B3101 on 2015-2017 GMC Sierra: Keyless Entry Faults, Stabilitrak Warnings, and Fixes

What's Unique About the 2015-2017 Gmc SIERRA

For this generation of GMC Sierra (K2XX platform), B3101 is a hallmark symptom of a widespread factory assembly issue. The main dash wiring harness is often pinched between a sharp metal mounting bracket and the truck's body, just behind the driver's side dash near the parking brake. This single point of failure can damage multiple wires, including the LIN bus wire for the RCDLR (often a Tan or Green/Yellow wire), causing a cascade of seemingly unrelated electrical problems and making diagnosis confusing if you're only focused on the key fob system.

Diagnostic Flowchart

Tap your situation to follow the diagnostic path that matches what you're seeing on this vehicle.

Symptoms You May Notice

• Key fob inoperative (cannot lock/unlock doors, use remote start)
• "No Remote Detected" message on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
• "Service Stabilitrak" warning 🎬 See how to troubleshoot common Stabilitrak and traction control warnings.light
• "Service Tire Pressure System" message
• Dead battery or parasitic battery drain
• Rear power windows inoperative
• Rear wiper inoperative (on applicable models like the Yukon/Suburban)
• Radio, touchscreen, or steering wheel controls may be inoperative or blank.

Most Likely Causes

1. Pinched/Chafed Dash Wiring Harness 🔴 High Probability → Shop Dashboard Wiring Harness A known factory assembly issue documented in GM TSB PIT5288H where the harness is pinched between the left instrument panel (I/P) mounting bracket and the truck's body.
   How to confirm: Remove the driver's side lower dash panels. Visually and physically inspect the main harness where it passes the large, metal I/P mounting bracket, specifically near the parking brake pedal assembly. A key diagnostic tip from the TSB is to check if the harness can be moved freely; if it is tight, stuck, or feels flattened, it is likely pinched even if the damage isn't immediately visible on the outside.
   Typical fix: Disconnect the battery. Loosen the I/P mounting bracket bolts, carefully pull the harness free, open the loom, and repair any damaged wires (especially the LIN bus wire for the RCDLR) using solder and heat shrink 🎬 Watch: Professional techniques for repairing damaged automotive wiring harnesses. or approved connectors. Reroute the harness to prevent future contact and secure it away from the bracket with zip ties. Wrap the repaired section in anti-abrasion fabric tape (like Tesa tape).
   Est. part cost: $10-$30

Rare But Worth Checking

• BCM Software Anomaly: As noted in GM TSB 16-NA-277, a rare condition can cause the RCDLR to 'lock-up' and become unresponsive. This is more likely if B3101 is the only code present and the symptoms are intermittent. The fix is a BCM software update performed by a dealer.
• Faulty Remote Control Door Lock Receiver (RCDLR): → Shop Keyless Entry Receiver The module itself can fail, but this is uncommon. This should only be considered after the wiring harness has been thoroughly inspected and confirmed to be undamaged. The OEM part number is often 13587439 (315Mhz) or 13523298 (for passive entry systems), and it requires programming after installation.
• Poor BCM Ground (G218): A poor ground connection at the G218 ground stud, located under the driver's side of the instrument panel near the A-pillar, can cause various electrical issues. TSB 18-NA-161 / PIT5405C addresses this as a cause for similar symptoms and provides a secondary diagnostic path if the harness chafe is not found.
• Corroded Wire in Door Sill: In some cases, water intrusion into the driver's side door sill channel can cause wires running through it to corrode and break. One owner on YouTube with similar symptoms found a broken wire in this location, rather than at the dash pinch point. This is worth inspecting if the primary dash location shows no damage.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Scan all vehicle modules for Diagnostic Trouble Codes. Note the presence of any communication (U-codes) or chassis (C-codes) alongside B3101, as this strongly points to the common wiring issue.
2. As a preliminary step, test the spare key fob and replace the battery (typically CR2032) in the primary fob.
3. If multiple codes are present or the fob battery change has no effect, proceed to a mandatory inspection of the main wiring harness.
4. Disconnect the vehicle's battery.
5. Remove the driver's side lower dash panels and the instrument panel end cap to gain access to the area under the steering column near the parking brake pedal.
6. Carefully inspect the large wiring harness for signs of being pinched, chafed, or crushed by the metal instrument panel support bracket. Per TSB PIT5288H, check if the harness can move freely. If it is tight, it is likely pinched.
7. If damage is found, loosen the bracket, free the harness, and carefully cut open the loom to expose the individual wires.
8. Repair any broken or chafed wires using appropriate connectors or by soldering and covering with heat-shrink tubing.
9. Wrap the repaired section with high-quality anti-abrasion fabric tape (such as Tesa tape).
10. Reroute the harness to ensure it cannot be pinched again and secure it with zip ties before reassembling the dash panels.
11. If no damage is found at the dash pinch point, inspect the wiring loom under the driver's door sill plate for signs of corrosion or water damage.

Parts You'll Likely Need

• Wiring Repair Supplies — This is for repairing the damaged wires in the pinched dash harness, which is the most common cause of code B3101.
  Trusted brands: 3M, Tesa
  Aftermarket price range: $10-$50
• Remote Control Door Lock Receiver (RCDLR) (OEM #13587439) — Rarely needed, but this is the module that fails if the wiring harness is confirmed to be intact. Requires programming after installation.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, GM Genuine
  OEM price range: $35-$60
  Aftermarket price range: $25-$50

Related Codes That Often Appear With This One

• U0028, U0029, U0077, U0126, U0151, U0415, U1548, U1549, U154A — These are various communication (U-prefix) codes that are often set together with B3101 because the pinched dash harness contains data lines for multiple vehicle networks. Their presence strongly supports the harness damage diagnosis.
• C0544, C0710 — These are chassis (C-prefix) codes related to the Stabilitrak system. They appear because the damaged harness can affect communication with the chassis control modules, triggering a 'Service Stabilitrak' warning.
• B144C — This is another body code often seen with B3101 due to the shared wiring harness being damaged.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) & Recalls

• PIT5288H: The primary and most current TSB for this issue. It links B3101 with a dead battery, inoperative windows, Stabilitrak warnings, and a long list of other electrical issues, advising inspection and repair of the left instrument panel wiring harness.
• 16-NA-277: Describes a rare software glitch where the RCDLR module can 'lock up', causing an intermittent B3101. The fix is a BCM reprogram.
• 18-NA-161 / PIT5405C: Details issues related to a poor BCM ground (G218) in the same under-dash area, which can cause similar electrical problems and serves as a good secondary check.

Platform-Specific Known Issues

• A widespread issue documented in GM Technical Service Bulletin PIT5288H (superceding E, G, etc.) describes how the main instrument panel harness gets pinched on the driver's side, causing B3101 and a host of other electrical failures.

Mechanic-Grade Diagnostic Values

• RCDLR (K77) LIN Bus Voltage - At Rest — expected: Approx. 1V below battery system voltage (~11-12V with key on).. Failure: A reading of 0V indicates an open or short to ground. A reading stuck at battery voltage indicates a short to power.
• RCDLR (K77) LIN Bus Voltage - RCDLR Unplugged — expected: Less than 1V with key on.. Failure: A reading of 1V or greater indicates a short to voltage in the wiring harness.
• RCDLR (K77) LIN Bus Resistance to Ground — expected: Infinite resistance (OL - Open Line).. Failure: Any reading less than infinite indicates a short to ground in the harness.
• RCDLR (K77) LIN Bus End-to-End Resistance — expected: Less than 2 Ω between BCM connector X1, pin 26 and RCDLR connector, pin 3.. Failure: A reading of 2 Ω or greater indicates an open or high resistance in the circuit wire itself.

Hidden / Shadow Codes Worth Checking

• B3101 with Symptom Byte (e.g., 02, 5A): GM uses two-digit symptom bytes to provide specific details about the fault. For example, a symptom byte can differentiate between a short to ground, short to voltage, open circuit, or incorrect data. (see via A professional GM-specific scan tool like the GDS2 (Global Diagnostic System 2) is required to view the symptom byte along with the main DTC.)

Scan Tool Commands That Help

• GDS2: Body Control Module > Output Controls > Power Door Locks — Use this bidirectional command to test if the BCM can operate the door locks directly. If the locks work with the scan tool but not the key fob, it helps confirm the fault is in the communication path (LIN bus) or the RCDLR, not the BCM itself.
• GDS2: Remote Control Door Lock Receiver > Configuration/Reset Functions > Add/Replace Key Fobs — This function is required after replacing the RCDLR. It can also be used as a diagnostic step to see if the module will enter 'learn mode'. A failure to enter learn mode points to a power, ground, or internal module fault.
• GDS2 / SPS: Body Control Module Programming and Setup — This is used to apply a software update to the BCM as specified in TSB 16-NA-277. This is a potential fix if B3101 is intermittent and no physical wiring fault is found, as it addresses a condition where the RCDLR can 'lock up'.

Wiring & Ground Locations

• K9 BCM Connector X1, Pin 26 — On the Body Control Module, located under the driver's side of the dashboard.. This is the specific pin on the BCM where the LIN bus serial data circuit for the RCDLR originates. A fault on this circuit is what the BCM logs as code B3101.
• K77 RCDLR Connector, Pin 3 — On the Remote Control Door Lock Receiver module, typically located high in the dashboard above the radio or instrument cluster.. This is the receiving pin for the LIN bus data from the BCM. The wire is often Tan or Green/Yellow. Probing this pin is critical for voltage and resistance tests. Pin 1 is the ground and Pin 4 is battery positive voltage for the module.
• Dash Harness Chafe Point — Behind the driver's side lower dash panel, where the main harness passes a sharp, metal instrument panel mounting bracket near the parking brake assembly.. This is the most common failure location, as documented in TSB PIT5288H. The LIN bus wire in Pin 3 of the RCDLR connector runs through this harness and is often the wire that gets damaged, causing an open or short.

Real Owner Repair Stories

• YouTube video by 'Just a Dude' (2011 Chevrolet Silverado (similar GMT900 platform with same RCDLR principles)) — Key fobs stopped working, no communication with the RCDLR module on the scan tool.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) Replacing key fob batteries., Attempting to reprogram fobs (failed due to no communication).
  ✅ What actually fixed it After confirming the ground was good, the technician found there was no power on the RCDLR's power wire (Red/White wire on that model). Instead of a data line fault (B3101), it was a complete loss of power to the module due to a broken power wire within the harness, which prevented any communication and thus any codes from being set by that module. The fix was to locate and repair the broken power wire.

OEM Part Supersession History

• 13587438 → 13523298 — Standard part revision/update by GM.
  Heads up: This part is for vehicles equipped with the passive entry system.
• 13587439 → N/A — N/A
  Heads up: This part is for vehicles with the standard 315 MHz keyless entry system (non-passive entry). It also functions as the Tire Pressure Monitoring System Receiver.