1996 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Electrical System Problems

FAILURE OF THE IGNITION WIRES & PLUGS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS. *JB

VEHICLE ON 4TH ALTERNATOR AT 63,000 MILES. ALTERNATOR FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY, WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING, AT ANY SPEED, LEAVING DRIVER WITH LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE. VOLUNTARY MANUFACTURER RECALL 8/99, SPARK PLUG WIRES REPLACED TO BETTER HANDLE ELECTRICAL LOADS. PROBLEM IMPROVED BUT NOT RESOLVED. OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE SAME EXPERIENCE AND COMPLAINTS INCLUDING AT NHTSA WEBSITE. VEHICLE MODEL & YEAR WITH 3.4 LITRE ENGINE UNABLE TO SUSTAIN NORMAL ELECTRICAL LOADS. ALTERNATOR FAILURE OCCURS EVERY 1-2 YEARS, ALWAYS WHEN AIR CONDITIONER OPERATING. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT UNDER "SECRET WARRANTY". REPAIRS WITH REBUILT ALTERNATOR COST NEARLY $800 EXCLUDING TOW, CAR RENTAL & CELL PHONE CHARGES. VEHICLE BLOCKING LANE OF TRAFFIC ON MAJOR ARTERIAL DURING RUSH HOUR. FREQUENCY OF ALTERNATOR FAILURE IS CLEARLY NOT NORMAL WEAR OR USE. RECEIVED NO WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM PRIOR WRITTEN COMPLAINTS TO PONTIAC. TS

CAR STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE ALMOST KILLED MYSELF AN OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE OF THIS. IT IS ALSO HARD TO START. *AK

VECHICLE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS DIMMED, ONCE VECHICLE WAS SHUT OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. BATTERY WAS REPLACED IT WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. I WAS INFORMED THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT PUTTING OUT ENOUGH AMPS, SO THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND 1 WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM AGAIN SO ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED A 2ND TIME. THAT SAME DAY THE PROBLEM WAS REPEATED. IT SEEMS WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE POWER FROM THE BATTERY IS DRAINED.

VECHICLE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS DIMMED, ONCE VECHICLE WAS SHUT OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. BATTERY WAS REPLACED IT WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. I WAS INFORMED THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT PUTTING OUT ENOUGH AMPS, SO THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND 1 WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM AGAIN SO ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED A 2ND TIME. THAT SAME DAY THE PROBLEM WAS REPEATED. IT SEEMS WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE POWER FROM THE BATTERY IS DRAINED.

HORN WORKS SOMETIMES.

PROBLEM IS WITH FACTORY PASSENGER'S KEY II SECURITY SYSTEM. VEHICLE WILL MOST OF THE TIME, BUT WILL NOT START AT TIMES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IF THIS OCCURS WAIT THREE MINUTES THEN IT WILL START EXACTLY THREE MINUTES LATER. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAVE OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR AT A PONTIAC DEALER AND HE STATED THAT HE HAS REPLACED A "BARREL FULL" OF THE KEY CYLINDERS AND NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM MODULE. IT APPEARS THAT IN AN AREA THIS SMALL WITH AN INCIDENT RATE THAT HIGH THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM IN WHICH PONTIAC NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE. *AK

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

VEHICLE INSTALLED WITH WRONG SPARK PLUGS WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PLENIUM PACK.

HORN REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO ACTIVATE.

INTERMITTENT STALLING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING/ WHEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. *AK