Joe’s question:
Can you tell me how hard it will be to change out the BCM in my 99 Pontiac Grand Am? I’ve heard that it’s not really that complicated and takes about 45 minutes to complete…
Answer:
The BCM is under the right side of the instrument panel, next to the fan motor. It just plugs out and the new one plugs in. BUT, the BCM must be reset after installing it. Sometimes you will have to get a mechanic to reprogram the BCM to make it work correctly. But since your Grand Am is somewhat older, you might be able to reset it using the following procedure: Turn the ignition switch to the ON position (NOT the CRANK position).
Turn the ignition switch to the CRANK position, then release to the ON position (Do NOT start the vehicle). Observe the security telltale for approximately 10 minutes . After the ignition switch has been in the ON position for approximately 10 minutes , the security telltale will transition from ON, then to OFF. Hopefully this will reset it for you. And for those with late model Pontiacs, you have to get the BCM reprogrammed to make it work, they are MUCH more complex than the older ones.
1999 Pontiac Grand Am
Jack’s Question: When I take my 99 Grand Am out of park and put it in reverse my left turn signal indicator on the dash stays lit. Turn signal works fine when not braking. It just seems to have something to do with when I put the car in reverse because when I start the car and apply the brake to take it out of park the turn signal doesn’t stay lit on the dash, just when I put it in reverse. Is there some kind of sensor in the brake peddle or in the gear shift that can go bad?? I just don’t know where to begin?
Answer: You’re getting electronic feedback somewhere in the car. When you put the car in reverse, the reverse lights get electricity. Somehow this electricity is feeding back into the turn signal system, lighting up the turn signal indicator on the dash.
Have the electrical circuits checked in the trunk on the left side. You might have a bad circuit board on that side. And believe it or not, I’ve seen people have the wrong bulb installed back there, and it will cause short circuits and make other lights come on.
So make sure you have the original equipment correct bulbs back there (check the right side to make sure both sides have the same exact bulbs in them.) Hopefully one of these procedures will fix it, because your Pontiac also has a small computer on board, called the general electrical module (GEM) and they can go bad. Unless you’re an electrical mechanic, you won’t be able to check this GEM and they are pretty expensive to just guess with.
A bad GEM can also cause one electrical system to operate another one when its circuit boards short out internally. Good Luck.
Logan’s Question: I see lots of people having electrical issues with the same car I have. 99 Pontiac Grand Am, when I hit the brake, right, rear turn signal does’t work. When I let go of the brake it works fine? I just replaced both tail light circuit boards witch I purchased from Pontiac dealer…what could be the problem. Also, sometimes the right turn signal indicator on the dash will stay lit when I brake and turn signal doesn’t work at all, just freezes??
pontiac-grand-am
Answer: Yes, you have something cross circuiting your electrics there. Unfortunately, it may be the Body control Module under the passenger side of the dash. It’s a computer module that operates both those systems (amongst a bunch of others.) If the circuitry crosses inside that module, weird things will happen.
Now those Pontiacs often also have grounding problems, so be sure to check all the ground wires on the system, because a bad ground can cause the module to short out (so that replacing the module could just end up burning out the new one you just bought in a short period of time.)
If a ground wire doesn’t work right, then the electrical system can start using power wires as ground wires and do all kinds of strange havoc to an electrical system. IF the car has ever been wrecked, pay special attention to the wrecked area as wires could be pinched or connections loosened by the collision and later repair work. But, if you’re at least a little bit lucky, it could just be the body control module itself gone bad. I see that a lot in Pontiacs. Good Luck.
