
Many newer vehicles require modules to be programmed whenever they are replaced. Physically replacing the BCM is only part of the repair though. Once the BCM is located it is usually held in place with a few screws. The BCM is typically located under the dash or behind a kick panel so there will be some minor interior disassembly involved. Water, vibration, heat and age can all contribute to a module failing, which, depending on the placement of the unit in your vehicle, can be difficult to avoid. Most of the time, a damaged BCM will have to be replaced and can’t be repaired.

You can use a circuit tester to troubleshoot the electrical system yourself, but sensor issues are often best left to your local mechanic. If the problems occur intermittently, however, you might need to look into other causes, such as a bad battery or alternator – which won’t provide the level of voltage required for normal operation – or an issue with the fuses or relays in the electrical system. If one or more of these symptoms are present at the same time, chances are it’s an issue with the BCM, and not the statistically less likely situation of multiple vehicle features failing simultaneously. Even a dead battery can be a sign of BCM trouble if components it controls are accidently triggered or left on. You may also have problems with using the factory vehicle security system as it requires several components to cooperate at once. If you suddenly see a number of dashboard warning lights on at once whereas everything was fine yesterday, the BCM could be at fault.
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If you are lucky a check engine light will be triggered and a fault code U0140 (Lost Communication With Body Control Module) set to help you track down the root of the problem.

You may also have problems starting the car. Examples include flashing dash lights, a stereo system switching from AM to CD in the middle of a broadcast, the horn honking when you put down a specific window or hazard lights activating themselves in the middle of a drive. One of the keys to diagnosing a problem with the body control module versus an issue with an individual component is sudden, unusual behavior. While there might not be much of a functional link between your power sunroof and your gauge cluster, having them all under one roof is a common practice in automotive design. Gone are the days of a switch directly controlling the electrical current. When you press the power window button you are telling the BCM to activate the window motor relay on your behalf.

The BCM links together various electronic vehicle features and keeps them under central surveillance to make it easier for your automobile to operate them. But as vehicle became more complicated the number of dedicated wiring circuits became overwhelming, so it made sense to offload some of those functions to things like the BCM.Ī modern car is basically controlled by a group of computers modules at all talk to each other via the onboard CAN bus system.

In the old days the headlight switch was directly connected to the headlight bulbs themselves via dedicated wiring circuit. It’s a bit strange to think that something connects your vehicle’s door locks, windows, headlights and windshield wipers, but that’s exactly what the body control module does. Check out this brief explanation of the BCM and the symptoms that could indicate it’s on the fritz. Since the BCM touches on so many different systems, it’s not always obvious when things start to go awry. A modern vehicle is far more complicated than those built a few decades ago with new components like the BCM to carry out an array of tasks. You’ve probably never thought about the body control module (BCM) in your car, but this component plays an important and comprehensive role in how the electrical features of your vehicle operate.
