Thread: wierd electrical problems

Hi,

I've been having some weird issues with my car and wanted to see if anyone has an idea what's wrong with it.

It first started with my trac and abs lights coming on. I looked around and saw on multiple forums and websites that it could be the wheel sensor and bearing. I had a mechanic check it and he told me sensors are working fine and the bearings are not loose or making noise. What's weird about it, is that when it snowed during winter, the light would be off when I start the car. I could drive it for about 20-30 mins before it comes on.

So the 2nd problem I started to have is that the window motor randomly works. Some days I can roll it up 5-10 times without a problem, some days it won't even go down half way before it stops working. I haven't checked the motor yet, but bought this rebuilt maybe 2 yrs. ago. So shortly after, the power door lock on the same side (drivers) stop working. I bought a used switch, tried it and same problems with the switches. What is strange is that the power locks on the passenger side don't work either, but the window switch works fine. So the latest issue with the car now, is the windshield wipers randomly go up and down, seems to happen alot when I hit bumps on the road. The wiper switch sometimes works on intermediate and low, and sometimes doesn't. Anyone have any ideas as to whats wrong or is my car possessed?

BTW...Its a 98 grand prix GT, about 124,000 miles on it. The wheel sensor happened about 2yrs ago, the other problems within the last yr. For the locks I'm thinking now maybe a bad fuse, but it just seems really weird not adding anything or just daily driving for me to have all these issues.

Thanks in advanced

Thx. I checked the window this weekend and sure enough it was bound up. I sprayed wd40 to see if it helped and it worked better, but after a while it stop working again. I'll just get a new track for it.

As to the door, I thought it might have been a bad fuse, but what is weird is that I can lock the doors with the power lock button, but when hitting the unlock part of the button, the drivers or passenger sides don't work. Tried a different switch on the drivers side door and same problem. Any ideas.

Thx for the help.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

I'm only seeing the wipers as an odd electrical issue.

Your windows probably have dry (no longer greased up) tracks in the regulator. It's amazing how little it takes to bind up the motor/hold it. I once pulled a seatbelt sticker off my window and it wouldn't go down.. Right..because of the left over glue. That's how little it takes.

The ABS/Trac light. Sounds like a connector w/o it's weather pack rubber boot in it. Or a connector that isn't clipped to the backing plate.

The wiper.. odd, yes. I'd think that may be rubbed wiring inside the column for the switch, a bad switch on the column or something odd going on with the wiper module.

I'd pull the door panels and lube the sh*t out of everything and see what you get, especially the window guides. And use something better than WD-40. Soak the felt liner in the window channel that you can see and slap some grease on the regulator and give the windows a try. I'll bet they work fine after that.