Please Help: Electrical Malfunctions Galore

[mrmodine]

I have seen a few threads on this but nothing definitive and I suspect it's just different answers on different threads...I have tried.

Here's my deal. I bought my 06 Armada about 4 months ago and it's in great shape with just under 50k miles on it...no wrecks. In the dealer paperwork, I saw they had replaced a "body computer" which gave me pause but since everything seemed fine, I overlooked it.

About a month ago, I went on a road trip and started having some issues on the 1500 mile trip. It started witht the cruise control not working. I would turn it on and the SET light would just flash. If I stopped the car and restarted, it was fine. It happened about 3 times on that trip total. Also on the trip, the seat settings quit working 1 time but again, a restart fixed that issue as well. That was about it for that trip.

I took it into my trusted mechanic (not the dealership) when I returned and he checked it out and found no codes at all so just told me to keep an eye on it and report back. I plan to see him again today.

Since then, the problem has been getting worse. The CC issue happens quite regularly...ie, about 6 times on a recent 200 mile trip. Sometimes it will even disengage while in use. Other times, it will be on but not in use at the momeent and all of a sudden, the SET light will flash.

Recently, the radio wouldn't work. It was ON...I could change stations, adjust volume control, etc...but no sound. Restart the car...yup, It worked. Last week I had a scare. Went to start the car and pushed on the brake once started and it was spongy and made a grabbing sound on the brake rotor...moved forward and the brakes would work...almost lock actually, but same sound. Turned the truck off and restarted, VOILA!

This is beginning to suck. I'm now worried to take this vehicle anywhere. Sounds like another body computer to me but maybe not??? If so, something has got to be causing it and I can't afford to keep this up for sure.

Any ideas or solutions would be appreciated. I also lost my job about a month ago so this couldn't come at a worse time. Any idea what it's going to cost me to replace a computer?

Thanks,

Christopher
Modified by mrmodine at 11:14 AM 2/22/2010

[SteveTheTech]

Hello there Mrmodine.

It sounds like you have yourself quite an interesting problem here.

The problem your local mechaninc is going to most likely run into is the fact that only a very small number of aftermarket scanners can communicate with all of the control units on your car.

If I were you and and were facing this problem with my car. I would first replace the IPDM (Intelligent Power Distribution Module) which is located behind the battery. This is the power distributing computer which can cause a whole host of problems. You might want to think about either taking it to the dealer for a check out or gamb|ing on an ipdm.

Good Luck.