I haven't seen this one before

[Caveman]

The car in question is a '99 GrandAM SE. Earlier today the ABS light came on and the turn signals started clicking real fast. The car drove home fine. When i got home i ate lunch then went back out to see if i could find the problem. I started the car and the ABS light wasn't on and the turn signals were working normally. So this evening i went to the store and the problem returned. When i got out of the store i tried to start the car and this is what happened. The starter turned over real slow for just a second then the starter stopped, and then the trunk lid popped. I got out shut the trunk lid then tried to start it again and the exact same think happened. Does anyone have any idea what might be the problem. I'm lost on this one.

[lucky13rme]

well you have a short somewhere. maybe you are getting water in somewhere and its causing it to short out.

[Caveman]

Well i was able to jump start the car and it started fine. The trunk lid stayed shut. Halfway home the ABS and AirBag light came on when i turned onto my street the headlights started getting dim. I put a volt meter on the car with it running and i'm only getting 11.6 volts at the battery. With the car off the battery is at 10.8 volts. I'm thinking now that it may be the alternator. I just don't see how not having enough electrical power would cause the lights on the dash to come on and trunk lid to pop open. Maybe there is a short somewhere and its messing up the alternator? I'll have to do a little more poking around on the car.

[iceman]

As far as the trunk popping, others have had problems inside the door with water that caused it to keep popping.



The ABS light will be one of the first lights to come on when you have a failing electrical system. I believe it will come on with around 11 volts reading from the system.. FYI


Pep boys will do free alternator / battery checks, maybe you want to take it there to rule that out.

[BrianS]

Well, your trunk popped because of the dead battery. I can't tell you why but I had the same thing happen to me when my alternator was bad. When the battery was dead and I tried to turn it over, the trunk would pop.

[Caveman]

The verdict is in: Bad Alternator

I had the alternator checked at Autozone (no Pep Boys around here yet) and the 102 amp alternator was only good for 10 amps and about that many volts. I replaced it and car is running good. I get a constant 14.1 volts (13.68 with a/c on) and the battery has charged up nicely.

Thanks, for all the help :thumbs:

p.s. BrianS
thanks for telling me that i was still worried about the trunk thingy.