blinking "D" transmission light

I have a 1996 Grand Am, 4-speed automatic. When commuting to work (1.5 hours each way) recently, I noticed that after about an hour of sitting in traffic, the "D" light on my gear shift starts to blink rapidly. It is intermittent, and everything else seems to be working fine.

Any ideas what this means? I called Pontiac, but their first response is to bring it in for diagnistics. At $70/hour for diagnostics, I thought I would try this forum first. Thanks.

I have a 1996 Grand Am, 4-speed automatic. When commuting to work (1.5 hours each way) recently, I noticed that after about an hour of sitting in traffic, the "D" light on my gear shift starts to blink rapidly. It is intermittent, and everything else seems to be working fine.

Any ideas what this means? I called Pontiac, but their first response is to bring it in for diagnistics. At $70/hour for diagnostics, I thought I would try this forum first. Thanks.


I dont know if those use a code through that check bulb may be loose?
my 89 does that and the bulb socket is cracked havent got around to fixing it yet but thats my prob a cracked socket

My 96` grand am with that same tranny did that to me for about 75,000 miles (driving 150miles a day) and i always just figured it was a bad connection with the bulb. But hey the ironic thing is the transmission went out of it 3wks ago.

I tell u what give me about another wk and ill tell u whether or not when i get the new transmission the rest of the way in if the light still blinks.

I dont beleive the blinking light means anyhting. It just a light, two wires, no sensors in that power line either. Its probley just the bulb/socket is bad. It not hard to get to either.

I agree with Xero, The question I have is... Is it related to the hot or cold weather? Did it start in cold weather and does it seem to quit after the car gets warm? if so I would definatly say bulb/socket prob. It could be that the bulb is on its way out, it may work properly with a bulb replacement, If you change the bulb give a quick inspection of the wires and socket. It does not sound like anything major.

I finished putting the tranny in my car and it the light still blinks. I took it apart and it is a sealed unit but there is a plug in the bottom of it that powers the bulb u could unplug this wire if it bothers u to much.