Strange Problem With My XLR?

[XLR ED]

About a month ago I went to get my XLR out of the garage to use it and the door wouldn't open. I could see the red lights on the door panel when I squeezed the door handle and the window tried to index but the door wouldn't open.

I pressed the trunk button on the fob and it wouldn't raise the trunk. So I opened the trunk with the key and then pulled the door release. When the door opened I had no interior lights. I pressed the start button and nothing. So I hooked up the jumper cables and still nothing.

This is where it gets strange. Since I had no power I pressed on the upper left side of the horn button to see if it would blow and the horn blew all of the lights came on along with the alarm. I pressed the unlock button on the fob and the alarm stopped, I then press the start button and the car started. I drove the car and everything worked fine.

I put the car back in the garage after I used it. A week later I went to get it out and it did the samething again. I blew the horn and the power came back on and it started. I have the passive lock function turn off.

So I stopped locking the car and it worked fine everytime I would go to take it out. The last time I used it I locked it when I put it back in the garage and sure enough it wouldn't open again. I used it last night and set it back in the passive lock mode. I am going to see what happens tomorrow when I go to used it.

Any thoughts what is wrong? Why will it start if I blow the horn? Also it will only work if I blow the left side of horn not the right?

 

[carterchapman]

Ed,

This is not an XLR specific reply, but here goes.

I've had battery terminal corrosion on cars in the past and low amp requirement items would not work. But honking the horn (and drawing higher amps) would "break through" the corrosion and allow systems to work. The next day, it was the same thing all over.

Clean your battery terminals and eliminate that as a problem...

I use Boeshield T-9 (from Boeing http://boeshield.com/) on all my electrical terminals on the boat and have now started to use it on all the cars as well...

 

[speedway]

These XLR's are notorious for going through batterys. When was the last time you replaced yours? If its been awhile you may consider that.

Speedway

 

[XLR ED]

Well I went to use the car today and sure enough the door wouldn't open. So I open the trunk and released the door. I tried blowning the horn and the accesory mode came on but the car wouldn't start. I keep playing with the horn and the it went to driver one mode but still wouldn't start. I kept playing with it and then it said service ABS, Traction Control, Active Handling, Low Fuel, Service Vehicle Soon.

Three months ago I had the same problem with these messages and the body control module puked. My Guess is it happened again. The battery tests good so I don't think it is that.

I don't have time to deal with this today since I am going to the Philadelphia Eagles game. I will have to get it towed to the dealer tomorrow. This car has already had three body control modules replaced in it since new.

I love the car but I think it maybe time to go back to a Corvette again.

 

[b_pappy]

Wow, I was going with a low battery, but it sounds like you have checked that. Hate to hear you are having issues with the BCM though. Good luck with whatever you do.
Bruce

 

[XLR ED]

Update

I had the car towed to the dealer today. They found a bad ground at one of the pins on the BCM connector. They didn't charge me for the towing and only charge me $150.00 for the labor time. As I was walking out of the dealership the owner who I know asked me what was your car in for? I told him and he said didn't you have it here a couple of months ago for a BCM problem? He made a copy of the bill and said give me your number and I will call you. One hour later the service rep called and told me there would be no charge for the repair. There are still some good new car dealers out there!

 

[carterchapman]

Good for you and - good for that dealer!

 

[speedway]

Glad to hear all went well. You got yourself a good Dealer for future investments.

Speedway