Help! Electrical or Alarm problems

[Gunner41]

I have a problem with my R/L turning light indicator in the instrument cluster panel. The light indicators are both lit and when I turn on the right or left signal they will flash/flicker and the lights that lights up the instrument cluster panel also flashes/flicker.
Now when I lock the car using the FOB my front R/L signal/day light running and rear reverse light Flashes/Flicker. When I unlock the car using the FOB the lights stop flashing. I need to know what is the problem and how can I correct this problem. I really need help with this, thanks for your support.;help

 

[timfitz63]

Maybe I'm just not following your description very well, but you almost seem to be describing normal behavior of these systems... :confused

The exterior turn signal lights also act as daytime running lights (DRL's); when you start the vehicle, they will come on and remain illuminated until your shut off the ignition. Not sure to what lights in the instrument cluster you're referring; I'm sure you realize the indicators will blink when you activate the L/R turn signal. Are you talking about the panel lights themselves...? And if the lights are continuously flashing, have you checked the button for the hazard lights to see if they've been inadvertently activated...? :confused

As far as the flashing lights go with locking/unlocking, that sounds normal as well, but again, I may not be picking up on what you're trying to communicate. At least for the later C5's like mine (not sure about the '99's -- I think that year still had the passive unlocking/locking fobs that just had to be brought in the vicinity of the vehicle), preferences can be set through the DIC for exterior lights/horn when locking/unlocking (i.e., when you lock the vehicle/enable the alarm, you can elect to have the lights flash once, the horn honk once, etc.; same sort of thing when you unlock the vehicle/disable the alarm).

If I'm not getting it, fill in more of the details of what's happening.

 

[Gunner41]

Timfitz63

As I looked at the problem. I have noticed the lights that illuminate the cluster panel inside the dash board and the lights that illuminate the R/L door lock/unlock buttons are blinking.
The R/L light indicators inside the cluster panel are lit at the same time and blinks even though the Hazard light buttons are not pushed on.
The Alarm, when I press the lock button on the FOB the R/L signal/DLR and the reverse lights blinks continuously until I press the unlock button on the FOB then it stops.
The problem went away yesterday until I was driving at night. I was making a right turn, I turned on the right signal and the problem returned. The lights inside the car begin to blink again. I will continue to observe the problems and do my best to describe the problem clearly, thanks for your response. I look forward to everyone help with this problem.

 

[timfitz63]

OK. I think I'm following you a bit more clearly now. Sounds like a short somewhere; Corvettes are somewhat notorious for grounding problems (few locations where things can be grounded, and if those grounds come loose, they cause these kinds of problems). Unfortunately, I'm not particularly savvy with electrical faults. If any work has recently been done on the electrical system (or mechanical work that required that some electrical components be disconnected), I'd start there. You might also try pulling any fault codes and decoding them for insight.

I do seem to remember reading about similar kinds of problems (i.e., electrical in nature) in other threads on the forum; recommend you use the search utility (say using the key words "electrical problems"), and peruse the resulting thread list for those pertaining to the C5 Corvette. This will reveal if anyone else has reported a problem like the one you're having. In many cases, dirty contacts or a faulty electrical module may be the culprit. This thread discusses a problem similar to yours, but I can't guarantee the solution will be the same; here's a response in another thread that describes an area in the doors where shorts can develop.

If you've recently replaced the battery (or are on the verge of needing one), you might want to review this thread (and the video links therein) as well, to be certain you've got the correct battery. The C5 can be very fussy about batteries, and weird things may happen with the wrong (or weak) battery.

Good luck! Hope someone else can chime in and fill in more of the blanks!

 

[Gunner41]

Thanks

I have looked at the other threads and they are close to my problem. I will pull codes and check my battery. I did have my headlight motor replaced on the right side about a week ago. I will check the connections.

 

[Gunner41]

Alarm problem

So far I have checked the battery in the Car and it is good. I have replaced the battery in the FOB and there was some change. I have noticed that when I press the Brake the lights in the instrument cluster panel and the DLR/R&L signal lights blinks and the indicator for R&L on in the instrument panel is lit solid about 15 sec and stops until I turn on the R&L signal or press the brake pedal.
When I lock the Car using the FOB the lights flashes and the horn peeps once this will continue for a few sec and stops and then starts again. To stop this I unlocked the car to stop the Flashing lights but a few secs later the Alarm activated. Does this sounds like a short or ground in the Alarm system?:confused

 

[timfitz63]

... Does this sounds like a short or ground in the Alarm system?

Difficult to say from afar; that would certainly be one system to check, but again, I'm going to have to defer to someone far more knowledgeable about the C5 electrical system than I. I was kind-of hoping that someone like Paul ("c4c5specialist") would have chimed in by now...

 

[Toms007]

I have looked at the other threads and they are close to my problem. I will pull codes and check my battery. I did have my headlight motor replaced on the right side about a week ago. I will check the connections.

There is a ground point up there around the headlights, if my memory serves me correctly.