2000 Pontiac Grand AM wont start? Battery?

Question

Most of the time I can start my car and everything is fine. But sometimes I will turn the key and the engine wont start. When I get a jump start it works after 2 mins and for the first time tonight the security light came on after the jump while driving home. When the car is not able to start I am still able to lock my doors and the interior foot lights come on. Do I need a new battery or something else? I just got a sub and amp installed so maybe this is draining too much power? It started after these were installed.. Also on another occasion, my brother took the car out and while he was out trying to start it, it wouldnt. After 15 minutes he finally got it going. Any help is appreciated.

yes it does try to crank. i really dont want to put in more money for an alternator-- i heard they were $. do you think a new battery would help.. id rather just take the system out if its gonna cause all these problems

Answer 1

You have to get an AVR test on your starting/charging system to test all the components first. You also need to find out the code for the securtiy system that has been set as you say the warning light came on. You might have a couple of issues here. The first one is the sub and amp deal. If these are hooked up properly you should be okay as most of the alternators that GM uses now have pretty high outputs rated at around 100 amps so they can produce the needed power for this system. What I suspect is happening is the installer has put a power input to the sub or amp that is on all the time. That means having it hooked directly to battery voltage when it should be hooked to ignition voltage and therefore drains the battery. The AVR will find out if you have a battery drain. The warning light may be coming on due to low voltage, but I have found that installers looking for an easy splice will enter into a ground or power supply that is intended for computer sources and cannot handle extra demands such as you have installed. This would have to be addressed if found. Get a couple of checks done before deciding what to do. Good luck.

Answer 2

It won't start sounds iffy. Not a good expanation. The question is this, when it doesn't start, does it at least try to crank over, maybe slowly crank a few times then just click, click.... if so, then it's the battery. A decent amp pushing a sub will eat up all the current coming from the alternator, not letting your batt charge, and drain your battery, even if you let the car run 15 mins with the stereo off. If this is the case, you need to replace your alternator with a high amp alternator, something like a 100 or 140 amp unit ought to do it for you. Ask the person who installed your stereo to get on installed for you, or ask a mechanic guy friend of yours about them.

Answer 3

before you do anything with the alternator take your battery out and have it tested. Especially if this is the original battery. my chick's grand am had the same problem when I installed her subs and amp. everyone told me it was the alternator and it just turned out to be the battery. test the battery and go from there. also look into an inline capacitor for your system to help with the juice for the amp especially if it is a high wattage amp.

Answer 4

When you start installing hi-drain electrical parts, like your amp, you need to install a hi-output alternator, the factory alternator cannot keep up with that kind of a load, and still charge your battery sufficiently.
George

Answer 5

ok, first you should check under the hood maybe check a sparkplug, because my dads 2007 chevy 350 would not turn over either he got really mad! so if its not a sparkplug, then maybe try to get in there and remove the fuel injector go to auto zone and let them do the little computer check thingy! that will tell ya if not that either im sorry about your luck but you'll have to take it in!