Baffled where to go next with 99 Tahoe. Picked up at shop. Next day noticed power locks, external entry and power seats were not working. All are covered by a silver metal box circuit breaker in the inside fuse box. I thought itwas a fuse so Istarted to pull it out, it was so hot itblistered my fingers and thumb. Thoughtsomething was wrong if it was that hot, so left it out sincethe locks and seats didn't work anyway. Was going to stop by the dealer and pick up another"fuse" or circuit breaker, whatever it is.

Two days later, after driving as normal, the car won't start. There is power, lights come on, everything works butthe starter. It click, click, clicks. There is a loud buzzing sound after you turn the keyto offcoming from the underhood fuse/module box, but don't know if that is new or not. When I replace the power seat breaker with the power windows breaker, they are both 30 amp metal boxes, it also heats up immediately, however it makes the locks work for one cycle before they go out. When the breaker is out completely, if you press the lock button, the interior lights on the doors and under the dash come on (for remote entry I think), which seems strange since the power locks should be completely dead with the circuit breaker out.

I have tried to jump, nothing happens. I've tried connecting a charger to the battery, it shows that the battery does not need charging. I have checked all the regular fuses, both interior and underhood, none seem to be blown. The confusing set of electrical symptoms, combined with the fact it won't start after removing the breaker that was so hot, suggests to me there is a bad ground or something similar.

That seemsWAY TOOcomplicated for an amateur, as opposed to changing a fuse or circuit breaker, so I'd like to take it to the dealer, but it is in my garage, not an easy place to try to tow it out of.

Are there any suggestions on what might have cascaded to cause the starter problem? The battery is still close to fully charged.

 

I would take the starter and solenoid to an autoparts store (i.e. autozone) and have them checked out. If you turn the key and get the click click click sound while turning the key it sounds like the starter/solenoid. Autozone will check them for free, so you can eliminate those two components. As for the electrical, a bad ground or short sounds like the problem to me. If you can get it started I wouldn't take it to the dealership but to a mechanic. The dealership (better known as the "stealership" will charge you an arm and a leg for the same thing that a mechanic can figure out. Don't know where you live, but ask and someone on this forum I'm sure is from your area and knows a good mechanic. Good luck and hope this helps some.