1998 Pontiac Trans Sport exterior lighting problems

“PROBLEM: LAST FALL I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD TURN OFF WHEN I USED THE TURN SIGNAL? SLOWLY I LOST THE 'TRIP COMPUTER' THEN THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD FLASH QUICKLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A BAD BULB SOMEWHERE WITH THE BRAKES AND TURN SIGNALS. I WOULD ALSO NOTICE THAT THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO WOULD DIM WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKES WERE USED. LONG STORY- SHORT, MORE AND MORE THINGS SEEMED TO BE FAILING OVER TIME. I WAS STARTING TO THINK IT WAS RELATED TO THE ALTERNATOR. SOLUTION: I PULLED THE TAILLIGHTS AND TOOK A CLOSER LOOK. I PULLED THE PLUGS ON THE TOP OF THE LIGHTS AND I FOUND MELTED CONTACTS ON ONE OF THE SIX CONTACT POINTS. I WAS GOING TO TIN THE CONTACT POINTS PUT THAT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL. I TOOK A SCREW DRIVER AND REALIGNED THE SOCKETS AND SCRAPPED OFF THE MELTED PLASTIC ON THE PINS. TESTED THE LIGHTS AND THEY WORKED PERFECTLY! ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WENT AWAY! :) WHAT I FIND STRANGE IS THIS IS THE SECOND GM VAN THAT I HAVE SEEN MELTED CONTACT POINTS EITHER ON THE PLUGS OR ON THE SOCKETS OF THE BULBS. SEEING THERE IS N O RECALL ON THIS I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS SOMEONE ELSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR”

“DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXTERIOR PLASTIC HOUSING ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS TURNED YELLOW. THE YEARS OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT TARNISHED THE CLEARNESS OF THE COVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT PURCHASE NEW HOUSINGS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. *JB *AK”

“I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS IN MY 1998 MONTANA. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS 2 TIMES ON THE RIGHT, AND ONCE ON THE LEFT. THE FRONT LENS ON THE LIGHTS SEEM TO JUST FALL OFF. THESE PARTS ARE $100 OR MORE. WHY ARE THE POORLY ASSEMBLED AND HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS?*AK”

“WHERE DO I START? SAME COMPLAINTS AS ALL OTHER PONTIAC MINIVAN OWNERS. SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE IN 1998, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FAULTY, ABS WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTION, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTION, AND MALFUNCTIONING (STILL) PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR. RECENTLY HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK, AS WELL AS FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB. THIS IS THE WORST (AND MOST COSTLY) VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED WITH RESPECT TO MAINTENANCE.*AK”

“RH HEADLAMP LENSE FELL OFF. VEHICLE NEVER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. THE LENSE JUST FELL OFF. VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. UPON INVESTIGATING REPLACEMENT, FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NO SALVAGE YARD HAS ANY USED AVAILABLE, HOWEVER THEY ARE WILLING TO SELL NEW ONES AT A PRICE BETWEEN $100 - $165. I WAS TOLD THAT GM WANTS $250 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. THIS CAN BE SEEN JUST BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SHOWING UP IN THIS WEBSITE.THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE LIGHT(S) FAILED AT NIGHT. IT DEFINTELY IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER.*AK”

“DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP FELL OFF - LITERALLY JUST DROPPED RIGHT OFF OF IT - I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS, SITTING AT A LIGHT, THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PASSING AUTO - I STOPPED, LOOKED, THINKING IT WOULD BE THE BLINKER, AND KEPT GOING- ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE COVER TO THE HEAD LIGHT! THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, FROM WHAT WE'RE FINDING AND NO JUNK/SALVAGE YARDS HAVE ANY - AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING - THEY'RE GONE BEFORE THEY GET THERE, JUNK HEADLAMP! THESE AND THE GRANDAMS! THIS VAN HAS ONLY 50K MILES ON IT! NOT LIKE IT'S GOT A TON OF MILEAGE!*AK”