Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90, 91-105, 106-120, 121-135, 136-150, 151-165, 166-169
Battery light and ABS break gauge ON in dashboard.
I had this problem couple of days ago. I did on-line search and found some good tips on what the problem could be.
In the back of my mind, I was going to replace the alternator regardless after I read few posts. I went to a mechanic today and I told him what the problem was. He checked the battery and said it was good. He tested the alternator and it was bad.
I asked him to replace it and the cost for the part was $240 and $100 labor. Looks like the problem is gone for now. The battery and ABS lights went off.
Special thanks to the people who posted possible solutions to this problem. I am glad I finally got that problem taken care of. The car is running great now.
I hope this post will be helpful to others as well.
I have a 99 Grand Am GT with 80k on it. Same problems with radio volume, fan 1 and 2. New tires fixed the noise not attributed to the brakes. I have brake noise now, probably due to warped disk, will need to turn them. I am noticing the poping noise and will follow advise presented on this web site. Just replace the alternator. If you buy a $22 repair book and a new alternator for $155, you will find it very easy to fix.
I recently had to get a state inspection and the first shop I went to wanted $1500 to fix "all" the problems, second shop noted the same "small" issues and passed the car for $15, so watch yourself out there.
No other problems with the vehicle so far, but I will look out for the ones mentioned, thanks.
Clearly none of you knew how to take care of your cars? I've owned a 1999 Grand Am since it came out (technically 1998) and I've replaced brake pads less than on my mx-6 and I have had only a problem with my stereo which was replaced like I would do in any other car.
The intake manifold was on factory recall and should have been fixed for free anyways. Mind you the brakes should last longer in the GT model then the SE as they are different.
All and all though I've had little problems with the car. If you have that many problems with any car you were probably doing a lot wrong.
Sorry, I just had to reply to the last post. It's obvious that the '99 Grand Am has some serious issues when there's tons of people coming across the same mechanical problems. I treat my car extremely well and I've had tons of problems with it... power steering pump & pulley, water pump, front wheel bearings & outer tie rods, my turn signals/ four ways don't work half the time, lights randomly come on on my dash all the time, and to top it off... my window fell down inside of my door tonight in the middle of a rain storm... the Grand Am SE is going to put me in the poor house.
Hello, to all. I'm a not so proud owner of a Pontiac. I brought my 1999 GT in 2003 with 48k.
The first problem I had was my struts, then the battery light came on and I assumed the battery was dead, but it turn out that the alternator was bad because of a ground wire was too close to it, causing failure.
Recently I had an antifreeze leak from intake manifold, and now the mechanic says I might be spending about $450 or more to fix it, depending on how bad it is. As soon as I fix it, I'm going to sell it for whatever it's worth.
Just wanted to add myself to this list of problematic
'99 Grand Am owners. Same problems with radio, blower
fan settings 1 & 2, fuel gauge, front brakes, water pump.
Fortunately my alternator seems to be hanging in there
but at ~100,000 miles the front end has developed the
infamous "noise". After reading all the entries I was
hoping to get a specific answer as to why. Hopefully
I can eliminate it by replacing the front hubs.
May all of our next vehicle choices be better.
Well it's nice to know that I'm not crazy. I've had my 99 Grand AM for two years now. I have the same problems with the front end noise. I replace my own brake pads twice a year, and I've just put on new rotors. The A/C and heater switch have never worked at 1 and 2 but 3-5 work just fine. I had it tuned up last year and I thought the mechanic broke my intake manifold because my car started running really bad after that. He told me there was a leak, I just assumed he did it because my car didn't make the noise it does now when you put it in drive. My car sounds terrible in drive. The hazard/turn signal switch has gone haywire. It makes clicking noises just about all the time... I unhook it sometimes so that I can get a break, but the signals themselves work (provided the switch is hooked up). My gas gauge has never worked and unfortunately you don't notice these things until after you've had the car for like a week or so. If I fill it up its fine, but once it gets towards a fourth of a tank it goes crazy. I haven't had to replace anything major yet though. I'm hoping these recalls I read about on this site for the intake manifold and the hazard switch go through smoothly. Has anyone else received recalls for this stuff?? I already have it up for sale, people are coming to look at it Sunday.
To the Commenter Above:
Okay here's the run down.
1. The Fan not working on setting 1 and 2 is caused by a resistor located under the passenger dash. Go to grandamgt. com to find a f.a.q. on it.
2. If you are replacing your brake pads and rotors with o.e.m. ones, stop. Buy aftermarket rotors and pads and they will give you much better life. But twice a year? You must be hard on the brakes.
3. If the mechanic says that your lower intake manifold gasket is leaking then you have to replace it. Most likely coolant is leaking into your oil and you should replace this immediatley. It will be expensive. Think $500 dollars or more.
4. The infamous clicking noise is caused by dirty contacts in the turn signal selector switch. Go to grandamgt.com and find a step by step walk through on removing the switch and cleaning it with electical contact cleaner. I did mine and it was easy.
I hope this helps.
I bought a 99 Grand Am GT in 2004, and it's been a problem ever since. Right now my current problem is my service engine soon light is on. I turned my key on and off 4 times and it dinged 8 times. Anyone know what that means? Also, my car jerks when I go up a hill sometimes.
Anyone with power steering problems? (GT)
I have a 96 chrysler cirrus right now that has under 100 thousand miles and only needs a little rear end work and I'm considering getting a 99 grand am gt. it runs smooth. except when I'm at a dead stop it has a little front end noise. all the maintenances and oil changes were done promptly and regularly by the previous owner, but it has 130,000 miles. I was looking online to make sure these cars are good cars when I came across this site. now I'm not sure I should get it. my mechanic says they are good cars except the intake manifold usually goes bad about a three hundred dollar fix. what should I do I know nothing about cars.
Talk about bad luck. I own a 99 Grand Am GT and noticed oil blowing all over the back of the motor. I tore the top half off the motor, down to the heads, and replaced all the gaskets. Everything is fine for, let's say, 3 minutes when I notice antifreeze coming out the tail pipe. You guessed it. A blown head gasket. So I now have the motor torn down to the block and saw the work that someone must have tried to do, but just monkey rigged it to get it running. There were stripped bolts and it looks like this caused them from replacing the head gasket originally. My advice is do the work yourself or get someone you trust to do the work. Cause people will screw you and charge more than the car is worth to fix. Never let a garage break down your motor unless you trust the guy with your wallet.
I have a 99 SE with 130,000 miles. So far in the past year, I have replaced the coolent system ($1000), the 1 and 2 on heat does not work, my passenger side widow stopped working, the knob on the radio is screwed up, and just yesterday my power steering fluid started leaking.
I have a 99 grand am se, as many others, and pretty much have had the same kind of problems. Signal lights work until the car warms up, replaced the factory radio because it was junk, had the front struts replaced to correct the ABS system, and the noise when stopping. The noise when stopped, I believe, has got something to do with a spark knock. I was running regular unleaded gas when having the problem so I switched to premium for a couple of tanks and the promlem was solved! The ckeck engine light went off and the car runs smoothly. But the mechanical defects are pitiful. If you desire negative equity, take a loan out on a 99 grand am.
I am too an owner of a 1999 Grand AM SE My husband and I are about ready to lose our ever loving minds about this front end "Airplane" noise I call it... WHAT THE HECK IS IT??? We have replaced the left hub 3 times! As this is what the shop told us it was... I can't take anymore of this noise.. also the radio thing yes I have that as well... no window problems as of yet, but hey I still have time right??? I had the left spring just bust sitting still in the garage... what a PILE!!! HELP ME ON THE NOISE IF YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS PLEASE imallinaaaa@aol.com.