We have a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8L V-6 that the low beam lights were staying on after taking the keys out and I'd have to get back in an turn the key on and off again to get the headlamps to finally go off. This has happened occasionally over the last year. But last Monday as I was going to the car to go to work, the lights were on and there was a very strong burning plastic odor... I turned the key on and back off and the lights went out. I then opened the hood real quick to see if there was any obvious signs of burning and didn't see any... Closed the hood and left to work thinking it was probably the low beam relay that had most likely went bad and I'd get one on my first day off.
I was able to drive to work in the dark for those next 4 days using high beam. Well, this morning when I went to pull the low beam relay to get a new one, I had to use channel locks as it had melted to the bottom and also melted to two relays beside it which all came out with it as they were stuck to it. The plugs looked OK for the two relays that came out with the low beam relay that was cooked, but the plug portion below for the low beam relay was toast. Now, I need to try and find an under hood Fuse & Relay Box somewhere tomorrow. Uggggh. I was surprised the engine hadn't caught fire that night the lights had come on during the night sometime on its own and was also surprised that a protection fuse didn't open up before doing that much damage.
We have a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8L V-6 that the low beam lights were staying on after taking the keys out and I'd have to get back in an turn the key on and off again to get the headlamps to finally go off. This has happened occasionally over the last year. But last Monday as I was going to the car to go to work, the lights were on and there was a very strong burning plastic odor... I turned the key on and back off and the lights went out. I then opened the hood real quick to see if there was any obvious signs of burning and didn't see any... Closed the hood and left to work thinking it was probably the low beam relay that had most likely went bad and I'd get one on my first day off.
I was able to drive to work in the dark for those next 4 days using high beam. Well, this morning when I went to pull the low beam relay to get a new one, I had to use channel locks as it had melted to the bottom and also melted to two relays beside it which all came out with it as they were stuck to it. The plugs looked OK for the two relays that came out with the low beam relay that was cooked, but the plug portion below for the low beam relay was toast. Now, I need to try and find an under hood Fuse & Relay Box somewhere tomorrow. Uggggh. I was surprised the engine hadn't caught fire that night the lights had come on during the night sometime on its own and was also surprised that a protection fuse didn't open up before doing that much damage.
- Chuck S., Albuquerque, NM, US