The main body ground is a mesh strap that runs from a tranny bellhousing
bolt to the body usually on GM's.

A secondary one runs from the battery negative to the body by the
battery. A symptom of the main ground dead will be the small one by the
battery first melting the insulation, then cooking.

I also think the frame has a ground strap across an engine mount, but am
not sure where.

The vehicle can 'steal' some ground and run sometimes, but....

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
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wrote:
> hello-
> i have a 99 olds alero 3.4, 80k miles.
> engine runs well for the most part, although subpar mpg.
>
> the problem is that the instrument panel, power windows and ac blower
> are not operating. the gauges (tachometer, fuel, temp, speed) are
> stuck on zero, and the panel lights dont work. the hvac blower will
> not turn on, the windows wont go up or down. after ten minutes of
> driving the blower (if the knob is turned up) and instrument panel
> will suddenly turn on for a minute or so, then die. this cycle will
> repeat.
>
> these symptoms first started out once a week, but now have escalated
> to all the time. finally, dtc codes p1665 and p1676 set (with engine
> check light coming on).
>
> the stereo, courtesy lights, door locks, head lights, engine, work
> fine.
>
> i suspect the problem is a bad ground, loose/poor connection, and the
> troublecodes dealing with the EVAP system are just symptoms of the
> universal problem.
>
> any advice?
>
>
>
> tags: gauges, panel, cluster, blower, fan, dtc, codes, "service
> engine", "check engine light", bad, poor, ground, connection, windows,
> lights, dark, die, died, off, fail, stop, off,
>