Car quit running. Wont start or even click. Would like to find a fix.
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue: won't start
8 of the 510 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 8
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 110,000
- recalls
- 2
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls and 7 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Won't start by model year
What owners say
I am writing this for my husband. My daughter's car (which is in my name) was parked in her driveway for 3 weeks while she was out of the country. This morning approx. 10:30am., tue. 17th. 2012, her dad wanted to get it cleaned up for her before she came home tonight. Her dad put the key in but the car would not start. He figured that the battery was dead (the battery was only a few months old). He pulled his vehicle next to the 1998 olds intrigue and hooked up the battery cables. When he went to start the intrigue, there was a very loud boom (he described it like an m-80 going off) and he then saw flames!!! Underneath the hood. He ran and got a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. As the smoke cleared, he saw pieces of broken plastic/metal on the driveway in front of the car and the intake manifold had blown 10 to 15 feet into the garage!!! If someone had been standing near the front of the car, they might have been very seriously injured or even killed. My husband talked to a couple of people he knows (one is a mechanic), after the explosion, and they had never heard of anything like this happening to a vehicle! I just thank god no one was standing in front of that car!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ignition cylinder has failed and pass key is part of failure. Occasionally my car won't start because of this; mechanic says he has to replace the ignition cylinder and get me two new keys and recode them to the car. This will cost about $700-800. The car wouldn't start 5 times already and mechanic says its will only get worse til finally it doesn't work.
Car wouldn't start. Had repaired . Coolant and water leaking onto manifold exhaust. Repaired in 2006. Now it is leaking again. Saw recall on '99 olds intrigue. I have a '98 intrigue, could it be similar? The recall for the '99 is dated sept. 1998. The repair was a replacement of a gasket in the manifold exhaust system but it took several hours to repair and $730.00 . Now it is leaking again. What is my next step?
Passlock system failure (security light flashes and car will not start) - followed manual and allowed "security system" to recycle itself (leave key on til light stops blinking, turn off key and start car). Appear to have solved problem by having a new key made at the dealer from the VIN.
The security light is lit and the car won't start the is the key switch it has the same symptoms that many people in the forums are typing about.
Consumer states while driving home vehicle stalled and would not start again, consumer has replaced fuel pump numerous times.
At time, my car will not start; the dash lights, air, radio, etc. Come on, but the engine will not turn over. After a few minutes and continually turning the ignition on, it finally will start. This hapened for the first time 4/13/00. After it started, I went immediatly to the oldsmobile dealership (mcgough). They could find nothing wrong. This happened again 7/26/00. I took my car to mcgough the following day. They replaced the ignition switch and said this had been the problem. Car would not start 7/28/00. Took it to mcgough the following day. On advice of technical assistance (engineer), they checked and tightened all connections and terminal ends. Car would not start again on 8/11/00. Took car to mcgough the following day. They could find nothing wrong. Mcgough told me the second time I had my car in for this problem that there were several other intrigues in this area with the exact same problem and they had been unable to pinpoint what the problem. My conern is that one of these time, the car will not start at all even after several attempts. There has got to be something causing this problem. It is very inconvenient to leave my car for an entire day (four times so far) and have nothing done to alleviate the problem. I would like to know if you have had other complaints with this problem
Service bulletins that may apply
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- Engine coolant consumption or coolant leak (inspect for material degradation/replace intake manifolds) tt...
- New upper intake manifold and gasket kits
- New rear main seal and special tool for installation
- Some owners may comment on a repeat engine oil pan leak
- Experiencing excessive engine coolant consumption, or an engine coolant leak near or under the throttle...
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, and 15V‑201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
- Risk
- Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- The remedy applied under recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, and 15V‑201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V‑118, 09V‑116, or 15V‑201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1‑800‑442‑6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Recall number 15V701000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
- Risk
- If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engines plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537, and pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V116000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue?
8 of 510 owner complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue (2%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 1999.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue?
There are 2 recalls and 7 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
Fire or smoke 31Harsh shifting 23ABS 20Steering noise 20Stalling 17Power steering loss 16Wipers 16Seat belt 13Premature wear 11Grinding brakes 9Knocking 8Loss of power 8Ball joint 7Overheating 6Steering lock-up 6Brake failure 5Check engine light 5Shudder 5Tire blowout 5Transmission failure 5
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