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Pontiac Grand Prix Electrical System Ignition Safety Report | June 01, 2002



Reported on June 01, 2002


WHEN THIS SWITCH FAILS IT CAUSES NUMEROUS SEEMINGLY UNRELATED SYSTEM FAILURES IN THE CAR, MAKING DIAGNOSIS DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING. THE DRL SYSTEM LOSES POWER SO THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTIONA AT ALL IN THE DAYTIME AS GM INTENDED AND WILL GO OUT PERIODICALLY AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING UNLESS TURNED ON MANUALLY WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE HVAC SYSTEM GENERALLY WILL NOT FUNCTION DUE TO THIS FAILURE; ALTHOUGH OCCASIONALLY IT WILL WORK WITH THE FAN ON HIGH SPEED. THE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER WILL NOT FUNCTION AT ALL DUE TO THIS FAILURE. ALL OF THESE SAFETY-RELATED SYSTEMS PULL THEIR POWER FROM THIS POORLY DESIGNED AND INADEQUATELY SIZED COMPONENT. UPON DISASSEMBLY OF THE FAILED PART I NOTICED THAT THE (6) CONTACTS INSIDE THIS SWITCH ARE WOEFULLY UNDERSIZED FOR THE CURRENT THAT IS PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH. SPECIFICALLY, THE DRL CONTACT AND THE HVAC CONTACT ARE BURNT AND BLACKENED, THUS SHUTTING OFF POWER TO THOSE SYSTEMS. I REPAIRED THIS MYSELF AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $70 FOR THE PART ONLY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHERS THAT HAVE PAID IN EXCESS OF $400 FOR THE REPAIR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS REQUIRES ATTENTION BY BOTH THE NHTSA AND GENERAL MOTORS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER HAS A SERIOUS CRASH DUE TO NO LIGHTS AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME.*AK
Make: Pontiac
Model: Grand Prix
Manufactured by: General Motors LLC
Year: 1998
Was a crash reported?
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: LANDISVILLE PA
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 1G2WP52KXWF
Mileage:
Speed: 5 MPH
Number of cylinders:
Vehicle type: FWD
Vehicle fuel: GAS N/A.
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
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