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Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical System Battery Safety Report | May 23, 2005



Reported on May 23, 2005


ON MAY 24, 2005, MY CARE (1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX) HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER. I IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTED THE BATTERY. I DROVE THE CAR AROUND TO SEE IF IT WOULD RECHARGE ITSELF. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, I LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TRIED IT AGAIN. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I DECIDED TO PULL THE BATTERY AND HAVE IT TESTED. I DISCONNECTED THE (-) TERMINAL AND NOTICED THE THE (+) TERMINAL WAS VERY CORRODED AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CORROSION DOWN THE SIDE OF THE BATTERY AS WELL. WHEN I PULLED THE CAP OFF THE (+) TERMINAL THE ENTIRE TERMINAL PULLED OFF THE BATTERY AND BATTERY ACID SPILLED OUT ONTO THE BELTS, HOSES, AND CABLES IN THAT PART OF THE CAR. I QUICKLY PULLED THE BATTERY OUT OF THE CAR AND PUT BAKING SODA ON THE ACID TO NEUTRALIZE IT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY BUT NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE (+) BATTERY CABLE AS IT IS SO CORRODED, I CANNOT GET THE TERMINAL OFF. I HAVE A HUGE BATTERY ACID STAIN ON MY GARAGE FLOOR WERE THE ACID SPILLED OUT. AT THIS TIME I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OTHER BELTS, HOSES OR CABLES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. I HAD TO DISPOSE OF THE BATTERY, BUT I STILL HAVE THE CABLE. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NOR HAS IT BE DRIVEN OVER ROUGH ROADS. I SPOKE WITH A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME CAR AND HE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIM A YEAR AGO. AFTER FIND THIS OUT, I WENT BACK TO LOOK AT WHERE THE BATTERY SITS AND NOTICED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THERE TO REALLY HOLD THE BATTERY DOWN EXCEPT FOR THE CABLES. THE PRESSURE OF HOLDING THE BATTERY IN PLACE IS RESTING ON CABLES AND TERMINALS WHICH WERE NOT MADE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Make: Pontiac
Model: Grand Prix
Manufactured by: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year: 1999
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: BATAVIA IL
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 1G2WP52K7XF
Mileage: 43173 miles.
Speed: 0 MPH
Number of cylinders: 6
Vehicle type: FWD
Vehicle fuel: GAS Fuel injection.
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
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