service vehicle soon light

Asked by kristig Mar 03, 2009 at 03:45 PM about the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

57 Answers

195

scan tool it could be a very large number of things you need to diagnose it.

19 people found this helpful.
176,035

Common causes are a blown headlight or a loose gas cap. If it comes on with the Trac Off and ABS lights, you need a new front hub.

68 people found this helpful.
5,305

Completely ignore that last persons comment, a blown head lamp in a car will not illuminate the Service Vehicle Soon lamp. Go to your local parts place and they should scan your vehicle for free. Post what the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) is and go from there.

28 people found this helpful.
176,035

The Pontiac Grand Am has a Service Engine Soon (SES) light and that is what is commonly read with a hand held scanner at parts stores. The codes are kept in the Engine Control Unit (ECU). The Pontiac Grand Am also has a Service Vehicle Soon (SVS) light that indicates a problem with the circuits associated with the Body Control Module (BCM). The BCM controls and monitors the body electrical system. Common causes were listed earlier. The BCM can be scanned at the dealer. I have owned a Grand Am for seven years and have been a member of the Grand Am Owners Club www.GAOwnersClub.com for around six years.

109 people found this helpful.

you have a check engine light and the service vehicle soon ,which means it is getting close to a oil change,change your oil and filter,open driver door in side of dash see fuse box,pull the cover off you will see a red button push it 3 times the light will go out.

44 people found this helpful.
176,035

I can't believe the misinformation that gets spread around here. Go to the Grand Am Owners Club site for straight talk about the care and feeding of the Grand Am. The Grand Am has an oil life sensor. It lights a "Change Oil Soon" light on the dash when the oil life is 90%. You can turn the light off after the oil change by turnng the key to "On" (don't start the engine) and depressing the gas pedal three times. You can also press the red button once to get the light to flash and then hold it down until you hear the chime.

67 people found this helpful.
5,305

Id be curious to know where this magical oil life sensor is located. Pretty sure its a mileage based calculation which is communicated via class 2 data lines from the BCM to the IPC. When the IPC tells the BCM the mileage counter is nearing the end it in turn send a signal, via the class 2 data line to the radio to perform an audible chime through the speakers being as which the BCM uses the radio for all auditory warnings. And it DOES NOT illuminate a warning if an exterior light is inoperative.

11 people found this helpful.
176,035

Sounds like you think I'm making this stuff up. I've owned a Grand Am for eight years and my car has the "magical" oil life sensor. It not entirely mileage based but mileage is one of the factors along with the ambient temperature and duration of the trip. You can read more about the oil life monitor system at this GM web site - http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/environment/maintenance/simplified_maintenance_040104.jsp The BCM does iluminate the Service Vechicle Soon light if a headlight bulb is blown. On the fourth generation N bodies, the high beam indicator would flash when bulb was bad. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/2000_pontiac_grand_am_service_vehicle_soon_light

56 people found this helpful.
140

i have a 2004 grand am and the service vehicle soon light came on want to the part store and thay could not find any codes so i started to look at it my self could not find any thing wrong with it i want to drive it at night all the paml light was out so i started looking at the fues and found the bad one and put in a new one evey thing came on and the service vehicle soon light want out so look at the fues in the car take one out at a time to see

14 people found this helpful.
105

I own a grand am, just got it and i did have an oil sensor appear. im not a know it all like some people like i said i just bought the car, im on here because my SSVS light came on and noticed you put there isnt an oil sensor when there DEFINETLY is one..it came on for me because my oil change routine was different from the previous owner routine..othere guys right

10 people found this helpful.
170

I own a a grand am. Go with what Tenspeed is saying. He's correct with the oil change light. I also had the abs/trac control light come on with the svs light. At first I thought it was just a wire connector issue. I spliced in a new connector but didn't solve the problem. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the hub. Lights are gone......

17 people found this helpful.
450

What is the hub and what does it cost to replace? Thanks.

45 people found this helpful.
245

No the check engine light and the service vehicle soon light has nothing to do with the oil papa....on the grand am there is a Change oil light then you go through your procedure with the red button in the dash fuse box but thanks for trying.....the service vehicle light is BODY and the service Engine light is motor....the change oil light is change oil, just like low tire pressure.....security they all have their own protocols on what they cover.

21 people found this helpful.
545

@Jon... I own a 2001 pontiac grand am... a blown headlight does indeed activate the service vehicle soon light.. there are two service lights that cause confusion... service VEHICLE soon and service ENGINE soon. from what I understand the service VEHICLE soon primarily deals with mechanical or electrical (blown headlights or wheel speed/hub assembly for example) while the service ENGINE soon deals with emission and fuel issues (o2 sensors, gas cap, evaporation system as examples.

36 people found this helpful.
110

I've changed my oil 2 weeks ago - (August 4th) and the "Change Oil Light" just came on. What could that mean?

11 people found this helpful.
176,035

The "change oil light" system has to be reset. You don't need to change the oil because something is wrong. The engine computer monitors how many times you start the engine, the length of the trip, the temperature, etc. and turns the light on when it determines that the oil needs changing. Turning it off is simple. Instructions are in your owners manual and can also be found at http://www.gaownersclub.com. The reset button is in the drivers side fuse box that can be seen when the door is open. Some model years don't have the button and require pressing the gas pedal three times. I have my instructions printed on the inside of the fuse box door.

14 people found this helpful.
20

it might mean that you changed the oil BEFORE the "Change Oil Light" came on, and either you or the person who changed the oil forgot or didn't know to reset the computer by pressing the red reset button inside the drivers side fuse panel.... or by turning the keyswitch to the ON position (but not starting the engine) and then pressing the accelerator to the floor 3 times within 5 seconds. basic answer is your computer didn't know you had changed your oil. just reset the change oil light. and next time it comes on it means you need to change the oil ASAP because you are already 2 weeks past the 90% mark when the light comes on. (all of this computed by a formula that is linked to in a previous post, and there is not an oil life sensor that can tell you the state of your oil at any time, they base the time between oil changes on several factors like engine temps, length of trips, average RPMs, and other factors that include outside ambient temperature).

2 people found this helpful.
545

Basically the hub is what the tires attach to using the lug nuts. The wheel bearings are apart of the hub assembly as well as the wheel speed sensors. I replaced both my front hubs for $78 each, through Autozone. The rear hub assemblies run a little higher at around $100-110 I beleive. It took me just under an hour to replace each hub once I gathered the tools needed.

10 people found this helpful.
190

HI -tenspeed, my service vehicle light is on. All my lights have been replaced. My problem when the service vehicle light is on my stereo and heat/ac (that whole section) won't work. Do you have any ideas, we are thinking it's electrical. Can you help or can anyone give me ideas?

4 people found this helpful.
190

Is that something that needs to be replaced or just repaired? I guess I won't know for sure until I have a mechanic look at it, and they want to charge $90-100, just to hook it up to a machine. So not fair they charge that much just to tell me whats wrong with it. I was hoping someone here also had the same problem and can tell me what it is and how to fix it. Thanks for your help and please anyone else have any ideas?

2 people found this helpful.

still say the control panell,where you turn the heat_ac on,that goes bad,I got a 00 GAGT,did same thing replaced it with one out of the junk yard fixed it right up.just pull cover off around it 2 screws unplug the 3 plugin,s replace.

3 people found this helpful.
176,035

Sounds like a loss of power to me. I'm assuming that it does return at times, so it wouldn't be something simple like a blown fuse. Could be a worn wire connector that feeds several circuits. Go to www.gaownersclub.com - register, search and ask there. Tell them what year and model Grand Am you have. Maybe someone there has experienced the same thing.

1 people found this helpful.
190

HI, Found out it's faulty wiring behind the stereo, heater/ac. Repaired the wire and everything is working, all lights on dasboard are now off. Just wanted to post this just in case someone else has the same problem. Thanks for your help.

7 people found this helpful.
190

Hi, finally took it to a mechanic and they said COULD BE, I need a new ignition key and switch and body control module, does that sound right. And how hard is it to replace the BCM, if that's the only part that needs to be replaced. Thank you again everyone who replies any help is greatly appreciated.

4 people found this helpful.
190

Hi again, also the mechanic came up with 13 codes when he hook it up, hope thats has to do with the BCM and not more problems. Any ideas.

2 people found this helpful.
176,035

Get to www.GAOwnersClub.com site. Sign up (it's free) and ask there. There are dozens of people there that can walk you through your problems.

1 people found this helpful.
185

I'll let you guys know for sure this afternoon. I had a headlamp go out and the SVS light came on. If I replace the headlamp and the SVS light goes out, you will all have your answer. STAY TUNED!

4 people found this helpful.
185

Okay. I just changed the headlamp an hour ago and took it for a drive. Yes, The SVS light WILL come on if a headlamp is out.

14 people found this helpful.
180

howdy just replaced headlight but now how do I reset service vehicle soon light?

14 people found this helpful.
130

can someone please tell me how to get my check engine light off? they said i needed a new gas cap so i replaced it an the light still wont go out...???

13 people found this helpful.
176,035

Chelsea, if the old cap was the cause of your CEL, it will go out after a few driving cycles. If it stays on, get the codes read again.

2 people found this helpful.
100

both my service light and engine light are on. i recently replaced all my head-casket for my pontiac because i had a blown head casket. and those lights are still showing. what can i do to fix it or can sumbody tell me whats wrong with it? i have a grand am pontiac 2001

10 people found this helpful.
40

Thanks I agree, My 2002 grandam service vehicle soon light came, on and I had found out I had a blown headlight, and no codes, so I replaced the headlight, it went off, so that guy way above is wrong@!! Thx

4 people found this helpful.
70

Jon you dont know what you are talking about everything you say is wrong,everything you are telling people is the exact opposite of what the Grand Ams owners manual says.

3 people found this helpful.

Okay so my service vehicle light is on and it only comes on when my auto headlights dont need to be on. When its dark my head lights automatically come on like there suppose to but during the day my parking lights and fog lights come on and my head lights stay off. I'm assuming its my sensor. I just want to know the price of the sensor?

80

I just FAILED air care due to these codes: P0133 and P1133. The engine light is always on and I do remember pressing something in past for it to disappear. This time it is not.... please help...

8 people found this helpful.
70

yes I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT I'm having the same problem with the service vehicle soon light being on it only comes on when I do not turn my head lights on manually and drop it into gear if I leave it in park light does not come on or if I turn the lights on be for i start the vehicle put it in gear shut the lights off the head light stay on in the light goes out what could that be

7 people found this helpful.
260

Tenspeed knows of which he speaks while Jon 1415 is full of hot and incorrect air.

180

To answer the original question if its service vehicle soon coupled with abs our Trac off-wheel hub or wire to hub. Service engine could be anything from manifold leak to gas cap too loose.Jon I'm curious, if you knew about bcm why did you deny it in your first response? Also, oil life is indicated by mileage since last reset and temperature in relativity to trip duration(how soon oil temp reaches certain degree). I've owned my Pontiac almost three years and I've done my research ;) it is the perfect tier car with all the options at none of the expense or complications involved with maintenance of a foreign car(given the appropriate model year(unless it's a wheel hub with abs, then you're in for some cursing Hahahaha))

2 people found this helpful.
260

Jon has got way too much air time for being way wrong on all his points. Tenspeed , as I've said before , has got all the correct answers. He is either a tech or a very knowledgeable individual .

2 people found this helpful.
180

Word.Naw he's just a proud Pontiac owner lol after owning mine for almost three years I feel ase certified Hahahaha it's a needy little car but Damn is it worth it! My only prayer is that my dohc 2.4 (LD9(best and final in its class)) survives a timing or rebuild. whatever I do that involves removing the head will result in cracking?? Or something fatal along those lines... d:

Tenspeed u make a lot of sense i have a 2004 pontiac grand am and i had to step on my gas pedal to reset my oil light after my oil change thanks for ur advice

Papa has no clue about this car. All his answers are incorrect! Do not follow his advice. SVS is a Body malfunction and if not a bulb probably the ABS sensor caused by the hub bearing starting to break down and lose tolerance.

03 Grand Am, fixed all sensors related to codes showing, No codes showing but MIL, ABS and TRAC lights are still on? RPM gauge jerks and TPS reads 0.0% while car is idling? Any ideas? Thanks Steve

it is for two days now I see the SVS indicator on my vehicle is flashing ( turns on for a while and then goes off and back again) . my vehicle is Geely 2013.. any one may give an advice,

20

I turned my air on in my 2003 Pontiac grand am and the check engine soon light came on and is still on.. can somebody tell me what does that mean please

2 people found this helpful.

i have a 2000 Pontiac Grand AM and i have had burnt out head light and other light and my service vehicle light has never come on and on my when i have to have an oil change there is a separate light for that the service vehicle soon light and the service engine light do not light up when my oil change is do i tried taking the battery cable of for a few minutes to see if the service engine and vehicle lights will switch off but they didn't it worked on my 1990 Cavalier Z24

1 people found this helpful.
10

It could be your O2 Censers they just might have to be cleaned. There is a down stream & up stream. It could be a number of things, however you should get a diagnosis test done. This will read out a code to the source. But sometimes doesn't always tell you what the problem is just describes its in that area of the car.

1 people found this helpful.
10

I do have a different problem that manual said that the Svs is on when one of the head lights are done but I changed then and the passenger side is bright but the driver side is dim I have check the fuses and the svs light still on and the headlight drivers side still dim Any ideas of how to fix this?

1 people found this helpful.

I have a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am and like i got a oil change 2weeks ago and now my service engine soon light comes on when i try to start it but it won't start it clicks then can't turn over doesn't do anything when i turn the key the 3rd time but when i wait a few minutes and try again it clicks again then acts like it's dead and my boyfriend found out that when he moves the battery cables around like up and down side to side it helps after to start the car but someone told us not to do that anymore last time my car didn't start a bult needed to be tightened on the battery then my car could start but now i think their lose again

10

With my Grand Am, to turn off the light that indicates an oil change is needed, I have successfully turned it off several times over the years by doing this procedure: 1-Put the key in the ignition and turn it to the point it that it does NOT start the engine 2-Press the gas peddle down and firmly hold it down for 2 seconds (2 times) 3-Then immediately press the gas peddle down a 3rd time and keep holding (could take a few more seconds) until you hear the tone (click) and see the light go off I've tried it with quick pumping of the peddle and it didn't work. I tried the fuse box red button and it didn't work.

1 people found this helpful.
10

After reading all these answers i think the best bet is to put my 2003 Pontiac Grand Am in the Dumpster & Never purchase GM again

1 people found this helpful.

The my 2000 grand Am has a magic oil switch my service engine light will chime for a light being out weather interior or exterior my check in engine light chimes for sensors, catalytic Converter, gas cap, tcm, emission issue, and etc.

Your Answer:

Grand Am

Looking for a Used Grand Am in your area?

CarGurus has 1 nationwide Grand Am listings and the tools to find you a great deal.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

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

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Pontiac Firebird
19 listings
Used Honda Accord
57 Great Deals out of 961 listings starting at $2,995
Used Ford Mustang
41 Great Deals out of 1,643 listings starting at $7,999
Used Toyota Camry
44 Great Deals out of 1,134 listings starting at $4,795

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.