Car problem question ... any ideas

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

DW Lauri was leaving for work this morning when she came back in and said something was wrong with her car (a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am). Normally when the car is started, the dashboard lights all come on momentarily and the gauges shoot over from the far left to the far right before falling into the places they should be in. Well, this morning she starts the car but the lights don't come on right away. 15 seconds later, they came on. Thought maybe it was a fluke, turned the car off and tried again. Same thing. I came out there, and again the same thing.

After taking Lauri to work I called her brother, who owns the battery shop where I got the car battery. He had me disconnect the battery for a minute, reconnect and try it again, thinking that disconnecting the battery would clear the computer and reset it. Still the same problem. Car started okay but the dash lights didn't come on until after "15 Mississippi."

I just took the car to the shop to be checked out. Except for the dash light delay, the car ran fine going to the shop.

Anyone have any ideas or experienced anything like this? I don't think it's the alternator. I've had alternators go out on me before and this isn't the same. Loose wire or connection? Maybe a bad fuse?

 

[ducklite]

One of two things. Either a short or lose wire that gets jiggled back into place with the vibration of the engine, or a problem with one of the computer modules. My money would be on the latter.

Anne

 

[Hercules10]

#1 problem is it's a GM (J/K...got a Vette maself)

If the time for the lights to come on is always the same, i.e. always 15 seconds before they light, then it's probably a 'puter problem. If the delay is sporadic then it could be a loose wire.

Good Luck!

 

[BunsenH]

I agree with ducklite. It sounds like an intermittant connection.

One the car starts, are the lights and guages stable? If it was me, I'd probably rap on the dashboard (lightly) and move some wires (slightly & gently) under the dash to see if the problem can be recreated.

Unfortunately, that type of problem is difficult to find unless it gets worse over time.

Good luck.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You know what just happened to us recently in our Grand Am...Since we did not use the "correct key", it wouldn't start.

Apparently you get so many tries without the original/dealer-made expensive key. We were using a copy key and that messed it up.

We towed it thinking something was really wrong with it.

I hope yours is simple too!!!

 

[sugarpie]

I just called my husband ( he's a mechanic) & explained this to him & he said it's just a gauge check which causes this & he wouldn't worry about it if the car is running o.k.

I don't think I'd like that answer if it were me but that's his $.02.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I timed it only once but did try turning it off and back on a couple of times before driving it to the shop. It seems right around 15 seconds for the lights to come on. Lauri guessed 15 seconds but wondered if it was shorter because when you're waiting for something like that it always seems like it's longer than it actually is.

Whatever it is, I just hope it's relatively inexpensive and easy to fix. The computer problem sounds like it would be more $$ than tightening a loose wire.

 

[petrymom]

No advice other than I don't believe it's the alternator either. I just replaced the alternator on my 2001 Grand am. Didn't act like this, BUT my brake lights all went off. Was told by the GM tech that this happens when the car isn't charging properly. I also had a miss in the engine and the lights would dim and brighten. (also the lack of a proper charge).

Good luck, I have had several electrical issues with my car in the past 5 years - hazard light switch, radio switch, blicker switch and air bag switch. air bag switch I chose not to fix at this time. Only thing it affects is the horn apparently. If the car survives to see DS driving, then I will fix it.... TeeHee