Just to let you know the 99 Po9ntiac Grand am is equipped with a key-less entry system stock. You can buy a key-less entry beeper on eBay for like $10.00 like I did the part numbers on the back of mine are GM/UTA: 15732805 FCC ID: KOBUTIBT CANADA: 1983 101 393.
The door locking and horn honking 10sec. after you push the lock button and shut your door is a safety feature so you don't lock your keys in the car. Have you ever shut your car door and than realized "oh crap I just locked myself out"? With this feature turned on you can just turn around and open your door within 10 seconds and retrieve your keys. You can turn it off by holding down the lock button (Owners Manual) or you can just push the lock button twice and it will chirp and lock right then.
The volume control is just a crappy design on GM.
If your car doesn't start one day and your "SECURITY" light on the dash is flashing than just wait 10 min with your key in the "ON" position until the light stops flashing and it will start up. Don't pay to have it towed; just wait for the car to realize that you are not trying to steal it.
If you have any other questions about your 99 Grand AM doing funny things than e-mail me at amazonaby@hotmail.com.
Chances are that if it will go wrong on this car than it has gone wrong with mine and I have found the fix/solution.
My 99 Grand AM SE was bought used, but in the last 4 months have had to replace the driver side axel, both bearings and hubs and the brake pads twice and rotors once. I am so frustrated as now after having the rotors and pads replaced am getting a VERY loud roar inside the car while the car is moving (rolling or by pressing gas). What is this??? I can't afford to keep putting money into it on a hit and miss. I also have the radio volume and digital display issue and the security passlock issue (which comparatively speaking could care less about). And finally, there is a horrible grinding noise coming from the front end somewhere.
I bought my '99 Grand Am GT1 brand new off the lot eight years ago and it was been an outstanding car for me. I now have 146,000 miles on it and it's gotten me up and down the east coast, cross-country twice, and up and down the west coast! I'm going to be very sad when it's time to see her go.
I have had very minor issues over the years, other than the normal wear and tear stuff. It all depends on the person, and what they can tolerate I guess.
- My power lock does not work, it unlocks, but does not lock. Not sure what's going on, replaced the fuse, but not worth getting fixed now.
- I do have that issue where the volume goes down when I turn it up on the knob, but another commenter noted that this is actually a "feature" so I dunno.
- I've had to get the relay behind the hazard switch replaced because it began clicking on it's own randomly. Then a few years later the clicking returned and instead of forking over the dough, I've just gotten used to it!
- The door covering is coming up at 3 of 4 windows.
- The radio does do that jumble of digits once in a while, but no real issue there.
- The power window regulator busted in the last week (which is what led me to this site!) and I'm waiting on a new one to replace that, but only $65, so not big deal. It was actually the clips that hold the slot for the tabs glued to the window. Sorry for my likely inaccurate terms!
- The fan settings 1 and 2 don't work, which I'd like to fix, if anyone can point me somewhere for info on replacing the fan speed control resistor?
- The back left turn signal and brake light panel got rusted out and had some trouble with the turn signals going out here and there, but was able to fix that it seems.
I think that's about it! Like I said.. she's been great to me! Best car I could've purchased coming out of college and for all my travels since!
For the most part it has been a good car with regular maintenance things until this year!
Front Coil spring broke... two new springs and struts.
Check engine light.. mysteriously goes on and off for no apparent reason.. the code is for vaporization... replaced the gas cap... the mystery continues.
Cooling problems... had the intake gaskets done... okay for 40,000km and now it is a problem... apparently there is a GM fix some sort of tablets they are a buck a piece and seems to work... also saw Consumer Guide... sand the plastic radiator reservoir and replace with a new cap.
Brakes...first set lasted me 90,000km.
Anyway will keep it for a another year and start looking around.
You decide
hub bearings
calipers
brakes every 3-4 months
O2 sensor twice
intake manifold twice
window clips all four
alternator
battery twice
feul pump
feul filter
spark plugs three times
coil packs
icm
I just feel like throwing up when I look at this car
2 door panels- peeled back from sun, new ones did the same, just glued them down.
Power seat stopped working.
Now I have a misfire on cylinder 5 code p0305
i have replaced everything and it's still there.
Please pray for me.
I have a 99 Grand Am SE2 and recently the check engine light went on and off. The first time I got it fixed the guy said that it was the fuel cap. A couple days later the light went on again. I took it to another place this time. This guy said that the I had a faulty tube, but should definitely take it in if I notice the needle moving from a full tank to an empty tank. On my way to work today, it moved from full to empty about 8 times and I filled up yesterday evening. The weather here (Chicago) has been warm, cold, rainy, snowy, sleet you name it and I'm afraid I will stall during a bad storm if there is something more serious than a faulty gas gauge.
I recently purchased a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE, 2.4L. from a private party.
When the car is cold, I have a hard time starting it.
I have to crank it for 4 or 5 seconds, then it starts.
Once it is warm, it starts fine.
I’ve replaced spark plugs, fuel filter, and coolant temperature sensor. Problem still there.
Also, I have to “jiggle” the key, in order to get the ignition lock to turn. (Maybe related?)
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
When I initially got the car, I liked it. Since then, I've had the brakes fixed, problems with the motor mounts (the bolts are sheered off) and that was a costly one. The sunroof squeaks and is loud and annoying with every bump I hit. Today was a doosey! The power steering pulley just broke, the belt snapped and it overheated. I'd runaway, but now I don't have a vehicle in which to do it in...LOL. I love the looks of the Grand Am's, but OMG, the repairs are outrageous!
Well I just bought a 1999 Grand Am 4 door yesterday with 70,000 miles on it. Now I am getting a little nervous after reading these comments. Does anyone know where I can pick up an owners manual so I can find out all the gadgets it has?
I own a 99 Grand Am 2.4L with 117,000 miles on it. Throughout the life of the car, the only problems I have had were a dead alternator (around 100,000 which is expected), a bad blower motor resistor (around 105,000), and now a front wheel ABS sensor. Other than that, this car has been an amazing car. Total repair costs for this vehicle- approximately $250. No complaints here.
I have owned my 1999 Grand am for around 8 years now and despite the problems I have had with it I still love my car :)
I would like to try to answer some questions people have posted and one is about a 4-5 seconda to start which may be a bad coil pack which is mounted on top of the spark plugs.
Another was asking about his fan blower not working on 1 and 2 speed which is your speed control which is kinda fun to change (not) You need to unscrew the panel on the passenger side of the car which will expose the fan and right behind it you will see some wires connected to something which is your speed control.
Someone else has a problem with check engine light and maybe bad gas mileage which is probably a bad vacuum line that is either cracked or has come off.
I have fixed a few more things with my car and now a new one has choisen to show itself to me and it couldnt be at a worse time : (When I got home today I noteced that my traction control light came on and that there was a whining noise coming from the transmission and it also shifted very hard when either down shifting or up shifting. By surfing the net I think it is some solenoid inside which controls the fluid pressure. If anyone has any other ideas about the transmission thing feel free to either post them here or send me an email at Viper_Loc@hotmail.com thanks in advance :)
My '99 Grand Am has a few problems, but none of the severity that had been reported early in this thread.
The biggest headache has been the power windows freezing up during winter months. I am a smoker, and even in sub-zero weather I would prefer to vent my windows to let the noxious air out, rather than allow it to soak into the upholstery. The only procedure that's been more common than repairing a broken power window regulator since I purchased this car in 2002 has been your standard oil change. Some of this is my fault for constantly testing the window during frigid weather, trying to get it to go down an inch or two, but still, it shouldn't freeze up so easily.
Other than that, I have experienced the radio volume increasing when twisting the nob to decrease it. This is a minor inconvenience, and barely worth mention.
Otherwise I have had few problems. I am growing tired of this particular automobile after almost six years, and have had probably two major repair jobs done (averaging about $1000 each) during that time span, but both of those things are to be expected, especially when driving a used model.
Taking my experience into consideration, I would recommend this model as a very early starter car for new drivers.
All you who think the car is wonderful are you a dealer? Do you really have a Pontiac Grand Am? About 70,000/80,000 miles you'll have problems with seals. You'll buy new heads and pour a couple grand into the pile of junk just to get it to run to trade it in. I wonder when you've had your cars a little bit longer if you'll be singing a new tune. Mechanics at dealerships can't tell you whats wrong with it and neither can my dad who has been a mechanic for 25 years. I've seen a lot of the mentioned problems with my car above. I'll never own one ever again.
I've had mine for two years. Got it from a pal who worked at a dealership. It's getting pretty close to 200,000 miles... it had 158,000 when I bought it. Needs wheel balance and has an oil leak right now. I replaced all my speakers, thermostat and housing, MAP sensor, windshield...
I spent a buttload of money on it at Goodyear last summer. Oh, and when my gas gauge gets below 1/2 a tank it pretty much just goes where it wants. So I have to keep track of my gas using the milage. Yes, I've run out of gas more than once.
My radio display screws up every now and then, or doesn't show up at all.
Oh well, I paid 1500 for it. I've got rust on the bottom of the doors too.
I plan on getting a new car when I get out of college. Well, I hope so anyways.
Oh yeah, it used to have an aftermarket keyless entry but my dog chewed up and ruined both key remotes. So, yeah.
There is always a possibility of problems with ANY car, but my Grand Am has been the best car I've ever owned. It is now 8 years old and still runs flawlessly. It has had no repairs other than front brake pads at 70,000 miles (the rear are still original). We were so impressed with it that we bought another GM in 2003. It, too, has performed flawlessly, and at 60,000 has had NOTHING. It even still has the original tires.