Paul’s question:
” I’m still working on that 1994 Pontiac Sunbird convertible. This is my problem now… the passenger side floor (both front and back) is soaking wet. I pulled apart the heater core housing and the core is not leaking, nor is the drain tube plugged. I have also checked the hoses to the heater core. The liquid on the floor didn’t have any odor to it, and it wasn’t to slick when I rubbed it between my fingers. The windows were up, and there are no rips or tears on the convertible top. I remember hearing a long time ago that you could get leaks inside the car if the cowl venting by the wipers is blocked. How can I check this (if this is true), and if not, what else should I look for? Thanks for your great advice.Paul “
Answer:
Of course, the AC system (if you have one in frigid buffalo) can leak water onto the floor, but that’s simple to check. Just stop using the AC and if the water goes away, that’s the source, and then you have to clean the crud out of the evaporator. BUT, if it’s not the AC, then realize that cars do have drains to chase away rainwater. These drains can fill up with leaves and debris. When they do, a dam is created and water backs up and INTO the vehicle. They normally drain backwards into the front fenders and leak under the fender and rocker arm drain holes. So start at the bottom and work your way up. It’s not easy to see the whole system, but if you can find someone with compressed air and an airgun nozzle, spray the heck out of both sides and try to blow the crud either upwards and out, or downwards and out. Good Luck,
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.
