Hey all,
First off. This is my first post on this site. Glad to have found it. I was on the other site, but it seems to be going downhill quickly! Anyways, I will refrain from those comments (for now, and for a different discussion area).
I drive a 2004 Envoy (126,000 miles, I6, 4x4).
About 3 months ago, I was driving to lunch one day, and the ABS and Brake Light came on, along with the DIC message "service brake system". There were also about 30 chimes that go off when the lights came on, and the chimes last about 8 seconds.
I had the ABS code scanned. The code (which I don't remember the actually code number) came out to be "lost communication with the EBCM". So, I naturally checked the ground wire (under the Envoy, in front of the driver's door). I took it off, cleaned it up with a wire brush, and put it back on. Still have the same issue when reading it with the code scanner.
I put the Envoy up on a lift, and started poking and prodding just to see what I could see. I pulled 2 of the wire harnesses out of the EBCM, and they both seemed to be looking good. Nothing out of the ordinary. No dirt, or corrosion. Then there it was!
I had to remove some of the hard black plastic covering the wires, and found a small little nick in one of the wires (for the EBCM power). As I peeled back the plastic coating around the wire, it turned out that the wire was cut almost completely through. It was also packed with the green corrosion. There was actually only 2 tiny strands of the wire holding it together. I thought that this is why the problem was so intermittent at the onset of the problem.
I cleaned it up as much as I could, and I didn't have much wire to splice back together. I did what I could, then I got out the solder gun, and did what I could. I plugged it back in, and the problem did not go away.
I did check the fuses for the EBCM.
I then purchased a new power connector for the EBCM, which did not resolve the issue.
Unlike the early onset of the issue, the ABS and E-Brake lights stay on all of the time now. And, about once a week, the door chime will ring like it always has. It's nice that the door chime doesn't go off as much anymore, but IF I ever decide to sell this vehicle, it sure would be nice if those lights would not be on!
I am wondering if the EBCM unit is fried. And, if that is the case, is there any way of testing the EBCM without just putting a brand new one in?
I have heard that a new EBCM can cost up to $900-1,000. That's quite a bit of money to throw at it when it might not be bad at all.
Also, I have heard that if you do replace the EBCM, you need to take the vehicle to the dealer to have it programmed. Not too sure why you would have to do that for the ABS.
Thanks!
Jason
First off. This is my first post on this site. Glad to have found it. I was on the other site, but it seems to be going downhill quickly! Anyways, I will refrain from those comments (for now, and for a different discussion area).
I drive a 2004 Envoy (126,000 miles, I6, 4x4).
About 3 months ago, I was driving to lunch one day, and the ABS and Brake Light came on, along with the DIC message "service brake system". There were also about 30 chimes that go off when the lights came on, and the chimes last about 8 seconds.
I had the ABS code scanned. The code (which I don't remember the actually code number) came out to be "lost communication with the EBCM". So, I naturally checked the ground wire (under the Envoy, in front of the driver's door). I took it off, cleaned it up with a wire brush, and put it back on. Still have the same issue when reading it with the code scanner.
I put the Envoy up on a lift, and started poking and prodding just to see what I could see. I pulled 2 of the wire harnesses out of the EBCM, and they both seemed to be looking good. Nothing out of the ordinary. No dirt, or corrosion. Then there it was!
I had to remove some of the hard black plastic covering the wires, and found a small little nick in one of the wires (for the EBCM power). As I peeled back the plastic coating around the wire, it turned out that the wire was cut almost completely through. It was also packed with the green corrosion. There was actually only 2 tiny strands of the wire holding it together. I thought that this is why the problem was so intermittent at the onset of the problem.
I cleaned it up as much as I could, and I didn't have much wire to splice back together. I did what I could, then I got out the solder gun, and did what I could. I plugged it back in, and the problem did not go away.
I did check the fuses for the EBCM.
I then purchased a new power connector for the EBCM, which did not resolve the issue.
Unlike the early onset of the issue, the ABS and E-Brake lights stay on all of the time now. And, about once a week, the door chime will ring like it always has. It's nice that the door chime doesn't go off as much anymore, but IF I ever decide to sell this vehicle, it sure would be nice if those lights would not be on!
I am wondering if the EBCM unit is fried. And, if that is the case, is there any way of testing the EBCM without just putting a brand new one in?
I have heard that a new EBCM can cost up to $900-1,000. That's quite a bit of money to throw at it when it might not be bad at all.
Also, I have heard that if you do replace the EBCM, you need to take the vehicle to the dealer to have it programmed. Not too sure why you would have to do that for the ABS.
Thanks!
Jason
. Maybe somebody can chime in but what if it's the BCM that having problems since it does control the interior light? Or the EBCM is back feeding some sort of bad signal to the BCM to turn on the lights? They do talk to each other and the PCM. Just grasping at straws here, totally lost on this one. Would need a Tech2 while it happens to see what is happening and would need someone that really knows how to use it. And if it's a VERY intermittent problem, it can be difficult to get it to do it while trying to diagnose it (read: expensive per hour time at dealer).