Possible electrical or computer problem (2003 Grand Am)

Ok, I have a 2003 Grand Am 3.4L 6cyl. It has somewhere between 38-39,000mi. A few weeks ago the check engine light came on for no apparent reason, the car was running fine, I didn't want to take the car somewhere just to have them tell me that it was nothing, or that it was some pathetic problem that I could fix myself, so I ordered a scanner. Well, by Murphys Law the light went out on its own the day before the scanner arrived, so I figured it was nothing. Then a couple days ago I was driving down the highway, had the cruise control going, I hit a slight bump (not major by any measure) and the cruise cut out. Nothing I did got it to turn back on. I tried it again latter on while on my way home and it worked fine. The following day (yesterday) I left for work, and the cruise would not engage at all, and the turn indicators were blinking extra fast. All lights were working, and the 4-ways worked fine, just the turns were doing double time. When I left work yesterday afternoon, I was backing out of the parking spot, and the digital odometer flickered allong with the dashboard indicator light for the fog lamps. As soon as I put it in drive it all worked fine. I was able to engage the cruise, but once again hit a slight bump, and it died on me. A mile or so up the road, I tried it and it worked again. Today, same batch of problems both monring and afternoon minus the cruise worked all the way home. Both mornings were extra cold. The dash and odo did not blink this morning while in reverse, just both afternoons. A friend thinks it may be the computer, said he has a friend whith a 2000 or so Malibu and just paid $1500 for a new computer. Any thoughts? Are all these problems related and just one heck of a coincidence?

when your cruse is not engaging put your car in park go outside see if your brake light is on if yes you have a sticking brake light switch on your brake pedal arm so pcm sees brake pressed and will not let you turn on your cruse control. Also I am not very sure about this one for your car but on some cars if the middle back brake light (the one between your rear speakers) if the bulb is bad cruse wont work.

with all the other problems going on I'd lean towards the BCM (body control module) crapping out. There have been some issues with them but I'm not sure if it controls the items you have pointed out.

Ok first off your GA doesnt have a check engine light.
IT has a SES and a SVS.
If you have a SVS on only in the daytime, you probly have a highbeam burnt out.

When the turnsignals are a fast blinker you have a burnt out turn signal bulb.

If its realy freaking cold where you live I wouldnt worry about any lcd/led displays,
because at temps below 30 deg most things like that will faul up.
... but should function normal after it gets warmer.

On the cruise, check that the plugin under the hood is connected tight and the contacts are clean too.
Check the appropriate fuses that they are not loose or burnt out.

And if your PCM goes out you will know when it does nothing :grinyes:


Hope that all helps and Welcome to AF eagle6413.

When the turnsignals are a fast blinker you have a burnt out turn signal bulb.

If its realy freaking cold where you live I wouldnt worry about any lcd/led displays,
because at temps below 30 deg most things like that will faul up.
... but should function normal after it gets warmer.

On the cruise, check that the plugin under the hood is connected tight and the contacts are clean too.
Check the appropriate fuses that they are not loose or burnt out.

And if your PCM goes out you will know when it does nothing


Already checked the fuses, and the connection on the cruise mechanism under the hood. All turn indicator bulbs are good, and like I said, all these probs seem to come and go. Haven't checked the center brake light, but the others all work right.

Haven't checked the BCM or brake light switch, I'll try those. Any other ideas?

The cruise on these models are flakey.
My GT works sometimes others I wont till I shut it off and try later.

With the blinkers, it possibly is your multi function switch(MFS).
And again when its realy cold out,
strange things will occur.

hey try this if you manage to turn on your cruse control next time when you go to work, whille the cruse is on push up on your brake pedall from underneath while driving and look for bumps on the road try to hit couple just to see if your cruse control will disengage. If cruse control remains on definitelly you have oversensitive brake switch that probably needs to be adjusted or you have some loose bolts on that thing.

ok, possible solution? There is a relay (or some sort of electrical junction point, says 'PED 1-12 M6' on it) that is mounted on the inside of the fender right beside the air filter box. It was bolted to the fender, now the bolt has broken so the unit is just dangling (or rather is being held in place with electrical tape). I can't tell if it is just a mounting bolt or grounding point. Does anyone know what this unit is? Could this be the problem?

bolt that back, it should be ground pretty sure :grinyes: