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2000 Grand Am Electrical Problem


cdcarr69
12-25-2007, 12:58 PM
We have a 2000 Grand Am SE with a V6. Yesterday I drove it to the store when I came out to start it nothing happened, no lights, no electric, nothing. I tried it again and it started right up. Got Home, turned it off and tried to start it again and nothing, no dashboard lights, or interior lights.
I thought it needed a battery so I let it sit. A few hours later I went out to the car to get something and the dome light went on and power door locks worked, so I tried to start it and everything went dead again. Went back a couple hours later, dome light and power locks worked, so I decided to try turning on the headlights, did that and everything went dead again. Did hear a clicking sound coming from under or around the glove compartment. Tried jump starting it, didn't work, put in a new battery, didn't work. The car is now completly dead with a new battery.
The check engine light came on very dimly and briefly at one point when I tried to start it. The security light has not come on.
Anybody have any ideas?

grfnkl
12-25-2007, 07:17 PM
We have a 2000 Grand Am SE with a V6. Yesterday I drove it to the store when I came out to start it nothing happened, no lights, no electric, nothing. I tried it again and it started right up. Got Home, turned it off and tried to start it again and nothing, no dashboard lights, or interior lights.
I thought it needed a battery so I let it sit. A few hours later I went out to the car to get something and the dome light went on and power door locks worked, so I tried to start it and everything went dead again. Went back a couple hours later, dome light and power locks worked, so I decided to try turning on the headlights, did that and everything went dead again. Did hear a clicking sound coming from under or around the glove compartment. Tried jump starting it, didn't work, put in a new battery, didn't work. The car is now completly dead with a new battery.
The check engine light came on very dimly and briefly at one point when I tried to start it. The security light has not come on.
Anybody have any ideas?

Check you connections at your battery.... more then likely they are slightly corroded or not making a tight enough contact. Tighten them down more and that should solve your problems.

cdcarr69
12-25-2007, 08:25 PM
Check you connections at your battery.... more then likely they are slightly corroded or not making a tight enough contact. Tighten them down more and that should solve your problems.

If that was the problem, wouldn't that have been resolved when I tried to jump start it? When I had jumpers connected to it, it was still completely dead.

grfnkl
12-25-2007, 09:30 PM
If that was the problem, wouldn't that have been resolved when I tried to jump start it? When I had jumpers connected to it, it was still completely dead.

Not necessarily... Since GM cars don't use Post connection batteries, and uses the bolt type... if that bolt isn't making contact completely inside that battery, jumping starting the car won't help any. Essentially it shorts itself out and won't start. I had the same problem on my G/a... the car could have full power until you turned that key.. then nothing. Later on i found out it was the connections and everything was fine after having them tightened. If after you tighten them you still have problems... I would make sure your cables are still good and not eaten through by battery acid or something... and then i would check the grounds.

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