Help! Please!

[zx7ninja]

Guys, I posted this on the old board before it went down. I've been trying to get this problem solved, but I just can't do it. All my performance plans and stereo plans are on hold until this gets fixed. I have a bunch of stuff from both plans to put in too....

OK here's the problem, and please read the while thing before posting:

It started off with me losing power to the car. When I shut the car off and went to arm my alarm, nothing would happen. No chirp, no nothing. I'd get back into the car, and notice there was no power. Nothing. No lights, no dome light, nothing. I'd start the car, and it'd start fine, and I'd have power back. Everything in the car was reset. Radio back to 12:00 and everything. Shut it back off, get out, and the alarm would arm normally. It didn't happen often, so I didn't worry about it much. Then it started to happen more often, to the point where it would happen 2 or 3 times a day! Had it looked at the shop who did my exhaust, and they said they battery was dead. Replaced it, but the problem didn't go away. I thought it was the alarm. Checked that out, no dice. Then I thought it was my stereo system. Checked it out, couldn't find a problem, so I said screw it, and ripped the whole thing out and went back to the stock monsoon setup. Still didn't fix the problem. At this point I was completely perplexed.

That brings me to last week. Me and my girlfriend went out to dinner. As we were driving home, I went to stop at a red light. As soon as I hit the brakes, just a tap, the whole car shut off. Just for a split second. Radio reset back to 12:00, the gauges swept just like they do when you first start the car, and it was like it never even happened. I was like WTF? So I went through the car AGAIN. Still can't find a problem. Then the other night it happened again. I'm pulling up to my house after work, go to hit the brakes, and the car shuts off. completely. Almost drove head on into the pole in front of my house because the brakes wouldn't work. They kept acting like the ABS was on. But it was perfectly dry out. Not slippery, nothing. And on the way to work this afternoon it happened TWICE! I'm on the highway doing 70, go to tap the brakes because my exits coming up, and the car shuts off, than turns back on again. And it happens again as I'm coming off the exit. This is ridiculous. I'm gonna pull the car apart again tomorrow, but I don't think i'm gonna find anything. What's going on here? I have 25,300 mile on my car and nothing like this has ever happened until the last 3000 miles or so. I'm scared to drive my own car now guys.
Only thing wrong with the car is the brakes are warped. Majorly. The dealer refuses to fix them under warranty, and wants to charge 500 bucks for it. I've told them about the problems with the brakes, but he isn't hearing it. Funny, because they've done them before. On this GA and my last GA, a 96. All under warranty. So i'm looking into aftermarket brake systems. But that wouldn't cause this problem would it?

I've been through the car multiplt times and can't find a problem. And i'm no slouch in the electrical department. I have a associates it electronics, which of course the classes included electricity and wiring and such. And I can't find anything wrong. Nothing. I hope some of you are more knowledgeable than me in this area, and especially in the GA area, and can help me out. This isn't safe man. Thanks guys for the help. I REALLY appreciate it.

[jaketuff]

DIZZAMN!

Sorry to hear the problem is that hard man. I don't know what the issue would be... warped brakes. Hmph it stumps me as to what the culprit is for you. If all your grounds are fine, your alternator is producing consistent, solid output, then it is really a mystery to me.

You should see what "Elrod" thinks about the issue. He may be able to help you

JOUT

[zx7ninja]

Hey Jake, that's a good idea. I was gonna do that initially, but noone has answered any post over there, so I wasn't sure if elrod, spoon, or di have even come back yet after the crash. Worth a shot though.

It sucks, I have TONS of stuff waiting to go into the car. This is holding me back....

[zx7ninja]

Noone's able to even guess at this? I'd think with the pool of knowledge regarding GA's here someone would even TRY. Anyway, the problems getting worse, and even the dealer can't tell me what's wrong. Now, when I go to start the car, instantly, as soon as I turn the key, all power goes off. Turn the key off, all power goes back on. After a few tries, the car starts, but the red "security" light stays on. I'm thinking the brain unit of the alarm went bad. All the wiring is ok, but the unit itself. And I can't go to the place who installed it, because they were bought, and have since closed doors. I'm at a loss here guys. Any help is appreciated.

PS Maybe the cars computer is going?

[Gramp's GT]

Originally posted by zx7ninja
so I wasn't sure if elrod, spoon, or di have even come back yet after the crash.



What crash????what happened?? Are you talking about the "crash" when the board went down or are you saying they were in a car crash?

[GS10GA]

I have a problem with my 92 that is close to yours but I can safely say that yours is not the computer, your car is having a power interupt of all systems, according to your post if the radio and all accesories are going dead when the car shuts off right?

I'd start with the power wire to the ignition switch, my friends dodge ram did almost the same thing, then work your way back on that circut.

My car would looses all spark and then start right up most of the time, now it won't even start. I checked the Crank sensor and replaced it due to the fact it was just in spec, replaced the ICM (ignition control module) because the tests in the HAYNES book said it was defective, and still no spark the only thing left that I can see is the ECM, but the wife wants it checked out at the dealer before I replace the ECM.

[2000blkgagt]

ok here is the deal....your car is still covered under waranty.......if you are able to remove all none professionaly installed items...ie the alarm any aftermarket stereo equipment or any other mods that may have been done and put the car back in stock condition....then take the car to the dealer and tell them what is going on(dont mention the aftermarket stuff)....if they wont deal with you go to any gm car dealership and tell them you want to do deal with them because so and so has treated you badly......if they wont deal with you,,,,last ditch effort ask them for a written estimate on what will need to be done and the cost.......(and if if things seem to be going bad ask them for the write up and even make an appointment to get the repairs done)(the appointment you can just back out of) (key thing get the written report)......................so out of all this hassel if you dont get the the work done under gm warrnty atleast you will know what has caused the problem and try to figure it out from there....if you are lossing all power and shuting down for a sec or whatever that will deffinetly store a fault in the cars comp.................it may seem like a big hasle or what ever but i would think its worth a few hours of your time to protect protect your investment.............. your grand am is a GM product which means you can take it to a chevy dealer a olds dealer a caddy dealer or whatever...they are required to honar you gm warrnaty and if they dont all you have to do is make 1 call to the states attorney general ............................ after my first experince with the local pontiac dealer i have been doing all my bussness with a chevy dealer......best service i have ever had......just my 2 cents worth.....sorry about the long post

[cavingman]

sounds like an alternator maybe.
probobly not though :)

[zx7ninja]

Gramps: Yeah, I meant the board crash. Sorry for the confusion.

GS10GA:Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at that section n tuesday. I appreciate it.

2000blkgagt: Thanks you also for your info. I would perfer to fix the problem myself. Getting the car back to stock would be a major pain in the ass, and it just sems easier to me to find and fix the problem on my own, even at my own expense, long as it's not too expensive. But if worst comes to worst, then I absolutely will return the car to stock and take it in to the dealer. There's a chevy dealer in town I might take it to just so I can get the codes read before I start looking at the car again. Just so I can know what i'm dealing with. Thanks again for your help.

i'll keep you all posted on what I find out.

[qwik99gt]

It might be too late to tell you this, but your problem is most likely a loose connection in your aftermarket alarm. I think your alarm's killswitch circuit is being grounded or disconnected temporarily by the movement of the brake pedal. It might be as simple as a wire in the way of the pedal arm. Just a suggestion, but I've seen lots of alarms cause freakish problems similar to yours. Keep us posted, and good luck!:thumbs:

PS- Spoon, Di, and Elrod treated this forum like a chore rather than a labor of love. Even on the old forum most of the questions they were asked were left unanswered. I doubt we'll see them again. All we can do is pick up their slack and make the Tech column a well-informed database of knowledge!:D

[zx7ninja]

Originally posted by qwik99gt
It might be too late to tell you this, but your problem is most likely a loose connection in your aftermarket alarm. I think your alarm's killswitch circuit is being grounded or disconnected temporarily by the movement of the brake pedal. It might be as simple as a wire in the way of the pedal arm. Just a suggestion, but I've seen lots of alarms cause freakish problems similar to yours. D

Hmmm....interesting theory. I did check to see if the wiring was run right, (as no breaks or cuts, and not ripped out of where they're supposed to be) but I DIDN'T check to see if the connections were secure. I'll check them, then double check them when I get home tonight just to make sure. Sounds like you just might've hit the nail on the head there. I'll keep you posted.