electrical problem?

collegekid2008 · #1 09-04-2007, 05:11 PM

I bought a used 2000 Grand Am GT a couple months ago. Everything is fine except one thing.

My turning lights work sometimes and sometimes it doesnt. If I am waiting in a turning lane with the turning light blinking sometimes it will just go off all of a sudden. Sometimes when I turn the turning light on it doesnt come on but comes on all of a sudden after a minute or two.

I tried taking it to a shop that works on electrical problems, but they said the best way for them to diagnose it is for me to bring it in when the light isnt working (it just happened to start working again as I was heading to the place). I dont know what it could be...

Also, I dont know if this is related but my fog light button doesnt turn the fog lights on... I'm not sure if its the lights themself that need to change or if its related to the electrical problem. When I turn on the button I can hear a clicking noise in the passenger side fuse box. I took it to AutoZone to try and replace the relay box but the new one still made the clicking noise. Any comments or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

xeroinfinity · #2 09-04-2007, 05:37 PM

On the turn signal I'd say your multi function switch(MFS) either has dirty contacts inside, or is going out....
Does it ever click without turning them on ??
Also does your hazzards work normal ?

See these threads on the MFS ...
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/search.php?searchid=1994981
This thread is one of the better.
Crazy Signal/Hazard problem 2005 Grand Am

On the fog lights check the foglight fuse.
If that's good then I'd replace the bulbs,
it is normal for the relay to click when you turn them on.

Hope that helps.

collegekid2008 · #3 10-04-2007, 11:06 PM

no, the turn lights never clicked without me turning it on. and yes the hazard lights work fine, even when the turning lights arent.

and i will see if i can get the fog lights replaced... thanks for the help

gmack221 · #4 10-05-2007, 09:50 AM

sounds like a bad turn signal flasher to me ...
as for the fog lights I'd check the switch to see if there is corrosion on the contacts ...

xero... the multifunction doesn't control the fog lights does it?

xeroinfinity · #5 10-05-2007, 08:42 PM

Also the fogs have a tendancy to stop working due to dirty or loose bulb connections, and wire shorts at the plug.. As gmack stated.

but if your turning signals are intermitantly clicking then your MFS is either dirty or getting ready to go out.

No the MFS doesnt effect the fogs....

emt1134 · #6 10-08-2007, 03:21 PM

I cannot tell you how many of these hazard switches I have replaced. This is most-likely why your turn signals are not working. Next time it happens, try banging on the hazard switch to see if the turn signals start working again.

xeroinfinity · #7 10-08-2007, 05:14 PM

Once the hazzard relay has been replaced they usually never fail again unless thiers a short or the MFS is failing.
These were updated in 04' I believe.

dksob81 · #8 10-31-2007, 04:51 PM

I don't mean to bring up an old post but I am having the same issue on a 99 Grand Am GT 3400.

At first they would flash fast (like there was a bulb out), which there was and I replaced it, and sometimes they would be normal and sometimes they wouldn't flash at all, then I found a problem with the passengerside bulb sockets (the 2 bulbs for the turn signals and the 1 bulb for the reverse lights) the sockets were all corroded from water sitting in the taillight lens, so i figured this was prolly the problem, causing it to short, so i got a new one form the dealer.

Well after replacing it it did the same thing but the hazzard lights would work just fine and when the Turn Signals would stop working if I turned the hazzard lights on and let them flash 10 times or so then the turn signals would work fine again. but if you would let them flash for awhile (100 times) they would stop again.

Any suggestions.

P.S... I was gonna replaced the T/S flasher but the flasher is part of the HAZZARD SWITCH (according to 2 part stores I contacted) and since the hazzards work fine I don't think thats the problem.

grfnkl · #9 10-31-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksob81

I don't mean to bring up an old post but I am having the same issue on a 99 Grand Am GT 3400.

At first they would flash fast (like there was a bulb out), which there was and I replaced it, and sometimes they would be normal and sometimes they wouldn't flash at all, then I found a problem with the passengerside bulb sockets (the 2 bulbs for the turn signals and the 1 bulb for the reverse lights) the sockets were all corroded from water sitting in the taillight lens, so i figured this was prolly the problem, causing it to short, so i got a new one form the dealer.

Well after replacing it it did the same thing but the hazzard lights would work just fine and when the Turn Signals would stop working if I turned the hazzard lights on and let them flash 10 times or so then the turn signals would work fine again. but if you would let them flash for awhile (100 times) they would stop again.

Any suggestions.

P.S... I was gonna replaced the T/S flasher but the flasher is part of the HAZZARD SWITCH (according to 2 part stores I contacted) and since the hazzards work fine I don't think thats the problem.

even though the part is all the same doesn't mean that the hazard flasher won't work. Normally the regular signals get affected first then eventually the hazards won't work anymore either. I would replace it, it'll probably cure the problems.

xeroinfinity · #10 10-31-2007, 05:20 PM

If the hazzard switch/relay on the dash above the stereo hasnt been replaced then it could be flaking out. As I stated above the old relays were junk.
Id replace that first, its just a relay that plugs into the back of the hazzard switch.

The multi function switch(MFS) is costly, and a dealer part.

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