Contact Dealer Red X

[sdkellogg]

So I drove my car around all weekend with no issues. This morning I go out to my car to leave for work, won't start. On the DIC it comes up with a "Red X" and says contact dealer. I call the dealer and they ask if I have a check engine light on, which I don't. All I have is the Red X and my Stability Control keeps turning on and off. The guy at the dealership said he has no idea what this might be and I don't know either. Has anyone ever had issues with this before? Also, like I said I cant even start the vehicle.

[terryscott621]

Right before my battery died my car was doing the exact same thing. Red X (contact dealer) and my stability control wouldn't turn back on. When's the last time you changed your battery (if ever)?

[sdkellogg]

I'm the second owner of the vehicle and I haven't changed the battery since I purchased it. It has an AC Delco battery in it, not sure if that's what comes stock. Everything electronically operates on the vehicle which is weird so I didn't think it was my battery but I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

[terryscott621]

I was also still able to operate the windows, radio, sunroof. . .etc, but wasn't able to turn the car over. Try to jump start the car, if it starts then you know it's the battery.

The AC Delco is the OEM battery. I would bet it's still the original battery. Mine lasted almost 6 years, but finally died a few months ago. I got a new battery from auotzone for $200 I believe.

DIY Battery replacement: http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63768

[sdkellogg]

Thanks for the tip, I'll give that a shot as soon as I get home from work.

[sdkellogg]

I wasn't able to jump the car, took my battery into Auto Zone and they said it was at 12.56V with an 84% charge. However the car doesn't even make a sound when trying to turn it over. It did say to replace my battery after checking it so I'm going to buy one and see if that works. In engineering mode it says my battery voltage is at 10.3v and my battery charge is 0%.

[sdkellogg]

New battery didn't work either. Doesn't even make a sound when attempting to start the vehicle. Very weird...

[terryscott621]

So with the new battery it won't turn over? What about the accessories (radio, Windows, ... Etc)? Do they work?


Terry Scott
San Antonio, TX
--Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk--

[sdkellogg]

yeah everything in the car works fine(radio, A/C, lights, dash, etc..). The car just won't start though, doesn't even make a sound when I turn the key. I have a airbag light on, very low fuel, stability control, and the contact dealer x on. I checked all my fuses and haven't seen any that are blown. I'm not sure if there's a fusible line that blew somewhere. I have an OBDII scanner but it's not throwing any codes.

[sdkellogg]

So another piece of interesting information about this. I don't have the fuse cover that goes above the battery and while changing my fuel injectors the other day my friend said that while disconnecting the negative terminal on the battery he almost welded a screw driver to the area of the f-11 fuse (RVC SNSR). He didn't blow the fuse that was in there but one of the pins on it is almost melted all the way through. I changed that yesterday and didn't help. I'm not sure where this fuse heads, might help in finding the problem.

[TooManyHobbies]

Probably one of the fusible links went during that short.

[sdkellogg]

Should be fun trying to find that.. :hang:

[sdkellogg]

Pulled two codes off of my car tonight when I got home from work... (U0100 & C0561)

Not sure if anyone has had this before, I'm not sure what the chances are of my ECM being completely fried :huh:

[MongosG8]

Pulled two codes off of my car tonight when I got home from work... (U0100 & C0561)

Not sure if anyone has had this before, I'm not sure what the chances are of my ECM being completely fried :huh:



If Im not mistaken the U0100 means the computer (ECM) is down due to not communicating with the controller for the trans and/or the ABS. & the C0561 is basically a code related to U0100

..Code C0561 system disabled information stored ( the electronic brake control module disables the traction control system when their is a DTC stored that might effect the traction control system, could be caused by the U0100

Just an FYI I had found

C0561 service bulletin

GM has issued a service bulletin (PIC5074B) to address a C0561 trouble code on the following vehicles:

GM advises to check for all other codes that may be stored and address those first. GM has discovered that the most common cause of the C0561 code is a faulty traction control switch assembly. However, before replacing the switch, GM suggests checking the body control module to make sure it’s activating the traction control on and off like it should.

Be aware that the system depends on ABS and traction control systems rely on digital data and any short or malfunction in other modules can interrupt or corrupt the data lines.

[-Ray-]

I wasn't able to jump the car, took my battery into Auto Zone and they said it was at 12.56V with an 84% charge. However the car doesn't even make a sound when trying to turn it over. It did say to replace my battery after checking it so I'm going to buy one and see if that works. In engineering mode it says my battery voltage is at 10.3v and my battery charge is 0%.

Any time the battery is disconnected the state of charge is set to zero. Check it before you disconnect. It will take a few starts and driving to get it to normal. Also, putting the battery on a charger until it's at full charge will set state of charge to 100%.

[sdkellogg]

Any time the battery is disconnected the state of charge is set to zero. Check it before you disconnect. It will take a few starts and driving to get it to normal. Also, putting the battery on a charger until it's at full charge will set state of charge to 100%.

The problem is it wasn't reading the battery charge that had been in my car since I purchased it, not a new battery. I can't even get the car to start at all either. This is the third Pontiac I have owned (GTP, GTO, G8) and all of them have had electrical issues. Can't win with these for some reason.

[sdkellogg]

If Im not mistaken the U0100 means the computer (ECM) is down due to not communicating with the controller for the trans and/or the ABS. & the C0561 is basically a code related to U0100

..Code C0561 system disabled information stored ( the electronic brake control module disables the traction control system when their is a DTC stored that might effect the traction control system, could be caused by the U0100

Just an FYI I had found

C0561 service bulletin

GM has issued a service bulletin (PIC5074B) to address a C0561 trouble code on the following vehicles:

GM advises to check for all other codes that may be stored and address those first. GM has discovered that the most common cause of the C0561 code is a faulty traction control switch assembly. However, before replacing the switch, GM suggests checking the body control module to make sure it’s activating the traction control on and off like it should.

Be aware that the system depends on ABS and traction control systems rely on digital data and any short or malfunction in other modules can interrupt or corrupt the data lines.

I'm about 99% sure like you said this has nothing to do with traction control because I've never had a light on for that until this happened. I've researched the U0100 code a little and it seems like there's about 100 things that can cause that code to be thrown from shorts, grounds, or just a fried ECM. The dealership just wants to throw in a new ECM but my mechanic said that's most likely not my issue.

[MongosG8]

Probably one of the fusible links went during that short.


I'm about 99% sure like you said this has nothing to do with traction control because I've never had a light on for that until this happened. I've researched the U0100 code a little and it seems like there's about 100 things that can cause that code to be thrown from shorts, grounds, or just a fried ECM. The dealership just wants to throw in a new ECM but my mechanic said that's most likely not my issue.


I agree with Toomanyhobbies

I also agree with your mechanic. My gut tells me this is really due to a short.

Sounds tedious but did you happen to go through all your fuses just in case? ..under the hood etc?
Any links to any major systems or the modules that link the two? ex.. Traction Control, ABS, Trans ..etc

[-Ray-]

The problem is it wasn't reading the battery charge that had been in my car since I purchased it, not a new battery. I can't even get the car to start at all either. This is the third Pontiac I have owned (GTP, GTO, G8) and all of them have had electrical issues. Can't win with these for some reason.

I've read all of your posts in this thread. This is the 1st time you said it won't read the battery charge in engineering mode. You need a Tech II. I'm friends with the dealership techs in my town. They would bring one to me if I needed it for my g8. You need a friend.

Check the fuseable link at the positive battery terminal.

[STL_G8GT]

So another piece of interesting information about this. I don't have the fuse cover that goes above the battery and while changing my fuel injectors the other day my friend said that while disconnecting the negative terminal on the battery he almost welded a screw driver to the area of the f-11 fuse (RVC SNSR). He didn't blow the fuse that was in there but one of the pins on it is almost melted all the way through. I changed that yesterday and didn't help. I'm not sure where this fuse heads, might help in finding the problem.


Did this happen after the last time you drove it?

[AuuuSSSIII YA' LATA]

Don't know how many miles are on your car but ecms are covered 8yrs/80k. Sounds like u may have shorted something. Try a key relearn (30 min process) maybe lost the key program

Sent from my K011 using Tapatalk

[sdkellogg]

Did this happen after the last time you drove it?

Yeah, I changed them on the weekend and got into it for work the next morning and had nothing.

[sdkellogg]

Don't know how many miles are on your car but ecms are covered 8yrs/80k. Sounds like u may have shorted something. Try a key relearn (30 min process) maybe lost the key program

Sent from my K011 using Tapatalk


I can give that a shot. I have 83xxx miles on my car so of course I'm just outside of that. That's what I get for driving from California to Michigan a few times while I was in the military.

[AuuuSSSIII YA' LATA]

Do u get a security light when you try to turn the key?

Sent from my K011 using Tapatalk

[sdkellogg]

Do u get a security light when you try to turn the key?

Sent from my K011 using Tapatalk

Nope no security light, no check engine light...just about every other light in the vehicle goes on. Currently I have; Very Low Fuel, Stability Control Off, ABS, Brake, Battery Saver Mode, Airbag Fault, Service Charging System, Contact Dealer X

[sdkellogg]

Thought I'd post a final update on this...had the car in the shop the last week and it ended up just being a bad ECM. Luckily my mechanic has everything to flash a new ECM in the car so that's saving me a little bit of money. Not gonna lie, that was a gigantic pain in the ass.

[Kermit]

Glad you got everything figured out.

[MongosG8]

Glad it worked out!

[sdkellogg]

Thanks! Still waiting to get it back, hopefully Friday.

[MongosG8]

Thanks! Still waiting to get it back, hopefully Friday.

Keep us posted Hope it all works out !

[AVIDMOTION]

update us...

[sdkellogg]

update us...

Wish I could, don't have the car back yet.

[AVIDMOTION]

Wow, takes less then an hour to change the ECM, what's their hold up

[MongosG8]

Wish I could, don't have the car back yet.


Like AVIDMOTION stated ..changing the ECM is fairly easy and Im sure your tech has to get the kinks out. But something tells me It wasn't just the ECM. Makes me wonder if you did have a short?

Hope it all works out!

[sdkellogg]

I just got a call today..my mechanic sent my car over to the dealership two days ago, said he was having issues with it. He said he spoke to the dealer last night and they were also having issues with the car. It's been at my mechanic/dealer for 3 weeks now and still don't have any definitive news. I'm starting to get a little pissed off.

[sdkellogg]

Trust me, if anyone wants to know what the hell is going on its me haha. This whole process has just been frustrating.

[johnbell2]

"... while disconnecting the negative terminal on the battery he almost welded a screw driver to the area of the f-11 fuse (RVC SNSR)."

uh, yeah... no bueno, it's going to take them a while to work through the effects of that...

next time when you're doing work on the engine I'd recommend disconnecting the battery... just a good best practice...

edit: I suppose it's a chicken / egg problem in this case... I got nothin'

[sdkellogg]

Got the car back, final update time. Also, before I start I wanna let everyone know the final amount for this was just under $2K. Here's what my bill states; "No power to under hood fuse block and rear fuse block. Trace to blown 60 amp mega fuse at battery. ECM connector broken. Replace fuse and ECM X1 connector. Reprogram customers ECM and relearn theft".

So that's what I got, also paid for a new battery because the old one died while at the shop.

[TooManyHobbies]

Why did they break the ECM connector :D

[MongosG8]

Holy shit! ..So yo had much more going on as expected.. Sucks that one big oops could cause so much $$ in damage.

Well its over and glad you can get back into your G8 ..hope all else is fine!