Thread: Really weird electrical problem

I'm having an electrical issue where if I start my car with the climate control fan on, the fuel mileage display doesn't power on and the automatic headlights don't turn on. I can however turn my headlights on manually. If I start my car without the fan on, everything else USUALLY works. If I start the car with the fan on and turn the fan off after starting the car, I hear a clicking sound from a relay to the left of the instrument cluster under the dash somewhere. About one second on, one second off. I took the left access panel off and there is a gray relay and a black relay. I felt both of them and I believe the clicking is coming from the gray one that's above the black relay.
if I turn the fan on all the way the fan will run but the fuel mileage display is still off. When the fan is on all the way the air conditioning is also on and I can't turn it off. Upon turning the fan back off the display turns on very dimly and takes a while before it gets brighter. Sometimes the fuel mileage display gets stuck on its startup however and all indicators are lit up
it used to be this problem occurred every few weeks and if I hit the steering column or dash it would start working. The problem is happening most of the time now and the usual stuff doesn't work anymore. I was hitting it while driving today and the display actually went off. So now my usual fix is actually screwing it up more
I also have a problem with my BTSI which may not be related but I figured I'd throw it in there too. It doesn't let me out of park unless I push the manual over-ride in on the console

I also noticed that there's this aluminum finned electrical box or device on the left hand side under the dash as well and it's pretty hot and the wires coming out of it are really warm. What is this?

this is a 2002 Grand Prix GTP 40th anniversary with about 167xxx miles
Surprisingly the car drives okay I just can't use my climate controls
This is getting to be a PITA. Thanks

I just bought the replacement. Hopefully I'll have time to replace it this weekend. I hope it's not a ***** to do

Okay so I started working on it today but I can't find an E5 socket anywhere around here!
its too late today, but there's a napa not far from here that is attached to a napa warehouse. I'm hoping the warehouse will have one and I can continue with this tomorrow
until then, with the panels removed I found the relay that is making all of the chatter. I'm not sure what it is it what it does. Maybe the ignition switch is causing it to come on and off or maybe the relay itself is failing. I don't know
what is this called, what is its purpose, and what does it power and what tells the relay itself to come on?

Here's what the inside looks like. It's the bottom right relay that keeps clicking

Bump for the mystery relays

looks a lot like the DRL module from 98 regal. i was having turn signal and dr l issues.

That could very well be. Which would explain why that relay chatters when it starts screwing up because my automatic lights stop working. I was trying to rule it out as the cause or a side effect. Thank you

wheres your box located? pass side? if so pretty sire thats your drl.


mines located on the driver side kick panel. regal ya know.