2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE Logo

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Posted on Mar 18, 2009
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Battery and alternator are good but still dies

My 2001 potniac grand am se broke down like the battery died, i was jumped multiple times and all the times i got about 10minutes driving and it died again, the battery and alternator are good but i still cant find out the problem. to get my car started i can jump it but it just dies afterwards. im thinking the sensors and fuses in my engine are blown but i havent got that far.

  • 10 more comments 
  • rob_losh09 Mar 18, 2009

    yes my battery light is on once i have jumper cables hooked up but i havent replaced my aternator, i had it tested and it was good.

  • rob_losh09 Mar 19, 2009

    OK, this is to clarify the whole situation.



    my battery and alternator ARE good, i just put the alternator back on and it starts fine, runs in place, **BUT** once i try and start driving it'll get 15-20feet and die...i didnt put this on the first post but i have some frontal damage to my car/driver side, nothing real serious just a dented fender and bottom half of bumper/driver side.

    *NOW*

    the garage is saying i might have busted a sensor under that fender, it explains the dying part but what i cant understand is i drove the car with that damage for nearly 2weeks, if i busted a sensor wouldnt it have died like it has been immediately after i was hit?

    Im still thinking its fuses and relays, or a bad connect with battery from the terminals. PLEASE HELP

  • rob_losh09 Mar 19, 2009

    the alternator is running a constant 13.9 volts, ive had the battery tested before and after i put the alternator back in and ran it.

  • rob_losh09 Mar 19, 2009

    yes the car stay running at idle(in place) it good in park, drive, reverse, neutral...as long as it isnt moving it stays running.

  • rob_losh09 Mar 19, 2009

    yes the car stay running at idle(in place) its good in park, drive, reverse, neutral...as long as it isnt moving it stays running.

  • rob_losh09 Mar 19, 2009

    i may be able to get ahold of you tomorrow, yes the front bumper is missing the bottom half driver side of the license plate right below the fog light...the wreck happened during the ice and snow that came through columbus in december, so ive drove it through a lot of water and snow following up to this breakdown.

  • rob_losh09 Mar 19, 2009

    so your thinking that some wiring may be shorting out my computer? that may be it, im gonna get the codes for my ecu and go get it hooked up and make sure the sensors are good and go through all of my fuses and relays and check them...ill get back on here in a couple hours. ill check the wiring too, thanks



    when i get back on ill give an update on what going on.

  • rob_losh09 Mar 24, 2009

    This is rob, i just got back with my car from columbus. with only one day of work, me and my dad found the solution to my car trouble. I took the advice of everyone on here and tried everything, but my dads buddy asked us to put the jumper cable from the positive of the battery and the other to the power wire of the alternator and BAM!!! The car ran without dying...we found it was the alternators fuse by the starter and block was blown...it was a 100amp fuse and we got a new one, installed it took the cables off and now it runs without dying. i now have only a few more things to do to get my car running good...oil change, tune up, and brakes.



    i thank everyone on here for your input and it really helped to narrow down my problem.

    Thanks again,

    Rob Losh

  • rob_losh09 Mar 24, 2009

    nah ive never worked at a bank, nor even been to westerville

  • rob_losh09 Apr 08, 2009

    I fixed the problem, it took a couple days after my last post to figure it out but it ended up being the linkable FUSE coming from the alternator to the starter. It was burnt in two, so took it off cut it back, added a new eyelet and wire and crimped a connected between the old and new wire! its runs better than ever. THANKS for all the help guys.

  • Carri's Engine Clinic
    Carri's Engine Clinic May 11, 2010

    Make sure the battery is charge fully. Also you have to make sure that you have a least 13.8 volts coming out of the alternator when it is running. To check this put a cheap voltmeter on the two battery terminals when it is running. If you are not at 13.5 or higher the engine will eventually quit. The computer shuts down somewhere around 9.5 volts. If the engine starts after it shuts down there is nothing wrong with the computer system.

  • mike loshbough
    mike loshbough May 11, 2010

    is your battery light on when did you replace your alternator ?

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mike loshbough

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  • Posted on Mar 19, 2009
mike loshbough
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Who ever tested your alternator was wrong replace the alternator

  • 3 more comments 
  • mike loshbough
    mike loshbough Mar 19, 2009

    if you had bad connections at the battery when they put a tester on them to check battery there would be a low signal if they took the terminals off then when they put them back on then they would be tight how many volts and amps is the alternator putting out?

  • mike loshbough
    mike loshbough Mar 19, 2009

    will the car stay running at idle if so for how long

  • mike loshbough
    mike loshbough Mar 19, 2009

    rob i just noticed your handle losh09 my last name is loshbough may be related any ways is there a opening were the recked bumper is there may be wires exposed inside has it been raining i really want to solve this .call me if you like i am not suposed to do this but 614-507-5224.

  • mike loshbough
    mike loshbough Mar 19, 2009

    thats funny cause i live in plain city.

  • mike loshbough
    mike loshbough Mar 24, 2009

    thats cool good luck did you use to work at national city in westerville if so i think i know you.i use to work at the good year next door.

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