My daughter has a 1999 Catera, all of the sudden the radio and dash light stopped working while the key is in the run position, she turned the key to the off position and the radio and dash light start to work, in the off position only. Any clue as to what I need to look for, I am lost!
thank you

 

Alot of electrical gremlins in the caddies are ground related. I would start by getting a cheap (haynes, ciltton, about $10-20 depending, great investment) manual and then looking at ground spots. Most electrical problems are shorts, poor conections or fuses (think you can rule out fuse as it is working). Unfortantly very few are easy to find. Yours is a bit wierd, but some of the gorund problems are also very wierd so its the easiest (cheapest if you do it) spot to start. I had some security issues and new key solved them, pretty big long shot, but for $20 it may be worht a try.

I myslef would start the car and wiggle some wires under dash (by key, since the key postion changes it) carefully, see if it blinks on or anything. good luck.. and let us know waht you find. So dang may threads asking for help, but hardly any post the solution (maybe they never ding one?)

 

Great Idea I told my daughter to come to the house this weekend andI would take a look. I replaced the radiator about three weeks ago and the problem started a week os so after that. I like it when i get to see my grown kids so working on her car is just fine, thank you for your imput. have a great weekend.