We'll I'm in the process of the conversion to 97++ dash, and I was just removing my old dash and I forgot to unplug the battery before I started, well I carefully unplugged everything from the steering column, radio, a/c, headlights, etc, everything way going great, at some point while removing all the wiring/connectors and relays on the right side, the hatch release switch solenoid thing in the back just starts going crazy, like it has a constant connection, at the same time the theft light LED thing(stock) is blinking like crazy, and a loud fast clicking is coming from one of the far right grey relays and the black box under the dash on the right side, labeled: body control module or something its also clicking very fast and loud, I ran and unhooked the battery as fast as I could to prevent whatever damage hadn't already been done, so I checked all the wires for bare spots, and then checked the hatch release wires very well to for nicks too, nothing. So I had my bro hook up the battery, was donig the same thing, and then I started wiggling all the wires, everything thats loose, the dash is off, everything is exposed, no ammount of moving the wires made it stop, so doesn't seem like a loose connection type deal, so what did I jack up??? Any ideas appreciated, this is my only vehicle, need to get it put back together ASAP!! thnx

 

Maybe something to do with VATS as the theft light thing is blinking fast? while its doing this, the door locks, etc do not work, but the alarm(horn) is not going off either.....

 

There's no telling. Sorry you found out the hard way why disconnecting the battery is the first step in electrical work.

 

agreed and you can screw up your pcm with stuff like this...

 

I'm back in business, was the 2 ground wires that go on that bottom right stud for the dash shell, aperantly when thoose dont get contact its gets pissed lol. Reconnected to test, everything works again, so I'm resuming the dash swap.