Going Crazy!!

**cmccarty22** · 03-20-2015

I have 03 Grand Prix with 88K miles on it,

When I try to start the car the dash board dims head lights dim and the clock reset to 1:00 and the door locks click. Took it to two place but they could not get the car to do it. (Loves to do after traveling short distance and only resting 5 to 10 minutes.)

They both said the battery is fine but they said the alternator was running a little high could this effect this.
1 Shop wants to replace fuel pump, fuel filter, MAP and MAS sensors and replace the alternator and battery. For $1400 bucks i would trade the car in rather then dumping another $1400 into this car.

No Check engine lite on.
No Codes when scanned.

Some other times you need to crack the car 3 or 4 times to get the car going.

Sometimes it feels like its not getting enough fuel ( I can hear the fuel pump turn on)
Sometimes it feels like the battery is dead (But it starts up after a couple of times)

Throttle Body cleaned last summer
New Plugs and wires last summer
New fuel regulator last summer
New PVC value 2 weeks ago.
Battery 2 years old
Plus a long list of other repairs the car loves to break down.

Thanks

Chris

**Sven the Sexman** · 03-20-2015

Sounds to me like a loose battery connection somewhere. The things they want to replace are not going to fix your issue.

Fuel pressure regulator could cause hard starting when it cranks but won't start on first attempt.

**Scottydoggs** · 03-20-2015

find a new shop, maybe cal the bbb, cause they are just taking peoples money. maf and map, wtf?

check the three grounds on the tranny by the starter, if one of the small wires is pulling from its eye loop stuff like this can happen.

**NotEnoughGPs** · 03-20-2015

The problems you are describing happens to most of GP's sooner or later.
There are quite a few threads about this, if you search for "lights dimming", or "weak battery", or "ignition switch".
One thing you can do is check the battery cables. Make sure the negative and positive cables are tight. Be careful not to over tighten as they will strip out easily. I know about it because I stripped out the negative terminal. That has led to some problems for me same as you are describing. The negative cable was not making full contact.
I also had the alternator go out in my '02 GP after 200K miles. The "alt" warning light kept coming on in the gauge cluster. Check to see if yours is lit up. If so, get the alternator checked by a shop.
Another item that you could be facing is that the ignition switch could be failing. Is your Driver Info Center turning off? How about your heater fan speed?
In my GP, I am experiencing all of the above, plus the dash lights are dimming, the door locks click and the horn would sound (actually been doing this for past 8 years)
In my '97 GP that I junked, I had a Pontiac dealer replace the ignition switch, and it was pricey to get this done. I have ordered a new switch and plan to put it in myself soon.
I would not let a repair shop replace all the things you listed, like fuel pump and sensors. They are trying to convince you that since your car is 12 years old, you need all this stuff done. That is bull crap.
At 88K miles, and you have cared for the car up to now, you can keep your GP running for many more miles.
Stay tuned as I hope others respond with more advice on here.

**hellbilly hippy** · 03-20-2015

my jeep was doing something similar, would turn the key and nothing, nothing and then when it did turn over, the radio and everything was reset like the battery was d/c, at first it was sort of random and it would eventually start normally but it got to a point where i would turn the key and loose all power for 5 minutes, each time the radio reset, ended up being bad battery cables.

**cmccarty22** · 03-23-2015

Something new started yesterday I started the car and as I was pulling out I heard a whining noise from under the hood last about 3 to 4 minutes then went away. By the time I got to a place i could pull over the noise went away. Started the car today no noise but the car started up no problems today. Cleaned the battery connections and reconnected a little better. Today going to change the fuel filter and air filter and check on the wires going to the starter.

I only have an ABS light on the dash board because a wire broke going to the wheel bearing was waiting till it got warm to fix.
Every speed works fine on the heater fan.

The list of repairs is getting to long to justify keeping this car I only drive the car in the winter once the weather gets warm I walk to work.

**cmccarty22** · 04-24-2015

ok replaced fuel filter, new battery and new battery cables. Still doing it will not start with out resetting the clock and making the door locks click. I Checked the wires going to the starter they are fine I am going crazy. took it to a third garage he told me its my security system its clicking in and killing the fuel pump. He wants $600 to fix the problem but will not guarantee this will fix my problem. I just kills me to trade this car in to get a car payment! is there a way to turn off the security system?

**99GT2dr** · 04-25-2015

Had the passkey crap go bad in my '00 Blazer, was killing power to the fuel pump. I just googled "passkey bypass" and found a YouTube vid of how to get rid of it. The learn procedure took a little while, but was easy overall, worth looking into. If this is your problem, eventually it won't start at all.

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