Car having major issues starting than dying seconds later

Asked by Seanconnor1222 Aug 28, 2016 at 10:53 AM about the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT

Question type: General

The car was running I went camping for a week got
back and the car wouldn't start tested battery it
was shot still same issue starts for a sec or two
then dies and the battery keeps getting drained
already tested alternator

12 Answers

101,615

Try a bench test on the starter and again on the alternator, something is draining the battery. Does it feel like an electrical issue killing the engine after you manage to get it started? Check for trouble codes too!

1 people found this helpful.

No codes and it killed a band new battery a week after I bought it I went and has it tested it was bad got another new one in there and it's down to 3 volts

101,615

Does the car take a jump and run at all, even if for just a few seconds?

101,615

Do you see any problems with the coils or coil housing? Any sign of shorting or arcing?

Best Answer Mark helpful
101,615

Keep in mind you may have more than one problem, a problem in the charging system or a sever parasitic drain on the battery, and another problem with the engine cutting out. Testing as you did the charging system and starter would eliminate basic problems, but I'd recheck voltage regulator. The OBD system is designed for emissions related problems, so you won't see a lot of electrical or charging system problems appear as a DTC. I suggested a problem with the coils/coil housing as it could cause both the symptoms you describe, battery drain and engine cutoff. Good luck!

So I checked out the coil packs they look fine i think I'm having multiple problems so something is draining battery and I think there might be a vacuum leak of some kind so the line coming off the pcv valve goes to a regulator in the middle of the line there is a piece that goes into the block it's been held down by cardboard for 1 month prior to it dying it has a rubber grommet of some kind that holds it in but that part is not there I think it might have been sucked into engine

Of u look up my car and look up pcv valve house assembly it pulls up image and my mistake goes to crank case not block

Your Answer:

Grand Am

Looking for a Used Grand Am in your area?

CarGurus has 72 nationwide Grand Am listings starting at $1,000.

ZIP:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

2000 Pontiac Grand Am

Review another car

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    tenspeed
    Reputation
    10,970
  • #2
    james sparrow
    Reputation
    2,360
  • #3
    John Saffrahn
    Reputation
    2,280
View All

Know more, shop wisely

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Pontiac Grand Prix
190 listings starting at $1,288
Used Pontiac Firebird
10 Great Deals out of 376 listings starting at $5,950
Used Toyota Camry
2,007 Great Deals out of 35,015 listings starting at $500

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.