SOLVED! Replaced liftgate - now electrical problems

Adjustso3

Original poster
Member
Dec 10, 2017
112
Buffalo, NewYork
Hello, I have a 2003 TB LTZ. The liftgate was rotting in the usual spots, only had 4 lines for the defroster work, and would not lock/unlock. I found a nice liftgate from a 2006 TB LT. While I was disconnecting the electrical connector, I could hear the lock for the liftgate making noise as I was disconnecting it. Ok, here’s the problem now. The liftgate is locked along with the glass and won’t unlock, my key fob no longer works any of the doors, the interior lights are illuminated, and the rear wiper doesn’t work. All that does not work now used to work before I swapped the liftgate. Is it possible that I need to install the original liftgate control module into the “new” liftgate ? I did get the liftgate to open manually through the access hole. Now the electrical connector is disconnected and having the same things not work as when it’s connected. Could a broken wire or bad connector be the problem here ? For now I pressed the interior override button on the dash to shut off the interior lights. Any ideas on what happened since I swapped liftgates ? Thanks
 

xavierny25

Member
Mar 16, 2014
6,324
Staten Island, N.Y
The lift gate module has to get swapped over. Its seems you do have an electrical wire break so pull the boots and go over all the wire with a continuity test from the gate to the inside of the truck. Also check your fuses.
 

mrrsm

Lifetime VIP Donor
Supporting Donor
Member
Oct 22, 2015
7,697
Tampa Bay Area
The Tailgate Lift Gate Module is on the GM Class 2 Serial Network in all GMT360 Vehicles... and if the single 'Signal Wire' feed handling the 5-7 Volts for Low Voltage on the Network leading to the BCM is either broken or shorted to Ground or even to 12 VDC Power anywhere in between... it can actually affect a whole lot of other "Module Members" and make them malfunction, too.

Since the Lift Gate Module is attached directly to the inside of the Lift Gate under the Plastic Cover Panel... The one that you bought may already have a damaged LGM inside and/or cut or shorted wires in the harnesses (there are THREE of them that get plugged into it...) One for the Lift Gate Locking Latch, One for the Windshield Wiper Circuit and One for the Upper Rear Window Release.

So... any number of Shorted or Broken wires could be involved. If you Trace The Harness Leads to which of these Three Gate Components is giving you the trouble... you can narrow the field and know where to start after pulling the Harness Connectors from the LGM to Probe... or... Back Probing with a Small Pin Inserted through the Back of each Wire in the Connector(s) for your Light Probe.

Also... Your OWN Vehicle Grommet Tube that feeds the wiring through the Upper Right Roof area and passes into the Lift Gate could ALSO have 'work hardened' and have broken wires up inside there as well, so ...as originally suggested by @xavierny25 ... Using a lighted "Scope on a Rope" or a Digital Multi-Meter to probe for Continuity should reveal the Culprit(s) . These images provide the Harness Layout of the LGM (Inverted here for the Installed LGM Image so you can read the White Label) to give you a better idea of where to isolate them for probing. The Broken Wire Images show which wires to probe for 12VDC leading from the upper Right Body Feed Through into the Lift Gate:

LGM.jpgLGMTHRUTHEBOOTWIRING.jpgs-l1600A.jpgs-l1600D.jpgLGMTHRUTHEBOOTWIRING2.jpgLGMTHRUTHEBOOTWIRING3.jpgs-l1600.jpg

The Wiring Color - Location Codes related from this List are Hi-Lighted Below:

Audio/Mobile Video

WIRE COLOR POLARITY LOCATION

Battery ORANGE (+) RADIO HARNESS

Accessory ORANGE (DATA) RADIO HARNESS

THE RADIO HARNESS DOES NOT PROVIDE A SWITCHED POWER SOURCE. RUN A WIRE TO THE FUSE-BOX FOR SWITCHED POWER. THE ACCESSORY TURN-ON IS CONTROLLED BY THE CLASS 2 SERIAL NETWORK.

Ground BLACK/WHITE (-) RADIO HARNESS

LF Speaker (+) TAN

THESE WIRES ALSO GO TO THE FRONT LEFT TWEETER

LF Speaker (-) GRAY

RF Speaker (+) LIGHT GREEN

THESE WIRES ALSO GO TO THE FRONT RIGHT TWEETER

RF Speaker (-) DARK GREEN

LR Speaker (+) BROWN

LR Speaker (-) YELLOW

RR Speaker (+) DARK BLUE

RR Speaker (-) LIGHT BLUE

Steering Cntrls OPTIONAL

THIS VEHICLE MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH ONSTAR® AND MAY LOSE DOOR CHIME AND OTHER VEHICLE MONITORING FUNCTIONS WHEN OEM RADIO IS REPLACED. USE PROPER INTEGRATION PIECE TO MAINTAIN THESE FEATURES.

Speed Cntrl OPTIONAL

Radio Security YES

Security

WIRE COLOR POLARITY LOCATION

Battery RED OR RED/WHITE (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Ignition 1 PINK (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Starter 1 YELLOW (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

All Door Trigger GRAY/BLACK (-) IN HARNESS IN DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR

TO AVOID THE DOME LIGHT DELAY FUNCTION, USE INDIVIDUAL DOOR TRIGGERS AND DIODE ISOLATE EACH WIRE,

Dome light Super GRAY/BLACK (-) IN HARNESS AT VEHICLE LIGHT SWITCH

LF Latch GRAY/BLACK (-) IN THE DRIVERS DOOR

RF Latch BLACK/WHITE (-) IN THE PASSENGERS DOOR

LR Latch LIGHT BLUE/BLACK (-) IN THE PASSENGERS DOOR

RR Latch LIGHT GREEN/BLACK (-) IN THE PASSENGERS DOOR

Trunk Trigger PINK/BLACK (-) AT MODULE IN REAR HATCH

VIOLET (-) WILL MONITOR THE GLASS AT THE MODULE IN THE REAR HATCH


Hood Trigger PINK/BLACK (-) ON LEFT INNER FENDER

NOT ON ALL MODELS

Alarm Disarm LT. GREEN (-) IN DRIVERS DOOR AT MODULE

Parking Lights GREY/BLACK (-) AT SWITCH

OR BCM TAN PLUG PIN E5

Low Ctr Pk Lights GRAY/BLACK (-) AT VEHICLE LIGHT SWITCH HARNESS

Data Bus VIOLET (-) AT PIN 2 OF THE DIAGNOSTIC CONNECTOR UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH

Convenience

WIRE COLOR POLARITY LOCATION

Headlights-Lo WHITE (+) IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

LF Pk Lt Bulb BROWN (+) AT FRONT LEFT PARKING LAMP

RF Pk Lt Bulb BROWN (+) AT FRONT RIGHT PARKING LAMP

LR Pk Lt Bulb BROWN (+) AT REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY

RR Pk Lt Bulb BROWN/WHITE (+) AT REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY

All Hazrd Lights WHITE (-) AT VEHILCE HAZARD SWITCH

LF Hazrd Bulb LIGHT BLUE (+) AT FRONT LEFT TURN LAMP

RF Hazrd Bulb DARK BLUE (+) AT FRONT RIGHT TURN LAMP

LR Hazrd Bulb LIGHT BLUE (+) AT REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY

RR Hazrd Bulb DARK BLUE (+) AT REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY

Wipers-Lo PINK (+) AT VEHICLE WIPER CONTROL SWITCH

Wipers-Hi DARK BLUE (-) AT VEHICLE WIPER CONTROL SWITCH


Parking Brake LIGHT BLUE (-) AT VEHICLE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH

Seat Mem 1 WHITE (+) AT MODULE IN DRIVER DOOR

Seat Mem 2 VIOLET (+) AT MODULE IN DRIVER DOOR

Remote Start

WIRE COLOR POLARITY LOCATION

Battery RED OR RED/WHITE (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Ignition 1 PINK (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Ignition 2 WHITE (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Accessory 1 ORANGE (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Accessory 2 BROWN (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Starter 1 YELLOW (+) AT IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

Anti-Theft Type GM PASSLOCK II® ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM

Anti-Theft Descript PASSLOCK II

Key Sense LIGHT GREEN (-) AT THE STEERING COLUMN HARNESS

Tachometer UNCOMMON COLOR (AC) ANY FUEL INJECTOR NOT PINK

Speed Sense DK. GREEN/WHITE (AC) AT RADIO 24 PIN GREY PLUG

OR PCM BLUE CONN. PIN 21

Parking Lights GREY/BLACK (-) AT SWITCH

OR BCM TAN PLUG PIN E5

Low Crr. Pk Lights GRAY/BLACK (-) AT VEHICLE LIGHT SWITCH HARNESS

Brake Lights WHITE (-) AT BRAKE SWITCH ABOVE BRAKE PEDAL

Reverse Lights GRAY (+) IN HARNESS IN DRIVERS KICK-PANEL

Horn BLACK (-) BCM TAN CONN. PIN E12

ALSO BLACK (-) AT BCM MODULE UNDER REAR LEFT SEAT

Modules

WIRE LOCATION

Module 1 BCM-ATTACHED TO THE REAR FUSE BLOCK, BENEATH THE LEFT REAR SEAT

Module 2 ECM-NEAR THE LOWER LEFT FRONT OF THE ENGINE

Module 3 PCM-MOUNTED TO THE UPPER LEFT OF THE ENGINE

Module 4 EBCM- FRONT DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL

Doorlocks/Windows

WIRE COLOR POLARITY LOCATION

Databus Wire VIOLET (-) AT PIN 2 OF THE DIAGNOSTIC CONNECTOR UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH

Power Unlock DATA BUS SYSTEM (REV) AT MOTOR IN DOORS

THE DOOR LOCKS IN THIS VEHICLE ARE MULTIPLEXED. WIRE AS A REVERSING POLARITY SYSTEM IN EACH FRONT DOOR OR ACQUIRE A MULTIPLEX INTERFACE ADAPTER FROM A SECURITY MANUFACTURER.

PowerLock DATA BUS SYSTEM (REV) AT MOTOR IN DOORS

THE DOOR LOCKS IN THIS VEHICLE ARE MULTIPLEXED. WIRE AS A REVERSING POLARITY SYSTEM IN EACH FRONT DOOR OR ACQUIRE A MULTIPLEX INTERFACE ADAPTER FROM A SECURITY MANUFACTURER.

Driver Mtr Unlock TAN (REV) AT THE DRIVERS DOOR MODULE IN THE DRIVERS DOOR 24 PIN CONNECTOR PIN B2

Driver Mtr Lock GREY (REV) AT THE DRIVERS DOOR MODULE IN THE DRIVERS DOOR 24 PIN CONNECTOR PIN B3

Pas Mtr Unlock TAN (REV) AT MOTOR IN DOOR

Pas Mtr Lock GREY (REV) AT MOTOR IN DOOR

LF Window Up DARK BLUE (REV) DRIVER DOOR MODULE

LF Window Dn BROWN (REV) DRIVER DOOR MODULE

RF Window Up LIGHT BLUE (REV) PASSENGER DOOR MODULE

RF Window Dn TAN (REV) PASSENGER DOOR MODULE

LR Window Up DARK BLUE (REV) REAR LEFT WINDOW SWITCH IN REAR LEFT DOOR

LR Window Dn BROWN (REV) REAR LEFT WINDOW SWITCH IN REAR LEFT DOOR

RR Window Up DARK BLUE (REV) REAR RIGHT WINDOW SWITCH IN REAR RIGHT DOOR

RR Window Dn BROWN (REV) REAR RIGHT WINDOW SWITCH IN REAR RIGHT DOOR
 
Last edited:

Adjustso3

Original poster
Member
Dec 10, 2017
112
Buffalo, NewYork
Thanks for the reply’s guys. The first thing I’ll do is swap the liftgate module from the old rusted liftgate to the new one. For all I know, the lock “clicking” before may only of been because I was wiggling the connector to get it to come apart. If everything doesn’t work like before, I’ll check for power on the 3 or 4 wires in the top boot. Last of course I’ll check fuses. I’ll report back. It’s raining and I only have a driveway so it may be a day or two. Thanks for the help.
 

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,320
Ottawa, ON
You might also have to swap the wiring if the liftgate modules are different. Check the connectors and wire colours.
 
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mrrsm

Lifetime VIP Donor
Supporting Donor
Member
Oct 22, 2015
7,697
Tampa Bay Area
These are a few images of a Disassembled Lift Gate Module (...$15.00 via eBay) that I took apart (See Post #31 at the Link below…) with relative ease to discover that one of the Power Tangs (Both Female in the Plug...and Male from the Logic Board side) displayed serious damage due to Electrical Arcing that destroyed the Cadmium Plating on the both the Male & Female sides of their contact points and was sufficiently Violent enough to melt and Carbonize the LGM Plastic Case. Vehicles being driven constantly on Rough Roads and Harsh Terrain can 'Jounce and Bounce' around enough to move the Harnesses and Wire Bundles around enough to cause these Connector to LGM loosening and vibration problems to occur.

These artifacts are NOT easily seen and the LGM needs disassembly in order to assess the problem. Once the Cadmium Plating has been “Sparked and Arced” and melts or vaporizes off… the Mild Steel Tine soon rusts up once exposed to moist air afterwards… further complicating the conductivity issues that prevent the LGM from working right. The additional images are pretty good closeups of the Wire Harness Colors.

It is highly unlikely that the Bread Board inside of the LGM unit ever suffers failure from any surface mounted or wave soldered components. The weakest link here… seems to be the mix and match of male and female connectors as a point of focus where they are supposed to plug up and stay in close contact...without inviting 12 VDC Arcing. I would NOT be the least bit surprised if many of these kinds of Harness and Connector problems are caused by Excessive Body Vibrations from having Bad Motor Mounts :

By the way... I'm attaching a Full Size Color Diagram of the Entire Class 2 Network in your vehicle to assist you with your Network Wire Tracing:


COMPUTERDATALINESYSTEM.jpeg


https://gmtnation.com/forums/threads/how-to-make-a-gymko-tech-2-bench-top-test-harness.18272/

LGMDISASSEMBLED.jpgLGMHARNESSWIRECOLORS.jpgLGMHARNESSWIRECOLORS1.jpgLGMHARNESSWIREDAMAGE.jpgLGMHARNESSWIREDAMAGE1.jpgLGMLOGICBOARDAMAGE.jpgLGMPLASTICASEDAMAGE.jpg
 
Last edited:

Adjustso3

Original poster
Member
Dec 10, 2017
112
Buffalo, NewYork
Thanks for the reply’s. I sure hope the modules and wiring are the same. I’m still surprised that when I disconnected the connector for the liftgate on top, that the key fobs, interior lights would continue to work as they should. Still raining here, sure wish I had a garage. Thanks again.
 
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Adjustso3

Original poster
Member
Dec 10, 2017
112
Buffalo, NewYork
I just wanted to let any readers know that my swapped liftgate is now completely functional and the problems with the key fobs not working etc are now back to normal. All I did was swap the “new” liftgate module with the original one from the rusted out liftgate. The wiring harness was the same and they appeared to be the same. I’m not sure if the “new” LGM was bad or my TB just needed the original LGM for everything to function back to normal.
 

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