut it off but dont open the doors its like that no beeps when i push buttons or anything ill check the BCM out of my park ave this weekend and see if there the same as for the CPS im not seeing the list of reatta suppliers at the top of the page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 im pretty sure the cover is there ill check when i get a chance to make it to my car lots of snow up here and no nothing works on the crt besides the radio screen and after about ten minutes it shuts off like when you sit in the car and shut it off but dont open the doors its like that no beeps when i push buttons or anything ill check the BCM out of my park ave this weekend and see if there the same as for the CPS im not seeing the list of reatta suppliers at the top of the pageI don't think that anything is wrong except for the fact that your car thinks it is in Park, which is why only the radio screen works. There was another series of posts on that. I thought it had something to do with a switch on the steering column. I believe Padgett handled that. Before you get too far, maybe you should get some info on that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 ok i found them thank you guys your are all being very good help in my time of need. And NCReatta it says you can find complete cars id be interested in haveing another one if the price is right maybe one for parts or one that needs some parts that i can use parts off of mine to fix if you have anything like that id be very interested id like to have another 88 but really anything would be fine with me thank you much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 yea it thinks its in park thats why only the radio screen works but also none of the inside lights come on or the speedo and the defroster doesnt work and the headlights only work on low beams but thanks Daves 89 ill look into that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 im not seeing the list of reatta suppliers at the top of the pageHere you go: http://forums.aaca.org/f116/reatta-resources-287447.htmlIf you're interested in another one, i can probably find you one. I'll look into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 ok thank you very much NCreatta that would be great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mc_Reatta Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 From what I can find, the BCM from the Park Avenue or other full size Buick will not work in the Reatta or any other E platform car even from the same year. CPS probably won't either, can't confirm,There are 3 fuses that could affect the displays which you hopefully already checked, 5, 8, 15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 yea i checkd all the fuses and i emaild Jim Finn about both a CPS and a BCM and well see what he says back. as for the fuse thing if a fuse went bad it wouldnt flash it just be shut off fuses are either good or not good no in between im in aircraft electronics now so this wireing and fuse's are not that big of deal to me I have some what of an understanding of how it works all the connections are good me and everyone in my Airframe and Powerplant class checked I guess ill have to get a BCM or CPS and swap it in and see if that works but thanks for the input Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Have you cleaned and tightened the grounds in the junction box near the battery as suggested by Mc_Reatta in a previous post? It can't be stressed enough about how important those grounds are to the operation of the electronics you are having problems with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 I sure have i cleaned them with a baking soda and water solution and made thoes suckers shine lol and i tightened it as tight as i could get them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mc_Reatta Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Think you've covered all the bases to try to determine that the issue is with a module. CPS is under the dash near where the brake pedal pivots, and the BCM is behind the glove box. If you have the time you can find the modules and disconnect and reconnect the plugs several times after spraying with contact cleaner to see if there is just a bad connection causing your problem. Assuming that won't fix anything, when you get the spares in, you can just disconnect the plug(s) from the installed units and connect the plug to your spare and test before you remove the module from the car. That way you won't waste time replacing the working unit and only replace the bad one. We should probably start up a pool as to which one will be the problem unit. I'm betting on the BCM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Rose Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 alright thanks that very helpful other wise i probly would riped my whole dash apart thank you much and im pretty sure im gonna get another car sometime soon ill probly get one of both it doesnt hurt any to have spares of things im gonna need help with switching the proms thing i have no clue how to do that but thatll be at a later date thank you very much guys you are a great help and will probly hear from me at some point in the future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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