2003 Grand AM %$#$%^PROBLEMS

I hae a 2003 Grand Am V-6 that I bought new. Recently a BUNCH of things started happening.
First while driving all the dash light came on. Pulled over and shut car off and restarted. Lights went off and car worked properly. Then once and a while the "TRAC" light will stay lit. Then when I was driving and came to astop the lights on the mirror come on and turn off when I start to move again. Also, the horn chirp when remote locking quit and cannot reprogram to work. Remote locks work properly. Lamps on mirror will stay lit for about 15 minutes after turning off the car.
Now today, I unlocked the car remotely and got in. When I inserted the key, the horne started blaring and the only way to stop was to disconnect the battery.

I am assuming that this is the BCM....What is the procedure to replace, as I am led to believe that it is a very touchy procedure to replace and certain other items must be replaced at the same time.

I have this distinct feeling tht this is my LAST pontiac. I have owned nearly a dozen over the years but this one has been a real lemon. Cat went out at 70,000 and GM jacked me round long enough to duck replacing it. Fuel pump burned out at 75,000......

I assume that the only place to get the BCM checked is at a major dealor or repair shop. My Actron tools will not read it.

Thanks

bcm is easy to replace but you probably do not have a TECH2 scanner and gm software to reprogram it for your win#....unfortunately it is a dealer job..

Forgot to mention you can try this crazy idea maybe you get lucky: go on junk yard find GA same year same option package and if you can ask them to get couple of them the reason I am saying this is because bcm will store your odometer miles and hopefully one of them will have close to your original odometer miles or just a little higher from your last emission inspection and the rest ones you can return. This way maybe you can save some money not to buy new one and not to pay for reprograming. Just one crazy idea.

In my area ex: PCM is $22 BCM is roughly the same price good luck.....

I hae a 2003 Grand Am V-6 that I bought new. Recently a BUNCH of things started happening.
First while driving all the dash light came on. Pulled over and shut car off and restarted. Lights went off and car worked properly. Then once and a while the "TRAC" light will stay lit. Then when I was driving and came to astop the lights on the mirror come on and turn off when I start to move again. Also, the horn chirp when remote locking quit and cannot reprogram to work. Remote locks work properly. Lamps on mirror will stay lit for about 15 minutes after turning off the car.

Now today, I unlocked the car remotely and got in. When I inserted the key, the horne started blaring and the only way to stop was to disconnect the battery.

I am assuming that this is the BCM....What is the procedure to replace, as I am led to believe that it is a very touchy procedure to replace and certain other items must be replaced at the same time.

I have this distinct feeling tht this is my LAST pontiac. I have owned nearly a dozen over the years but this one has been a real lemon. Cat went out at 70,000 and GM jacked me round long enough to duck replacing it. Fuel pump burned out at 75,000......

I assume that the only place to get the BCM checked is at a major dealor or repair shop. My Actron tools will not read it.

Thanks

If its realy cold where youre located I wouldnt start throwing parts at it just yet.

Most of the time when all your dash lights come on its a power issue. Check that all the cables are clean and tight.
Make sure your battery is fully charged 12.5+ volts.

With your mirror lights could be a loose bulb or a melted fixture inside the mirror, it happens.

On the horn, again if it was sub zero your horn can come on and stay on untill it warms up, pull the fuse or unplug the horn.

Your trac lights would indicate an ABS problem and would need a scan tool that can read those.

If your BCM is faulty it would trip the SVS light and you would get a readable DTC with about any scan tool for a communications error.


For instance the other day I broke the pulley on my belt tensioner. I tried driving it a ways before calling for a tow. My battery went dead, wouldnt crank, shut it off and removed the key and all the dash lights stayed lit for about 2 minutes. It was around 10 deg outside. :2cents:

The two lights on th emirror will illuminate each time the car comes to a standstill and extinguish each time it moves again. THey stay on for an extended period of time after the key is removed.
When the dash lights all displayed while driving, then the horn chirp at remote locking quit and the system will not reprogram it to work again. The reprogram procedure indicates that it has been completed but the horn will NO chirp with remote locking.
My Code reader will not report any codes....
This has been happening for 6 months now...
The trac light in most cases indicates bad front wheel bearing...checked and none found...
Every mechaninc I consult point to the BCM.

I thought that it took special diagnostic equipment to replace the bcm...

I left the car ar a Large well equipped shop recently and they did not touch it for 5 days...even though they owe me a larger sum than the repairs for a recent project I performed for them...Rather aggrevating....

I wanted to be reasonably sure that the bsm was the problem before I take it to another shop that also owes me a sizable payment for services...
especially the part about reprogramming.

Thanks

Tought I had a good deal when I bought this with my Deep NHRA Tech Official Discount in 2003...have paid over half back in repair parts..."ALL" if I had had the work done by a shop...Will be looking to dispose of this Pontiac and the one parked next to it also...Next new car will be a Ford!!! to match my many many Ford trucks I have owned and still own...far more dependable!!!

That mirror sounds like a bad connection, pop off the lens's and look and make sure the bulbs are fully seated into the sockets.

If the code reader says right front bearing its very likly your speed sensor is going out. These are a two part bearing and speed sensor.

The BCM does require a GM tool to reprogram them, but if its faulty it will throw a SVS light that doesnt go out and a trouble code.

Only a GM dealership(or someone who has the tool) would be able to read exactly what and why the BCM was/is faulty, and reprogram the BCM or PCM.

I've seen the BCM's on these G-ams go bad but doesn't automatically through a code where the SEL is lit. You can try to unplug the BCM and plug it back together to see if it makes it any better or not.

Also, there was a recall on the ignition switches on these cars as well. It can also show the same or simular issues as what you are talking about. I just helped a friend on his son's Alero what started doing the same thing as yours then got to the point it was stalling when driving. Finally stopped running altogether. New ignition switch and all is fine.

yeah that sure does sound like a bcm ready to die out. i know from experience. the bcm controls most of the electrical components on your car. my bcm died on me a couple of weeks ago. when mine died the interior lights would have a mind of their own and the dash lights would randomly come on. so i took out my bcm and popped off the cover and noticed it was damp. i figure that water leaked in and fried it.

Same with my GT when I bought it the BCM was toasted. Replaced it not knowing about the sun roof drains leaking down the pillars onto the fuse boxes. Toasted that one too so the stealership wouldnt give me another one, but I had a couple lying around that I got going.
It can run right on top of the BCM too via the dash support that right above the BCM. So if thier's rust on this tubing I'd say you have a leak. :2cents:

Good Luck

This will be my LAST pontiac. No codes indicating the BCM is bad or going bad. Last nite the horn started blowing and the lights started flashing after the temperature dropped below 25° Woke up the entire neighborhood before I got the battery unpluged!

I just love Government regulations....and you wonder why the entire country is in a depression.....GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS!!!!!!

Obama will be the final blow before we cease to exist as a country.

He wants MORE regulations on the auto industry to the point that he and his ilk want the government along with the UAW to own the auto industry...
So long Amerrica


If I was not an honest person, i'd leave this piece of junk in a neighboring community where it would get stolen...but I won't do that..sure is tempting...

All this so it is secure...and they put plastic door handles on it so you can break in in about 5 seconds...has happened twice to this piece of junk and onece to my Grand Prix...
Time to get a 40 year old car and restore it so I have dependable transportation.

Sorry you feel that way and youve had poor luck with your GA.
I would say pull the horn fuse or just unplug it, it could be bad is why it goes off when cold outside.

So this GA was broken into ?
What did they take, they just rip out your stereo ?
If so that could be the root of your problems. If a wire is nicked/cut and shorting out it'll cause some real problems.

Have a great and safe New Years everyone!

Also, there was a recall on the ignition switches on these cars as well. It can also show the same or simular issues as what you are talking about. I just helped a friend on his son's Alero what started doing the same thing as yours then got to the point it was stalling when driving. Finally stopped running altogether. New ignition switch and all is fine.

Where would I look on the web for the recall on the ignition switch. I have heard there was a recall and i have heard that it wasn't. I am taking mine 03 to the dealers friday

Just call your local dealer with your VIN number and they'll be able to check it out.

Just call your local dealer with your VIN number and they'll be able to check it out.

Thanks I'll do that Friday
:thumbsup:

Thier isnt any recall that Ive heard of.
If so someone owes me a few thousand dollar$$ for all the switches Ive replaced... :confused:

SEE NEW POST "2003 Grand Am from He$$"

Headed to FORD today to buy a new car....
NO MORE PONTIACS after owning Pontiacs for over 40 years.

Will buy a FORD CAR to match my FORD TRUCKS!!!!! Last gm truck I owned was in 1979. Have owned a lot of FORD trucks since...

Last GM truck broke the frame while driving on the highway...unloaded...
It was a 79 Bonzana 3/4 4x4 Loaded that was JUNK, just like this Grand AM

thats funny, since 1978 I've owned many Gm vehicles and have put hundreds of thousands of miles on them with very few issues. My current Grand Am, a '99, has 170K and is still going strong. My '02 Impala has 82K. '02 GMC 3/4 ton 65K. '02 Trans AM 72K. '71 Cutlass 150K. All are doing great.:grinno:

Jim:

I have had 5 Ford trucks since 1982. The combined mileage is over 1 million miles. The last two have combined for almost 800,000 and the F-350 PSD is still adding miles (Knock on Wood) daily. I get at least 250,000 out of my fords.
I have had 23 trucks, blazers,suburbans and vans since starting in business in 1960. The worst was a Dodge. Only tried that trick once! Toughest are the fords and the Internationals were equally as tough. Worst were the GM's

If I kept my vehicles long enough they would easily get 250K+ miles but I grow bored with them and sell for somthing else. It doesent really matter the make as long as you take care of it.