Huge electrical issue resolved!!

[Silverado MAX]

I believe this is a good section for this issue but if not let me know and I'll move it. I'm new to this forum, been on GMFS for years though, own a 07 NNBS Silverado Crewcab 6.0L 2x4. Bought a 2010 Tahoe SSV (4x4 police version) back in August to sell. Ever since I picked it up the freaking "hood open" message kept popping up on the DIC very often. Super annoying on the maiden drive from AZ to FL where I live. Over time other electrical issues became apparent.

- hood open message when hood was closed
- dimming headlights, dim back to regular randomly at night mainly the passenger side
- muffled horn sound when pressed
- windshield washer fluid would randomly come out of the nozzle on the wipers without being activated and would continue until the washer fluid tank was emptied unless you cut the vehicle off
- with the vehicle running and the headlights turned off the low beams would give a very very weak light when the efans kicked on

I replaced the hood latch hoping to fix the hood open message but no luck. I thought it might be a grounding issue but I didn't really know where to start to look. I was scared to take it to the dealer because I know how hard and expensive electrical issues can be to diagnose. I set off to googling the shit out of the symptoms, mainly the hood open message. Didn't find any definite answers immediately but ran across the "what needs to be fixed on your ride" thread in the general discussion section back from almost 2 years ago.

One lady member on here, Peaches, had a "hood open" message that she mentioned in this thread. I PM'd her to ask if she ever found a fix for it? Luckily she had after 2 years of having every mechanic known to man look at it. Turned out it was a loose ground in the radiator core support area. She also told me of her other issues that were related, most all of which were the same ones I've been having. She didn't know exactly where the ground was but she got me pointed in the right direction.

So tonight I put the Tahoe up on ramps and started to look for this loose ground. Turns out there are 2 areas the front end electronics are grounded, one on the passenger side and one on the drivers side. They are located right near where the radiator core support is bolted to the frame. Best to access them from under the vehicle, bolt head is on the front side. My passengers side was super loose, the drivers side was a little loose as well. A 10mm socket did the trick to tighten them up, the frame is tapped for them. I only drove a short distance since tightening them up but I'm almost certain my issues is fixed. More to come after my drive to work tomorrow. Here are some pics of the ground locations.

Drivers side


Passenger side


Passenger side ground wire that attaches to this point


I wanted to throw this info up so hopefully it can help some others just like Peaches was so nice to help me out. That's what these forums are all about and I'm so relieved the issue wasn't major. I was scared that the BCM had issues or something worse. Sigh of relief......whew. Thank you tahoeyukonforum.com and member Peaches!!!!!!!!! :

 

[FatBob]

I suspected a ground when you said headlights would come on dim when fans operated. Something was trying to find a ground.

 

[cjweb11]

the washer fluid thing sounds like it would be a pretty funny sight to see, from a 3rd party perspective anyway

 

[SWSS]

thanks. on my 10 hoe there is also a ground point on the body mount right under the drivers side door. they use that one for light harnesses etc...

 

[Peaches]

So stoked the fix worked for you!

Watching the washer fluid pour out of the wipers, while your horn weakly honks, your lights dim and your dash is constantly dinging because "the hood is open" is quite the sight. Such a simple fix, especially when you consider the dealer takes one look at the DIC and says "Oh, well, it says your hood is open. You need to replace that sensor, let me get you a price. You washer reservoir pump is bad, too. We'll need to replace that. And the horn and lights? Those are probably a wiring issue in your dash. I'll need two, maybe three hours to take your steering column apart. The fault is there." WRONG. That invoice was well over a grand.

I sounded crazy, but I was right in the end and it took two hours for them to find a lose ground at the lower radiator. All problems resolved.

 

[Silverado MAX]

So stoked the fix worked for you!

Watching the washer fluid pour out of the wipers, while your horn weakly honks, your lights dim and your dash is constantly dinging because "the hood is open" is quite the sight. Such a simple fix, especially when you consider the dealer takes one look at the DIC and says "Oh, well, it says your hood is open. You need to replace that sensor, let me get you a price. You washer reservoir pump is bad, too. We'll need to replace that. And the horn and lights? Those are probably a wiring issue in your dash. I'll need two, maybe three hours to take your steering column apart. The fault is there." WRONG. That invoice was well over a grand.

I sounded crazy, but I was right in the end and it took two hours for them to find a lose ground at the lower radiator. All problems resolved.

Yes it is a sight to see. Not good on a vehicle you recently bought.... Thanks again Peaches for your help! Don't know if I woulda found this issue without your input, I had no clue where to start to look. It was about to go to the dealer and I'm sure I woulda gotten the same BS run around as you.

 

[David Menifee]

I believe this is a good section for this issue but if not let me know and I'll move it. I'm new to this forum, been on GMFS for years though, own a 07 NNBS Silverado Crewcab 6.0L 2x4. Bought a 2010 Tahoe SSV (4x4 police version) back in August to sell. Ever since I picked it up the freaking "hood open" message kept popping up on the DIC very often. Super annoying on the maiden drive from AZ to FL where I live. Over time other electrical issues became apparent.

- hood open message when hood was closed
- dimming headlights, dim back to regular randomly at night mainly the passenger side
- muffled horn sound when pressed
- windshield washer fluid would randomly come out of the nozzle on the wipers without being activated and would continue until the washer fluid tank was emptied unless you cut the vehicle off
- with the vehicle running and the headlights turned off the low beams would give a very very weak light when the efans kicked on

I replaced the hood latch hoping to fix the hood open message but no luck. I thought it might be a grounding issue but I didn't really know where to start to look. I was scared to take it to the dealer because I know how hard and expensive electrical issues can be to diagnose. I set off to googling the shit out of the symptoms, mainly the hood open message. Didn't find any definite answers immediately but ran across the "what needs to be fixed on your ride" thread in the general discussion section back from almost 2 years ago.

One lady member on here, Peaches, had a "hood open" message that she mentioned in this thread. I PM'd her to ask if she ever found a fix for it? Luckily she had after 2 years of having every mechanic known to man look at it. Turned out it was a loose ground in the radiator core support area. She also told me of her other issues that were related, most all of which were the same ones I've been having. She didn't know exactly where the ground was but she got me pointed in the right direction.

So tonight I put the Tahoe up on ramps and started to look for this loose ground. Turns out there are 2 areas the front end electronics are grounded, one on the passenger side and one on the drivers side. They are located right near where the radiator core support is bolted to the frame. Best to access them from under the vehicle, bolt head is on the front side. My passengers side was super loose, the drivers side was a little loose as well. A 10mm socket did the trick to tighten them up, the frame is tapped for them. I only drove a short distance since tightening them up but I'm almost certain my issues is fixed. More to come after my drive to work tomorrow. Here are some pics of the ground locations.

Drivers side
View attachment 161274

Passenger side
View attachment 161275

Passenger side ground wire that attaches to this point
View attachment 161276

I wanted to throw this info up so hopefully it can help some others just like Peaches was so nice to help me out. That's what these forums are all about and I'm so relieved the issue wasn't major. I was scared that the BCM had issues or something worse. Sigh of relief......whew. Thank you tahoeyukonforum.com and member Peaches!!!!!!!!! :
View attachment 161277

Thank you for the great recommendation! I had the exact same symptoms and the radiator core 10mm bolt was loose as you described. I had this issue for over a year and no mechanic has been able to find the problem.

My issue was specific to a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. Thanks again!

 

[89Suburban]

Thanks guys and gals, this is a great preventative maintenance task to add to the list.

 

[bill1013]

Well, it was either that or it was possessed. Lights dimming, wipers just coming on...there was a movie about that back in the day. Thanks to Uncle Stevie!

 

[George B]

the washer fluid thing sounds like it would be a pretty funny sight to see, from a 3rd party perspective anyway

When the battery in our envoy was going it would randomly squirt the washer fluid at the headlights. Got we a couple times and made me look like I pissed my pants.