I have a 96 Z. I strange promblem...I still have the factory Bose radio in the car. For soime strange reason the radio will shut off, and the power windows will stop working as well! Lately it seems to be getting worst! I'm wondering if the radio has something wrong with it! The radio lights up half way! Does anyone ever heard of anything like this.

 

Sounds like it could be the Retained Accessory Power (RAP) function in the BCM having issues.

 

Both the radio and the windows are provided power from the same point coming out of the BCM. It is the dark blue wire on pin C of the black 6 pin connector at the BCM. Seems strange but this line provides the power to the 15 amp radio fuse AND the 30 amp window circuit. So I would expect this blue wire to be sizable.

The BCM is mounted to the HVAC module in the dash. To me it looks like it is behind the radio. It is most likely a metal cased unit and it will have 3 connectors. A blue 32 pin connector. A black 6 pin and a green 6 pin connector.

Your problem could be an intermittent connection, not knowing exactly when you loose power. A few observations could determine if it's intermittent or occurs only at certain times. If it is intermittent, I suggest disconnecting, inspecting and then reconnecting the connectors directly involved in the circuit in question.

You could put a meter on the radio or window fuse to see if it is loosing power when you have the problem you described. You then would have to see if the power is dropping out to the BCM.

It appears that the BCM has a few power feeds going to it. One that actually powers the BCM and at least one other that supplies power that is used by the accessories. While the BCM could continue to get power to power itself. It may be loosing power on the connection that provides power solely for the accessories like the radio and windows.

That power is provided into the BCM on the brown wire on pin D of black connector. This power comes directly from the ignition switch to the BCM. So you could also have a bad ignition switch. Monitoring this line would also tell you where the problem is.

The switch's power(accy input) to the BCM interestingly enough is provided on the brown wire however, it goes through connector C200. So this connection should be checked and reseated as well. C200 is a rather large connector right above the driver side kick panel. This thing is HUGE. The wire you concerned with as I mentioned is the brown wire. It is on pin C6 of the the B and D halves of C200.

The absolute best spot to monitor for voltage dropping out would be at the brown wire of C200 coming from the ignition switch. If voltages is dropping out there, you know the problem is coming from the ignition switch.

 

thanks for all your help guys. hopefully I will be able to troubleshoot this issue tomorrow

 

I've seen a couple posts that mention specific solder joints on the printed circuit board in the BCM that crack, and can be repaired.

 

I removed the radio and drove the car down ocean city for hot rod weekend...Oh yeah...The whole time I had no problems with windows operation. It makes me believe there is something wrong with the head unit.