Testing for Parasitic Draw and Replacing the Headlights Switch on a 1997-2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

The process of testing for parasitic draw and replacing the headlights switch on a Pontiac Grand Prix is a relatively straightforward task that can be completed with basic tools and knowledge. To begin, it's essential to locate the battery in the car, which is typically found under the air filter. The battery is secured by two tabs on the side, which can be easily popped open to access the battery.

Once the battery has been located, the next step is to disconnect the negative terminal to prevent any accidental starts or electrical shocks. Next, a flathead screwdriver is used to remove the screws that hold the air filter case in place. The air filter case will then come off, revealing the battery and other components beneath it.

The next step is to use an open-end wrench to loosen the negative terminal on the battery. Once this has been done, the battery can be accessed, and the process of replacing the headlights switch can begin.

To replace the headlights switch, a Phillips head screwdriver is used to remove two screws that hold the shroud in place. The shroud will then need to be removed to access the electronics behind it. The next step is to disconnect the electrical connectors that are attached to the old switch and then pull the old switch out of its mounting bracket.

The new switch can then be installed, and the electrical connectors need to be connected to the new switch. It's essential to ensure that all of the connections are secure and not loose, as this could cause problems with the car's electrical system.

Once the electrical connectors have been secured, the next step is to reattach the shroud and tighten the screws in place. The battery terminal will also need to be reconnected, and it's essential to ensure that it's securely attached to prevent any accidental starts or electrical shocks.

Finally, the car should be tested to ensure that all of the lights are working properly, including the headlights, turn signals, fog lights, and running lights. If everything is working as expected, then the replacement of the headlights switch has been successful, and the car can be driven without any issues related to the electrical system.

Tips for Replacing the Headlights Switch

* Make sure to disconnect the negative terminal on the battery before starting work on the electrical system.

* Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the shroud in place.

* Take your time when connecting the electrical connectors to the new switch, as this can be a delicate process.

* Ensure that all of the connections are secure and not loose, as this could cause problems with the car's electrical system.

* If you're having trouble prying the old switch apart, try pushing in the gray piece with your finger to loosen it.

Tools Needed

* Flathead screwdriver

* Open-end wrench (10mm)

* Phillips head screwdriver

* Torx wrench (for removing screws that hold the shroud in place)

* Electrical connectors and wiring

By following these steps and using the necessary tools, you should be able to replace the headlights switch on your Pontiac Grand Prix without any issues. Remember to test the car thoroughly after completing the replacement process to ensure that all of the lights are working properly.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: entoday we're going to change the multi- switch on a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser this is a touring it has fog lights and the problem is the fog lights stay on even when the car is off and it drains the battery so even if I shut everything off the fog lights stay on and uh and the other day smoke was coming out of here and it's most likely the multi switch so I'm going to go change it out and just to give you an idea this is the thing we're replacing it's called a people call it a multi switch has the stock on it for headlights and the other thing is when I tested for parasitic draw the uh just the fog lights fuse was taken out and it still had one amp draw which means that there's probably draw going through this cuz it's shorted so it really it makes sense that this is the problem if you want to watch my other video that shows how to test for parasitic draw and then test which item in your car is shorted uh you can just click up in the left corner and I'll put a link up there and you can check that out it kind of works with this to to the initial stages of testing everything but now we're going to go work on this so we're going to pop the hood get to the battery first thing you're going to do is get to the battery and on these PT Cruisers it's right below the air filter so there's these two tabs on the side that one there you just pop them open and then you can lift this and your batter is right there I'm also going to take off this so you just use a flathead screwdriver and unscrew this and then this whole piece will come off with our air filter case off we have reached the battery what we're going to want to do do is use an open-end wrench this is a 10 mm and loosen the negative terminal so we take off our negative after this negative cable is off you're good to go and we're going to start taking off this shroud right here and how you do that is you go underneath and you you see this and this you get a long Phillips head screwdriver and you feel in there and you unscrew the two screws that are in here and then we'll take this off feel around in there until it kind of Clicks in there you go and then just unscrew them first screw right there second screw take the lid off so it looks like it does SNAP in this just probably unloosened when I was messing around with it before so you might have to get a screwdriver and just pry it a little bit so you don't break your snaps now we're going to go take off these two torqus or Star Bits on the top and then the other one's right next to it so now that we got that and that Torx bolt out we want to disconnect this cuz this is free now we want to disconnect the electronics that are back here and uh then we can take this whole system out so that pulls right out it's pretty easy so what you want to do is pull that back before you pull it out so that that undoes the the clip so you just pop it out like that and then this pulls right out going to do the same for this one so if you're having trouble prying this apart part uh just push in this gray piece like push it inwards just like that so now we have the old one that is most likely shorted we have our old multi switch and we have our new one and you can see it's missing the windshield wiper stock and that's it's simple you just these two right here these two Torx bolts come right out so you just use your Torx wrench and unscrew these and then this should come right out just like that so then just slides right in these holes line up so now we'll flip it over and you notice that there's this relay right here that needs to go onto the onto the new multi switch this you could just try to pull straight out keep it in the same orientation don't change the orientation and it fits right in just like that so that's everything you need to take off and switch very simple let's put it back in and install it first thing we're going to do is connect the electronics connectors so you just slide it in and then click that little red thing that I was showing you before slide it in and click that little red thing now that the connectors are on there electrical connectors want to line up these holes and push this down into it we're going to screw these in so this these two back sides click in like that and then we put these screws back in these two holes okay now that your Gap looks good it's not loose or anything let's go put the battery terminal back on and and see how she works take the negative nice and clean slide it back on good that's not coming off let's get the uh intake filter box back on now we're going to go test everything out and see if the headlights work turn signals work fog lights work and running lights work looks like everything works so that was a job well done you just saved yourself a couple hundred bucks and uh subscribe like and comment if you want to see more videos definitely subscribe I do a lot of hatto videos just like this comment if you have any cool tips that that you saw while I was doing like I didn't do uh people always comment some neat things that I never thought of including and then I throw it in the annotations and like the video the more likes I get the the more widespread the video gets and helps other people and it also helps me get some views and gets my video out there thanks a lot guys take caretoday we're going to change the multi- switch on a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser this is a touring it has fog lights and the problem is the fog lights stay on even when the car is off and it drains the battery so even if I shut everything off the fog lights stay on and uh and the other day smoke was coming out of here and it's most likely the multi switch so I'm going to go change it out and just to give you an idea this is the thing we're replacing it's called a people call it a multi switch has the stock on it for headlights and the other thing is when I tested for parasitic draw the uh just the fog lights fuse was taken out and it still had one amp draw which means that there's probably draw going through this cuz it's shorted so it really it makes sense that this is the problem if you want to watch my other video that shows how to test for parasitic draw and then test which item in your car is shorted uh you can just click up in the left corner and I'll put a link up there and you can check that out it kind of works with this to to the initial stages of testing everything but now we're going to go work on this so we're going to pop the hood get to the battery first thing you're going to do is get to the battery and on these PT Cruisers it's right below the air filter so there's these two tabs on the side that one there you just pop them open and then you can lift this and your batter is right there I'm also going to take off this so you just use a flathead screwdriver and unscrew this and then this whole piece will come off with our air filter case off we have reached the battery what we're going to want to do do is use an open-end wrench this is a 10 mm and loosen the negative terminal so we take off our negative after this negative cable is off you're good to go and we're going to start taking off this shroud right here and how you do that is you go underneath and you you see this and this you get a long Phillips head screwdriver and you feel in there and you unscrew the two screws that are in here and then we'll take this off feel around in there until it kind of Clicks in there you go and then just unscrew them first screw right there second screw take the lid off so it looks like it does SNAP in this just probably unloosened when I was messing around with it before so you might have to get a screwdriver and just pry it a little bit so you don't break your snaps now we're going to go take off these two torqus or Star Bits on the top and then the other one's right next to it so now that we got that and that Torx bolt out we want to disconnect this cuz this is free now we want to disconnect the electronics that are back here and uh then we can take this whole system out so that pulls right out it's pretty easy so what you want to do is pull that back before you pull it out so that that undoes the the clip so you just pop it out like that and then this pulls right out going to do the same for this one so if you're having trouble prying this apart part uh just push in this gray piece like push it inwards just like that so now we have the old one that is most likely shorted we have our old multi switch and we have our new one and you can see it's missing the windshield wiper stock and that's it's simple you just these two right here these two Torx bolts come right out so you just use your Torx wrench and unscrew these and then this should come right out just like that so then just slides right in these holes line up so now we'll flip it over and you notice that there's this relay right here that needs to go onto the onto the new multi switch this you could just try to pull straight out keep it in the same orientation don't change the orientation and it fits right in just like that so that's everything you need to take off and switch very simple let's put it back in and install it first thing we're going to do is connect the electronics connectors so you just slide it in and then click that little red thing that I was showing you before slide it in and click that little red thing now that the connectors are on there electrical connectors want to line up these holes and push this down into it we're going to screw these in so this these two back sides click in like that and then we put these screws back in these two holes okay now that your Gap looks good it's not loose or anything let's go put the battery terminal back on and and see how she works take the negative nice and clean slide it back on good that's not coming off let's get the uh intake filter box back on now we're going to go test everything out and see if the headlights work turn signals work fog lights work and running lights work looks like everything works so that was a job well done you just saved yourself a couple hundred bucks and uh subscribe like and comment if you want to see more videos definitely subscribe I do a lot of hatto videos just like this comment if you have any cool tips that that you saw while I was doing like I didn't do uh people always comment some neat things that I never thought of including and then I throw it in the annotations and like the video the more likes I get the the more widespread the video gets and helps other people and it also helps me get some views and gets my video out there thanks a lot guys take care\n"