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2005 Pontiac GrandAm Sedan Starting problems.
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clem2270
New User
Jan 25, 2013, 4:29 PM
Post #1 of 6
(3034 views)
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2005 Pontiac GrandAm Sedan Starting problems.
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Hello everyone I purchased this car used a few years ago, and in the last 8 months or so, it began to have an intermittent starting problem. This problem only seems to come-up when we go to fuel it up and then not everytime. At first we thought that it was because it was so darn hot (90+; 100+ degrees) and it was some sort of vapor-lock problem, but at that time it only seemed to happen when we gassed up at our local Fred Meyers gas station, so we changed stations and didn't seem to have any other problems, though one day this last summer the car stalled at a stop light (really hot day 100+ degrees) I was immediately able to get it started and drove home ASAP. But we haven't had that problem for a while even towards the end of summer when it was still 90+ degrees and we never had the problem when we were leaving from our house (where the car sets in direct sunlight and is parked on a concrete slab, so lots of reflected heat and sunlight). But then just the other day we gassed up at our 'new' regular station and the car did the same thing, would not start on the first try; but did start after about the 5th try and I waited like 10 seconds between attempts. Now the gas tank was just above the 'E' and the winter weather's been 20-30 degree's regularly for a few weeks now. I had driven the car around earlier that day and it was fine and after that incident it's been fine. And if it would be helpful, I would also like to mention that we have had some electrical problems after a month or so of our owning the car (unfortunately I don't remember what they were now); and the horn doesn't seem to work and the 'Service' light comes on, even after we have had a couple different shops reset the codes. Should I see about replaceing the fuel filler cap ( address possible vaporlock problem )? thanks for any help/ideas you can provide. P.S. the car has about : 67, 800 miles on it. thanks again. :)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 25, 2013, 6:18 PM
Post #3 of 6
(3003 views)
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Re: 2005 Pontiac GrandAm Sedan Starting problems.
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Vapor lock doesn't exist on modern EFI vehicles with fuel pumps in the fuel tank.
Might be possible you have an intermittent stuck open EVAP purge valve. Normally the purge valve is closed when the engine isn't running and/or when the engine computer isn't purging the charcoal canister. If the valve is hung open during refueling, the fuel vapors from the canister get pushed into the intake and flood the engine.
Doesn't explain your stalling problem though. A purge valve won't cause stalling while your driving, coming to a stop, or sitting at a light.
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 Jan 25, 2013, 6:26 PM)
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clem2270
New User
Jan 25, 2013, 10:17 PM
Post #4 of 6
(2973 views)
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Re: 2005 Pontiac GrandAm Sedan Starting problems.
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unfortunately the shop didn't tell me what the code was, and they wanted charge more money to take the time to track it down; and I can't afford that right now.
and not sure if this makes any difference, but the times when we notice the "service vehicle" light comes on, is when we have driven somewhere, parked, turned off the car, and then the driver has unbuckled their seatbelt, then the service light comes on.
hopefully after a good tax refund, we might have some "extra" money and be able to afford to have someone ID the service light issue.
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clem2270
New User
Jan 25, 2013, 10:26 PM
Post #5 of 6
(2968 views)
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Re: 2005 Pontiac GrandAm Sedan Starting problems.
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hello, thanks for your information.
not sure if this makes any difference to your answer, but while driving the car today, I also remembered that it's now developed a rough idle while we are setting at stop lights.
While the car's in drive and my foot's on the brake, the car will idle fine, then for a couple of seconds it will idle rough and I will have to apply more force on the brake pedal to keep it from "drifting" forward, then the idle will go back to normal. And a couple of weeks ago, at a really long light this happened 3-4 times.
At the beginning of December I took the car in for a Winterization check/oil change and was only advised that I needed a front bake job (we already knew this).
Does this just mean, we should just have a shop spend some time on it for these various issues?
thanks again for your help.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 26, 2013, 4:00 AM
Post #6 of 6
(2951 views)
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Re: 2005 Pontiac GrandAm Sedan Starting problems.
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Your car isn't going to fix itself. The codes have to be read and then diagnosed and then repaired.
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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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