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Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical/Lighting

245

Comments

  • bcarson1bcarson1 Member Posts: 4
    I had a problem with my car leaking water in through the cowling above the AC/Heat blower motor. I have fixed the leak and replaced the blower motor.

    When the leak was present my door locks would lock and unlock while I was driving and sometimes they wouldn't lock when you put the car in gear, and they would not unlock when you shut the car off.

    Now they don't lock while I'm driving, but they also don't lock when you put the car in gear and if I lock them they don't unlock when I shut the car off. Is there a specific fuse that might have corrosion on it or something like that? I can't find a fuse for just power locks. There are fuses for security, pass III and so on...
  • ribscarsribscars Member Posts: 5
    I have a 2001 Grand Prix GT,Does any one know how to program the key fobs(keyless entry)remotes.
  • brightguybrightguy Member Posts: 5
    My 97 pontiac would not start, even with 12v at the starter, I cleaned the two plugs on the fender going to the crusecontrol, starten right up. :)
  • brightguybrightguy Member Posts: 5
    In The back of the manual(haynes), the last schmatic shows a box (for)daylight running lights, and the same thing with the box gone for no dlr;s.Got me where the boxs is but it needs to be removed and wires put back together.
  • duane9586duane9586 Member Posts: 1
    I am trying to locate the relay for the secondary air injection system, any help would be great. thanx
  • boez03gtboez03gt Member Posts: 2
    I have an '03 GT & the drivers heated seat continued to heat after the switch was shut off. The next morning I had a dead battery. I took the fuse out. Any ideas on what's wrong?
  • ExPhysExPhys Member Posts: 1
    Did you ever get this working? What did you have to do? I'm having the exact same problem. Thanks.
  • jlucas70jlucas70 Member Posts: 1
    My windshield wipers on my 98 gtp work fine when turned on, but when they are turned of they go staight up to the verticle position and stay there. Any ideas?
  • washingtondavewashingtondave Member Posts: 1
    I had the exact same problem for two days on my 2002 Grand Prix V6 3.8L last year, with only the center brake light working. I looked at the wiring, etc. but could not find the problem. Just as suddenly the problem went away for about one year but I never knew why the two brake lights worked once again.

    Last week the same brake light problem reappeared with center light OK and turn signals working but the two main brake lights would NOT work when I pressed down on the brake pedal. The two brake light bulbs did light up when I used a remote function like locking or unlocking the car or opening the trunk. I then searched most of the web and found one person who suggested a solution that he said sounded silly but that worked for him. I tried the solution and it also worked for me.

    Seems the problem has to do with the hazard and signal switch and some kind of short. I noted many more messages on the web describing the same problem, some with even more symptoms.

    Solution: My hazard signal switch was stuck in the down or off position. I carefully jiggled the switch with light upward pressure. The hazard switch button broke free after a few seconds and the 4 way flashers engaged and worked without problem. I then clicked the hazard switch on and off about three or four times. Now my brake lights work fine. It has been 5 days and the brake lights are still working without problem. Try this simple solution and see if that solves your problem. It saved me a lot of money at the dealer. My internet research says total cost to fix this problem at the dealer is about $600 ($350 labor and $250 parts). The part is a multi function or combination switch and includes turn signals, hazard, cruise control, etc. Hope this helps a little.
  • chele5chele5 Member Posts: 8
    I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix...150,000 miles.

    Randomly, but typically when the engine is first started, the ac/heat/fan/rear defogger and the headlights won't turn on. (The car has a built in sensor for the headlights to turn on automatically at dark. If I turn the light on manually, they work fine.)
    The other evening, I was driving and the headlights randomly shut off (this was a first) - but again, when I turned the nob, they turned on.
    I have had it to the dealers twice now and they have checked the connectors and can't find anything wrong.

    Other random (electrical?) items - the passenger side stereo speaker will stop working and then work again....the "mute" button on the steering wheel when pressed, will mute the radio only for a second and then the radio starts playing again....the LCD display on the car stereo system works most of the time, but randomly won't at others.

    There doesn't seem to be a common thread to any of this, day/night, heat/cold, wet/dry/humid/snow.....does anyone have any ideas on what could be going wrong and what can be done to fix it? I can live without a lot of things but the defrosters in the winter aren't one of them.....please help...thanks!
  • shldbiafrdshldbiafrd Member Posts: 1
    ok im having the same damn problem with my car except its a 2003 i have checked fuses and everything and i cant find a thing wrong myself...did you ever find out what it was that was messing the hdlts/ac/heat/drl/rear df/ up???
  • smokifiedsmokified Member Posts: 1
    Normally when one opens the door after the car has been shut off, the accessories (ie the radio) should power off.

    In my case this does not always happen. I can open the door and the radio will stay on, I can leave it for 10 minutes, up to hours, and it will not power off the radio. I have noticed that if I slam the door or hood that it will power off sometimes. To make the situation even more strange sometimes if I do get it to power off the accessories THEY WILL COME BACK ON in a minute or 2 which is bad because if it happens when I do not notice it I am stuck needing a jump.

    The car is registering that the doors are opening and closing because the dome lights respond normally. This is just a situation where the accessory power is not being turned off.

    Is there a relay switch that is involved here? To me it seems as though there may be a relay sticking or something. I am extremely technical and mechanical so please feel free to share any knowledge of this situation you may have no matter how technical it may be.

    Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
  • compton6974compton6974 Member Posts: 2
    Can anybody tell me how to reset that switch??? Should be in the owners manual, but mine didnt come with one !! Thanks its for a 97 Grand Prix SE
  • cowboypinkycowboypinky Member Posts: 6
    Press the mode button on your "information center" until it displays oil life. Then press and hold the reset button about 5 seconds. It should return to 100%
  • cowboypinkycowboypinky Member Posts: 6
    I have a 97 GT with 188,000 miles and have just installed my third alternator. First, it is my personal opinion that the electronics in this car are a bloody nightmare! Now that thats out of my system, here are the electrical things I have seen go wrong, and how they were fixed:
    Noise in anti lock brakes on first press of the pedal soon after startup - fix: Replace/recharge battery
    Rear speakers "Popping" - Fix: Replace/recharge battery
    Random lights going out in the HVAC panel - Fix: lightly slam the temperature dial to the cold side repeadly until they come back on.
    Rear windows randomly work/stop working - Fix: move passenger
    Radio sending cryptic jibbrish on the display - Fix: Replace/recharge battery
    Fan not working on levels 1-4, but working on 5 - Fix: Replace Diode behind the glove box near the fan.
    Information center turning off when fan is used on levels 1-4 - Fix: Replace/recharge battery
    Steering wheel lights stopped working - Fix: Replace/recharge battery

    Moral of the story here is that most of the electrical problems were remedied by either replacing or recharging the battery.

    The best electrical issue: I placed my aftermarket XM antenna on the trunk lid. When I drove under a certain high voltage power transmission line, the ABS, Brake, and Low Tire Pressure lights would come on and I would loose some (not all) of the power steering. I moved the antenna up between the windshield and the sun roof and the problem left.
    The second best, Replaced broken factory fog lights with aftermarket lights. Replaced butt connectors on the aftermarket lights with the mate to the factory plug. When turned on, the fog lights worked on dim headlights, but not brights - normal right. However, when you have the fog lights off, switch the headlights to bright, turn the fog lights on, then switch the headlights from bright to dim then back to bright, the fog lights stay on...fishy!

    Final thought: This has been a great car for the 120,000miles that I have owned it, but whomever designed the electrical system either deserves a medal or a kick in the nuts.
  • cowboypinkycowboypinky Member Posts: 6
    I had a very similar issue twice.

    The first time was a couple years ago. The problem was that the gearshift would not go into park and the key would not come out of the ignition. I got so frustrated that I slammed my hand straight down on the gearshift and it worked again. Aparently, with age, the knob/park sensor will slide up the post if you grip it the wrong way to shift out of park. Basically, your Park release sensor doesn't connect, so it won't let the car come out of park if it is in, or go back into park if it is out. Normally this happens when taking the gearshift out of park while in a hurry. I played with it after that and found that if you wiggle the knob and apply some upward force, you can raise the knob up. Only go about half an inch or so, but then use the palm of your hand to kind of slap the knob back down. Don't use too much force, but you should hear it make a "thunk" sound. Then try to put it back in park.

    Lifting up slightly on the gearshift and leaving it this way is also a great way to mess with the wife's head.

    The other time I had this problem was when my alternator went out the other day and so the battery went dead and left me stranded. Aparently this Park sensor is electrical not mechanical because there was not enough voltage for the car to acknowledge that the shifter was in park and therefore, I couldn't remove the key. The bigger problem was that there was also not enough voltage to release the trunk lid remotely to get the jumper cables.

    I couldn't get the key out to get the trunk open to get the jumper cables out to jump the car to get the park sensor to acknowledge that the car was indeed in park to get the key out to unlock the trunk manually.... You understand my frustration!
  • cowboypinkycowboypinky Member Posts: 6
    97 GT Sedan 188,000 miles. I've got a list of different ones, I'm sure it would be entertaining to compare. I might be able to shed some light on your issue. The GP has an idiot sensor that if you leave a dome light or some other accessory on, then after about 15 min or so, the car kills ALL power to the car. Power stays off until you find the pesky item that was left on and turn it off. I got in my car one day during a snowstorm and found everything dead. I jumped the battery... still nothing. Finally I called 1800PONTIAC and their dimwit operator said to look for a switch that was left on. After nearly an hour of poking and freezing I found that someone had left the rear seat reading light on. Turned it off and the car lit up like a Christmas tree. That problem sounds very similar, however deeper than just a accessory on somewhere.
    I also have a 98 CHevy K2500 Pickup. The security light on the dash would go on and off intermittantly and then got progressively worse to where the truck would be dead when the ignition was turned on. Took it to the dealership and they replaced the relay that controls that security function and the problem disappeared. The difference there though was that I had interior lights, just dead to start...different vehicle though.
    One thing I found to work on the truck was that while the starting function was "dead", I could pull the security fuse and the truck would start and immediately die (this is what it was supposed to do). When I put the fuse back in, the starting function was dead again.

    Hope any of this helps.
  • cowboypinkycowboypinky Member Posts: 6
    Is your car older? My 97 HUD image will also vibrate. The projector is located in that "pod" above your instrument gages and the mounting has worked loose. It is a simple mechanical fix. Open up that pod and tighten the mounts...easier said than done right!
  • l0l061l0l061 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2002 GP and for several months (basically all summer) my heater a/c has not worked. When it first stopped working it would only work on 5 then that stopped and sometimes would come on, now it does not work at all. Sometimes I can hear a fan or something coming on but nothing blows. Around the time it stopped working on 5 my passenger side headlight went out. I replaced it and it worked for about a month then it went out again and with it the passenger fog light also. I have replaced them and they still do not work. Also sometime the sunroof will short out when opening or closing and I will keep having to push the button to get it to open/close. Sooo I don't know if anyone knows if these things are all connected or if my whole electrical system is going. I haven't had any other issues then that I just don't want to go to the dealership with "I don't know what's wrong" and have them do a bunch of crap just so they can charge me like crazy. Any help would be appreciated. Also I have checked all fuses in the car and under the hood. Thanks!
  • blown342blown342 Member Posts: 6
    I have a 2002 pontiac grand prix se 3.1L and i'm having a problem with the A/C blower fan. If I turn the fan switch to settings 1-4 the blower fan will not run and the head lights will go out and if I turn the fan switch to 5 the blower fan and head lights will come on. I have already installed a new fan resistor.

    can someone please help me thanks,
    Travis Ragans
  • srabysraby Member Posts: 6
    I too am having a problem similar to that which you described, and have changed the resistor, what a pain in the butt. I came across the following information on another forum, in which the individual describes this problem to a tee... I'll be purchasing the wiring harness descibed below today, hope this helps you. Stan

    fraubayer04-16-2007, 12:27 AM

    Grand Prix GT 2001. AC/Heater fan not working. Replaced the fan blower resistor, didn't fix the problem. Also, when NOT working, if i turn to the fan switch to speeds 1-5 my headlights/daytime running lamps go out along with the fan not responding. Please help! Also, after I got my car back from the shop, the alarm has gone off twice in the past two days for no reason at all. Could that be related to the problem???

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    richtazz04-16-2007, 07:05 AM
    Sounds like a faulty ignition switch/harness assembly. The contacts get weak and start arcing, causing all kinds of electrical gremlins. Refer to the tips and maintenance section for detailed proceedure. here's the link for convenience.

    http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=653340
  • srabysraby Member Posts: 6
    Just an update... I replaced the ignition switch/wiring harness assembly and have not experienced any of the symptoms described in the previous post since. I must warn you that the instructions described in the link in the previous post, are somewhat inadequate, but for the most part correct. For example, a set of small Torx sockets are required (or a 5/32" socket and patience with a pair of needle-nose pliers) to remove the two screws that secure the upper steering column shroud and switch assembly. Also the small hole to release the key cylinder is located on top on the cylinder housing and the upper shroud can be removed prior to removing the key cylinder. Total time to perform this task was approx 1.5 hours. If you have any questions, let me know :)
  • blown342blown342 Member Posts: 6
    Good! I'm going to replace the ignition switch/wiring harness in my car next week. Oh by the way my low coolant light came on yesterday and I found that my coolant has engine oil in it. What a piece of crap!!!
  • srabysraby Member Posts: 6
    How many miles do you have on the car? I understand that there are some reporting head gasket problems, you might look into this. I had one blow out on a 1994 Grand Am that I had, thought I blew the engine at the time with all the smoke and steam it produced when it went out.

    My 2001 GP has ~ 133400, only 'real' problems that I have had were this wiring harness issue that I believe has been there from the day I purchased the car new and the dealer could not find the problem. O2 sensor, caused the car to stall in traffic one evening during rush hour and a clogged Cat Converter, caused extremely poor sluggish performance.

    Hope this switch/harness fixes your problems, shop around for prices... the dealer cost was $139.95 (though I got it for $77, my brother is the parts manager). I've seen them online and at NAPA I think for $75. Stan
  • deckeondeckeon Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2002 Grand Prix. The low beams no longer turn on, but the highbeams and parking lights do. Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this?
  • blown342blown342 Member Posts: 6
    I have about 130,000 miles on the car.
    I see some coolant by the lower intake manifold so i'm going to pull it off monday.
  • girevikgirevik Member Posts: 9
    Hello everyone. I have a 2000 GTP and I'm having an intermitent problem with one of my power windows. Sometimes it works, and others it doesn't. The odd thing is that when it stops working, it does not work for an extended period of time (weeks or months), and when it starts working again it works for a good while before cutting out again.

    Does anyone know what this might be or what it might take to fix it?
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Check this discussion. It may have some helpful info for you.

    Pontiac Grand Prix Window Motor replacement guide
  • wildfan74wildfan74 Member Posts: 9
    I have a 2002 Grand Prix GT with 81,000 miles and when I recently my HUD started to dim in and out and now my automatic lights and HUD will not work if I have the fan on any speed but off. Everything works when I start the car with the fan in the off position, but as soon as I turn on the fan then the HUD and daytime running lights will not work, so I have to turn the headlights on manually, and the heat will not work at all no matter what.....can somebody help??? Thank You.
  • girevikgirevik Member Posts: 9
    Since it will work sometimes and not others, is it likely a problem with the motor it's self? I would have guessed it would be in a connection somewhere.
  • blown342blown342 Member Posts: 6
    I'm having the same problem with the fan & lights. I was told it was the ignition switch/wiring harness the part cost $100 dollars @ advance auto parts. I will let you know the outcome tomorrow afternoon 11/29/07.
  • wildfan74wildfan74 Member Posts: 9
    Sounds Great, thank you. My car is actually in the shop right now and I am just hoping that it is something that simple and cheap to fix. Thanks again.
  • wildfan74wildfan74 Member Posts: 9
    I just got my car back from my mechanic and it was the Ignition switch that was bad, so he replaced it and everything works great.
  • lauren2101lauren2101 Member Posts: 1
    Thank YOU! Worked perfectly! Now can someone help me with my radio light. It just stopped working. Everything else lights up except that. It's the precious light that tells me which song on a cd I'm listening to.
  • csratcliffcsratcliff Member Posts: 1
    Okay I bought a new harness in response to this thread, I replaced my harness with the new one and upon reconnecting the battery I got a bit of smoke that came from behind the dash on the left and right side front floor boards any ideas? would a bad ignition switch cause that or do I have REAL problems now? A friend of mine had his start giving him gremlin issues and he said he got a smoke deal one day too but after he replaced his harness it never did it again, is it possible my new one is bad?

    I can't find any wires burned and the harness its self was not hot even directly after the fact.....
  • blown342blown342 Member Posts: 6
    I guess I can return my new ignition switch & harness just wrecked the car 3hours ago. LOL :sick:
  • bluestreak06bluestreak06 Member Posts: 1
    i have a 98 GT with 110k and its doing the same thing. put the blower on speeds 1-4 and the headlights go out. I started by replacing the circuit breaker, and it didnt do it for two days. now its back to its old self. after looking over the wiring diagram, i got confused. where does the headlights and blower motor come together in the wiring? and where is it tied to the ignition? im just confused as to why replacing the ignition switch/harness fixed this problem...
  • srabysraby Member Posts: 6
    I ripped the switch apart once I replaced it. There were numerous contacts inside the switch, apparently providing power to different systems in the car. I was a bit wary too about replacing it, but it fixed the problem. Two weeks now, no problems.
  • svill77svill77 Member Posts: 3
    Others have described a similar problem. In my case the blower works but simply won't turn off, even with car turned off and the keys out of the ignition. I have to disconnect the battery in order to avoid drawing it dry. I checked some of the relays but I am not quite sure which one functions for the blower. Additionaly I pulled most of the relays located in the fuse box under the hood but the blower seems to keep on going, anyone have any ideas?

    I forgot to mention that it is a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix GP model with the standard AC controls (not electronic).
  • blown342blown342 Member Posts: 6
    it sounds like the ignition switch&harness is your problem also.
  • jef587jef587 Member Posts: 1
    I have a '98 Grand Prix GT and the bulb in the passenger headlight keeps going out. I've replaced it 3 times in the last 2 months. I've read about condensation buildup causing problems...could this be the answer? I noticed the last time the bulb went out that the high beam still worked, but it didn't last for long. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the high and low beam come from the same bulb? Could it be a simple fuse issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!!
  • dlc2dlc2 Member Posts: 10
    I had the problem of not being able to remove the key from the ignition, and traced it back to the shift console. A wire had broken off the plug going into the Brake Interlock solenoid. Any idea how to remove the metal clip left in the plug so I can re-insert the wire?
  • wildfan74wildfan74 Member Posts: 9
    Can anyone tell me what may cause my Low Oil Level light to come on just about every time I start my 2002 GP GT???? The weird thing is that if I turn the car off and start it right back up again, it doesn't come on and it seems to only come on when I start the car and typically when the car has not been running for a while.
  • wildfan74wildfan74 Member Posts: 9
    I had the same problem with my 02 GP GT and if you look on the right side of the shift column below the ignition, there is a round plastic plug that you can remove, and then you just insert a screwdriver up there until you feel the back of the ignition and press on it softly until the key is able to turn back. I had to do this on my car for about 6 weeks on and off, and now it has not happened for about a month. Otherwise, my mechanic told me that it would only cost about $100 or less to replace what it was that was causing the problem.
  • cjf2848cjf2848 Member Posts: 1
    Hello, I have a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix and all of a sudden the radio and power windows have stopped working. I have checked the radio fuse and the PWR window relay and they both seem to be good. Any ideas... Please HELP...
  • rja00rja00 Member Posts: 1
    Hi

    I just bought this car from a police auctions
    runs great

    I just have a quick question
    the digtal lights for the speed and dash lights do not work when I turn the lights on at night

    and the low cool antifreeze light blinks but it has plenty

    or then that the car was a great buy better then a car payment this car had been sitting since march 07 and it started right up
  • amarilloamarillo Member Posts: 2
    Did you ever find out about the blower staying on all the time even when the key was out of the ignition? I just purchased a 2004 GT and it has the exact same problem. The blower stays on high constantly. I have to unhook the battery cable to keep it from running down the battery.

    This seemed a little different than the other models where the blower would not work on the lower settings.
  • svill77svill77 Member Posts: 3
    Unfortunately no, and as a temporary fix I removed the panel underneath the passengers side of the dash board to access the blower which I was simply connecting each time I needed air, less hasle than having to disconnect the battery considering the battery location. The bad part was that upon reconnecting the blower the motor would go from a stand still to full speed and within a few short days the gears inside the blower got stripped. So now the blower motor itself is dead and I will need to purchase another motor just to get back to the point of trying to figure out why it won’t turn off. None of the advise given on this forum has really addressed this particular occurrence but it does seem like I’m not the only one experiencing this issue. I have concluded that it’s not a relay or resistor.
  • amarilloamarillo Member Posts: 2
    I was able to fix mine. It seems that the water leaking from above in the passenger cabin intake is probably the culpret. There is a deflector that can be installed to keep it out.

    To fix the problem, you will have to either install/replace the modulator that goes to the blower. In your case, it sounds like you will have to replace the blower moter too (sorry to hear it burned up). The modulator isn't that expensive but it is a dealer item. The dealer should also be able to get you the water deflector.
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