Random but consistent electrical issues on cold mornings

KTVanHorne
Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:14:24 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

Hey friends, I have a 2006 Chevy Malibu Maxx LT with 94k miles. On cold mornings I have consistent problems with the car’s electronics. They can be as benign as a warning bell about 2-3 minutes after starting driving. Sometimes, one of the warning lights will accompany the bell (power steering, traction control, etc), and then return to normal. Some mornings, all of the gauges will not work/stop working for the first 2-3 minutes of driving and then return to normal. The worst case scenario is that the car will not start at all. All lights, radio, etc. will work, but the car will not crank.
I have had the car to a couple of shops where they have tested the battery and starter. Both are new and working fine. No codes are ever generated.
My question is how can I go about isolating what appears to be an electrical (or electronic) fault somewhere in the system that gets aggrivated by cold weather. I read in another forum that the ignition system in other GM cars (the Saturn ION was one example) would trigger a fault in the ignition system in cold weather and the KeyPass security system would shut down the ignition for 10 minutes. For me, it’s only occasional that the car will not start, but there is some electrical issue most every day that it’s below 40 overnight. I have never had an issue after the car has started once during the day - this only happens on the first start of the day. Only once did the car go 2 days without starting.
What would be your suggested order or investigation?

1. Battery cables?

2. fuses?

3. etc.?
Thank you. K

5 posts - 5 participants