IN AUG. 2004 MY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND FRIED EVERYTHING IN THE COLUMN , ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY.THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE.THEY FIXED WHAT THEY COULD CLEARLY SEE WAS DAMAGED AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR REBUILT FOUR TIMES AND BATTERY REPLACED THREE TIMES .THE CAR HAS TO BE JUMPED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THE ALTERNATOR KICKS IN AT 800 RPM. AND THE CAR IDLES AT 500 RPM.( COMPUTER CONTROLLED) MEANING THAT THE BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY DISCHARGING BELOW 35 MPH, OR WITH THE AIR AND EVERYTHING ON .WHEN IT GOES ABOVE 800RPM THE ALTERNATOR KICKS IN AND BOILS THE BATTERY TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MAY 2005 (#04002) AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE GM DEALER IN BATESVILLE,AR.I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE FIRE AND DAMAGE .THEY CHANGED THE RELAY AND WIRE UNDER THE RECALL AND ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE FIRE,OR EVEN CHECK AND DIAGNOIS THE DAMAGE STILL EXISTING,WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM G.M. . ICONTACTED G.M. (MIKE DEMEYER) AND WAS IINFORMED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE DAMAGE THAT WAS FIXED BY THE LOCAL GARAGE ,BUT WOULD NOT PAY TO FINISH FIXING THE REST OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS NOT FIXED.