Newsgroups: alt.autos.oldsmobile
>From: snipped-for-privacy@questsoftware.com (Slashdolt) - Find messages by this author
>Date: 9 Jul 2003 06:47:21 -0700
>Local: Wed,Jul 9 2003 9:47 am
>Subject: 98 Olds Intrigue won't start
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>
>2 weeks ago, my wife drove our 1998 Olds Intrigue to work. She
>dropped our daughter off at day-care, got back in the car and it would
>not start. It has not started since.
>
>So... We went through all of the usual checks. The battery is fine.
>The alternator seems fine. All it does is "click" over and over when
>we turn the key. The starter never engages. All electrical devices
>are fine. But strangely, the dashboard gages all go "full-tilt" and
>then return back to normal (e.g. The speedometer zips over to max for
>about half a second, then goes back to zero).
>
>At that point, I got some help from a garage mechanic. We fiddled
>with the starter. It would roll over (i.e. "start"), but not run. We
>replaced the starter. We replaced the ignition switch. It still does >the same thing.
>
>We've called several local dealerships, and no one can explain what's
>going on. The car was running perfectly fine. Since the first day,
>I've wondered if it was some anti-theft device engaging when it
>shouldn't, and at this point, I'm really thinking that's the case. >
>Can anyone explain this? Does anyone know a way to fix the passlock >security system?
>
>
>Newsgroups: alt.autos.oldsmobile
>From: "Beachdog" - Find messages by this author
>Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 15:46:54 -0400
>Local: Sun,Aug 29 2004 3:46 pm
>Subject: Re: 98 Olds Intrigue won't start
>
>I experienced a similiar event with my '99 Intrigue. It worked fine one
>day and the next morning when I went to work...nothing. Lights and power
>mirrors worked finr but nothing else; power windows, radio, etc.
>
>Thinking the battery was low, I tried to jump it with no success. Later
>that evening I took the battery in for testing and it tested good. I put
>the battery back in and the car fired up on the first try.
>
>
>Has anyone been able to determine what the cause of this is? My symptoms
>are exectly the same as in the original post; speedo and tach pegging out
>when the key is turned with no sign of the started even trying to crank >the engine.
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
I am replying to this old thread "for the record" because I have had the exact same problem: won't turn over, gauges all haywire, etc. The problem was: bad connection at the battery! Even a jump start was ineffective. Cleaned cables and terminals and problem solved! It surprised me because I don't think I've ever had such trouble on the GM side-connection batteries.
In my case it also left the speedometer pegged out past 140. I spent a couple' days trying to think of how to approach THAT problem, when it suddenly starting working properly again! I suppose that the speedo/tach "reinitialization" is dealt with over several "drive cyles" after the battery has been disconnected, like some of the other engine parameters....
Now if someone can tell me how to recalibrate my drivers side temperature control actuator (preferably without going to the dealer?).... It was affected by the same battery episode...
Cheers, John Clonts Temple, Texas