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1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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pizzamankan
New User
Oct 29, 2012, 12:58 PM
Post #1 of 10
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1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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1993
Pontiac
Grand Am
3.3L V6
179,830 Miles
I just want to say beforehand, I apologize for the small novel. I like to include all the details :) Okay so about a month ago I was driving home from work when my speedometer needle started bouncing and saying I was going 100 mph. The bouncing seemed to coincide with when I pressed the brake (brake light on) and when I used my blinker. I got home fine but when I went to start it the next day the battery was nearly dead. Lights were dim and it wouldn't turn over. I jumped it and it was fine until last week. I got maybe 5 minutes away from work when the needles started bouncing again, only this time I could feel the engine loosing power. 'Not good' I thought, so I pulled into the nearest parking lot just as the engine died. The battery was dead and car wouldn't start. I had a nearby friend come jump my car and I started home again. I got about another 15 minutes when yet again the gauges started bouncing and I started losing power. I was on the freeway so I milked it for all it was worth towards the nearest rest stop. I put on the hazards but that made the engine power go up and down with the blinking so I turned them off. Shortly before the rest stop either smoke or steam started coming from under the hood. I made it to the rest stop, the car died, and waited for a while before opening the hood since there was smoke or steam coming out. The coolant reservoir had boiled over, other than that it all looked perfectly fine. I got towed back home where I jumped the car and it ran just fine! I drove it down the road a few minutes and back without a problem, though I imagine if I drove further there would be problems. It can't seem to hold a charge at all now. I charged up the battery and it was completely dead the next day after just sitting in my driveway. Also it seems the coolant is now leaking, perhaps a fitting came loose after it boiled over?
One thing to note is the ABS light is on the majority of the time, so perhaps the problem is in there? Also I tested the battery and alternator with a multimeter and cleaned the battery terminals after the first time. I changed the spark plugs, TPS, and fuel filter about 2 months ago as well if that helps. I'm not terribly automotive literate, so any detailed easy to read answers will be MUCH appreciated! And thank you to anyone who actually took the time to read this! 
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pizzamankan
New User
Oct 31, 2012, 12:58 PM
Post #3 of 10
(2351 views)
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Re: 1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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Thanks for the insight into the coolant leak I'll try and find the leak via DIY methods. I don't have the funds to take it to a shop. My main concern is the electrical though. It's sounding a lot like an electrical short, but I have no idea where to even begin. Can anyone give me a place to start after analyzing the info I've provided? Thanks all
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 31, 2012, 2:00 PM
Post #4 of 10
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Re: 1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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You have nothing to test it with. You have no idea where to even begin and you expect to fix it yourself? I don't see that happening. What I see is you wasting a lot of money and likely making the problem much worse.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 31, 2012, 5:24 PM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: 1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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Sounds like your alternator isn't working for some reason. When the alternator isn't charging everything electrical is running off the battery. Once the battery gets discharged, those electrical things start acting funny and shutting off. When an engine computer doesn't get enough power, your engine stalls. The ABS light will come on if the controller sees low system voltage too.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 31, 2012, 5:27 PM)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 31, 2012, 5:37 PM
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Re: 1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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Don't understand why the battery would be dead after the engine finally stalled out unless it was some type of charging system fault. Alternators can have shorted diodes and drain the battery too. I'd be curious to see what system voltage is when this is happening. It would be wise to check for AC getting into the electrical system to.
Could also have ground problems which wasn't uncommon in those cars.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 31, 2012, 5:40 PM)
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pizzamankan
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Nov 1, 2012, 9:12 PM
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Re: 1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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I have a multimeter, my eyeballs, and some ingenuity to test with. Yes I don't know where to start, that's why I'm asking for expert advice. Armed with the wisdom from the members of this community coupled with the infinite knowledge of Google I can learn what I need to know to accomplish whatever I need to. Everybody has to start somewhere and at some time, and for me that time is now. Maybe I'll make the problem worse, but at least I'll learn something from it. I'm not just fixing this car to get it running, I'm fixing it to learn. For Narnia!!
Okay I'm done 
So I can do a more thorough testing of the alternator with my multimeter when I get the chance. The fact that it's loosing a charge just sitting is certainly a big factor to take into consideration with this trouble shooting. Is there a way to narrow down which electrical relay that the problem is coming from? Perhaps a way to test them with the multimeter? They all go through the fuse box so perhaps there's some way I can test them in a way that involves removing fuses or testing somewhere in the fuse box itself even? Just thinking out loud here. An extremely unconventional and time-consuming way could be to charge the battery, then remove fuses till the battery stops losing a charge I suppose. Like I said, it'd be a pain though. Nevermind, not such a smart idea. Before worrying about that though I suppose I should inspect the ground first, and then see about a shorted diode in the alternator. Is there a way to easily test that? I could test the system voltage as well.
Thanks all for the input so far, I look forward to hearing more
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Nov 2, 2012, 4:56 PM
Post #10 of 10
(2259 views)
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Re: 1993 Pontiac Grand Am Bouncing Gauges Engine Dies
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A bad battery run too long will also keep the alternator maxed out and kill it. Saxon is correct that parts stores will test this out for free. While you have it unhooked you need to carefully examine the connections. Use a small screwdriver or a pick to work the rubber cover off of the copper connector in your battery ends. Side post terminals are terrible about building corrosion. Use whatever is needed to clean it off to the point you see a clean shiny copper color. A wire brush in a drill can do ok for this. Without good connections nothing will work right. When you go to install the battery, heavily coat the connections on both sides with dielectric grease to keep them from corroding again as easily. Use a 6-point socket on the bolts if you can. No pliers, no vise grips. If you have a lot of corrosion on the bolts themselves or the bolt heads are in bad shape the parts store has them cheap. Just toss the olds ones.
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