95 Grand Am having troubles...

[sweet_hope]

Hello...

Something odd is going on w/my car. It first started w/the battery light coming on and going off. After a few days, it was fine, the light never came on.

Then a few weeks later, I got in the car to the ATM and the car wouldn't start. I got a jump, and it wouldn't go far. Across the parking lot, I got another jump, and drove home. When I got home *about two miles* it was fine. I could turn it on and off, w/no troubles.

It drove fine for a couple more weeks. Then on the way home the other day, I was driving along and looked down and it said I was doing 75 mph, and I was only doing about 30mph. I pulled into a parking lot and turned the car off. I wanted to see if the speedometer would go back down or reset itself. Now the car will not start at all. The speedometer is stuck over 120mph, and I'm at a loss.

The battery will not jump. The altenator is supposed to be fine, as is the battery, yet nothing happens.

I'm wondering if it's the computer?

Any ideas?

Please help, it's my only transpo as our Surburban has decided to blow an oil cooler line.

[gserve]

Hi, I have the same car with numerous electrical problems. In your case it does sound like something with the computer or cluster. I bought this car in August. Just spent $455.00 to fix ABS light coming on. They put speed sensor in it did not fix the problem then said it was the ABS ECU to fix $860.00! so now I have no ABS. Had the multi-function switch replaced 3 times! dealer kept saying bad switch. Then they said they think the problem is in the steering column. So that is not fixed either. With this problem the left arrow light comes on when the headlights are on ,the directional works but the front left parking lights don't come on. If anyone has a clue on how to fix these problems please let us know. PS sorry for hijacking this thread.

[sweet_hope]

No problem. I know how frustrating it can be. Last night, he did get the car jumped with our other Surburban. The seemed to run fine, and it was able to be shut off and turned back on several times. After going around and around the neighborhood, he got the speedometer to come back to normal, instead of saying it was over 120mph.

My ABS light comes on and goes off, however when I got my brakes fixed in September, I only had them do the front. I think I need the back ones done now, as they were barely legal. Drives me nuts when I have to stop fast and there's a clicking noise and it sounds locked up.

Anyway.. No idea why the electrical junk is going haywire. We've had the car for many years and nothing like this has ever happened.

It's the strangest thing. I joke that the car is possessed w/a mind of it's own but that doesn't seem to help his mood.

[catprotector]

I had a 1994 Grand Am and had problems every once and a while with the electrical. Just recently it died though. Coolant and water leaked into the oil and my mechanic said it was a total loss just by looking at the oil which looked milky. It was also overheating. Basically my mechanic said that it would be better just to trade my car in for a new one since the cost of re-building an engine is about $1800 while a new engine would be $3000. My car while at the mechanic also had to be jump started in order for me to get it back home. Now I am having to sell it and drive a different car.

I really love my Grand Am and still sad that I have to sell it. The only consolation is that I am getting my sister's 95' Chevy Baretta which is only one year younger than my Pontiac is. Go figure. I feel like I have traded my car for something newer by one year. But at least I have a car again instead of being stuck at home.

[gserve]

Sounds like you only need a head gasket even though this is expensive it should only be around $800.00 and that with a new head. As for you electrical problems what were they and how did you fix them?

[catprotector]

Well my mechanic said it was more than likely not just the head gasket. Besides $800 is plenty of dough. Basically, the guys said he could re-build it but since the car was getting older it might be better just to cut my losses rather than keep pouring money down the drain.

I now have a 1995 Beretta that my parents gave me. Does anyone like those here? The car seems a bit peppy for something that is only one year younger than my Grand Am.

[rootfx]

When my car started to die/not start, and the spedometer started going crazy, it was my altinator, even though i had a new one within the last two years, so i just got that with a new battery and it ran fine.