Alternator/generator/regulator problems of the 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue

3 months ago my electrical started going haywire. Turn signals, dash, lights, windows. Most occur while turning car on. It's hit and miss whether it starts. Battery drains sometimes no rhyme or reason. It starts without incident one day and then needs recharged the next. I've had multiple people tell me an aray of different possibilities, alternator, ignition switch, battery, worn down key, leaving something on etc. I believe the problem occurs because the key can come in and out while in any position. Because of this I believe the battery is being drained because people are unaware that they are removing the key while it is still in the acc or on position. This doesnt explain why various electrical components aren't working at full capacity all the time. I did notice that the hit and miss quality wasn't as severe once I removed all extras from the key after receiving the recall notice a week ago. I started to pay more attention to what was going on to see if perhaps the issue was related last Sunday the battery seemed dead again and the car wouldn't start. I tried several times until I got things to light up but then the key slipped out while trying to start it. I slipped the key back in and now it won't turn to either the off or start positions. It remains in acc or on positions only. Even if I charged the battery I wouldn't be able to start it or turn the electrical accessories off to keep the battery from draining again. From what I can tell, the recall doesn't actually replace the ignition switch it only modifies the keys to keep the ignition switch from becoming faulty. What am I supposed to do since the problem has already occurred? even though the part that the recall was issued for caused my problem, will I have to pay out of pocket to fix the actual problem? who do I contact if they will fix the problem?.

1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue: when driving in cold weather (below 40 degrees f), all lights dim and then brighten randomly, including headlights and dash lights. Sometimes headlights momentarily dim so much as to make driving temporarily unsafe. Problem has occurred every winter for several years. Gm dealer claims to know nothing about it, but some web sites say a replacement bosch alternator (approx. $450 plus installation) can cure the problem. This is a repeated annoyance that could cause a fatal crash.

So much for investing in american-made vehicles. I, like over a dozen others who took the time to file a complaint, am experiencing the flicker and dim of all lighting during the evening hours - especially when the weather's colder. It is unnerving to me, and I'm sure to those drivers around me, to drive with questionable exterior lighting. And, as others have said, gm does not view this as a "safety issue". What say they have their spouse, or their child, drive a vehicle with this same "not a safety issue" and see if their view doesn't change? I work, and with daylight savings time, this means I am travelling home in the dark -- with my one-year-old and nine-year-old in the car with me. None of this matters to the folks at gm. Because they can point to the age and mileage of the vehicle to get them off the hook, they are. The fact that they issued a "bulletin" regarding this issue in feb01 doesn't seem to matter. $650+labor for a new alternator may or may not resolve the issue, but that, apparently is my money to invest in a possible, but not guaranteed, solution. Judging from the other filings here, it doesn't sound too promising, so I'm left with the debate of dump this money to *maybe* fix the problem or let it be until something bad happens? my car is too old and has too many miles for this to be considered something for which they, gm, will assume responsibility. I will never buy gm again.

The headlights dim and/or flicker. The engine power decreases when it happens. The alternator was replaced at 32,00 miles. The problem occurs intermittently. There is no particular pattern related to weather or driving conditions.

My 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue has an ongoing problem with all interior lights that operate when the headlights are on. The headlights as well as the dash lights, dome light, trunk light, etc all flicker/dim dramatically and intermittently and at the same time whenever they feel like it. It has been attempted to be repaired 5 times by the dealer, and is now at the Oldsmobile tech assistance level. Parts such as the dealer module and the alternator have been replaced to no avail. Olds is saying that there is an existing tac case #3668071 for other 1999 Intrigues experiencing the similar problem across the us, but no fix is available. All the while, I am being told to drive the car and be patient. I am concerned about driving at night as these lights may someday just not flicker, but totally go out! olds has not offered any info other than that they are working on this at the engineering level, and that they suspect it is a computer problem that needs a software fix. I am just upset that I spent thousands of dollars on something that I feel is potentially very unsafe! and getting worse. Any assistance rendered would be greatly appreciated!.

During cold weather headlights frequently flicker and dim to the point where driving in the dark is unsafe. The problem began shortly after purchasing the vehicle in Jan 2000. We took the car to the nearest Oldsmobile dealer. They said at that time it was a known problem and they would try replacing different things to fix it with the last being the alternator. By the time the alternator was replaced, it was spring and the weather was warmer and we thought the car was fixed. In October, when the weather got cold again, the problem was back. We again took the car to the dealership where we were informed there was nothing more they could do because the problem was in the vehicle design. They suggested we contact Oldsmobile directly. Oldsmobile has also admitted the problem is in the vehicle design and say they are having engineers design a new alternator. They said we shouldn't be concerned because the problem is not a safety issue. We believe driving down the road and trying to see with your headlights flickering and dimming is a safety issue for both us and on coming vehicles. The dealership and Oldsmobile said they have several cars with the same problem. We were told to expect a fix by mid November which has not happened. Oldsmobile also confirmed we had our car in 8 times for this same problem. How long should we have to wait for them to provide a solution?.

Car battery went dead in less than 30 days. Car stranded me several times. . Purchased car on Nov 20, 1998,received letter from oldmobile Dec 9,1998 advising of recall. . Called dealership to advise and I was advised to have car serviced locally as I didn't have to bring car back to winston salem for recall. . . Took car locally to be repaired. . . Car was kept for approximately 9 days, I was never offered a rental car while my car was being serviced and I had warrantiy coverage which no one seem to recognize. . . I took my mom to the bank in the car and the car went dead. . I had to call serviceman out to get my vehicle started. . I called flow motors and advised. . I was advised by service mgr at the time, jim benning to run the car to build battery back up. . . The next occassion my husband and I took car out, stopped at local run in, car went dead again. . . Again we had to call for assistance in getting car cranked. . . At this point I carried car back to dealership,,service looked at vehicle and found battery was defectiveand battery was replaced. . . At present I noticed a snap crackle pop under the hood on left side each time I turned my car to the left, my ant lock, brakes and trac light were coming on at will while driving on open road. . My window on driver side would stick at will and etc. . . I have not had a pleasant experience with the purchase of my new car which had approximately 18 miles on it when purchased.

1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue GLS. When the consumer exited the freeway, he heard a mechanical noise which resulted in power steering lost for left turning only. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the rack and pinion was replaced. The vehicle experienced other problems such as engine stalling shortly after starting, the weather strip was deformed, a pulsating noise coming from the front end, however a road test only found tire noise, the right rear window was inoperative, the coolant light illuminated, the fuel pressure regulator was replaced, the ignition switch was replaced, the fuel filter, battery and remote were replaced. The vehicle also experienced an oil leak.