Car won't start

Asked by docbussy25 Nov 05, 2013 at 12:08 PM about the 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue 4 Dr GL Sedan

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I replaced the starter and the battery in my
car still won't start.It rolls over and gets
stuck like its in a bind. I have a 1999
Oldsmobile Intrigue

20 Answers

2,345

Does it just crank (spin) once really quick and stock or a few times and then slows down and stops? Most GM V6s from late 1990s to early 2000s have all had massive problems with head gaskets, especially if the original owner didn't take care of the car. The 3500 in the Intrigue is one of the better, less plagued engines of the stable however, but they still can have head gasket issues like the rest. I second Tennisshoes. checking to see if each spark plug is functioning and/or submerged in coolant should be your next step. Check the oil too for fun. If its sludged up that would prevent cranking sometimes. You would most likely have heard massive amounts of noise the last time you drove it though if that was the issue as the internals without out sound reallly terrible.

1 people found this helpful.
310

I have a 2002 Oldsmobile intrigue and it wont start. The dash lights come on, the head lights, and the dinger goes off when the door is opened, but thats it. When I try to start it all it does is click once and thats it. I got the starter replaced and got a new battery thinking that it was the battery. It did however start before i replaced the rack and pinion gear, power steering pump, and lines. It also started long enough to blleed the lines for the power steering pump. I also flushed the transmission and put a new filter on. I checked all the fuses as well. Does any one know what could be the cause of my car not wanting to start? Please help!!!!!

31 people found this helpful.
70

I just got done with that problem with mine was the ground wire from the batter to the car I took a wire from the the battery to the car and made a new ground try that if not work get back with me

5 people found this helpful.
40

I have a 1983 Oldsmobile but less ciera the battery is good and so is everything else but it still wort start and doesn't even try anyone know what the problem could be?

4 people found this helpful.
10

I would try changing the coil pack? Because with these Oldsmobile's they had three problems Fuel, Coil Pack, and wires if the car does not start I would test the coil pack because unlike other cars the Oldsmobile's had two brains the coil pack was just the secondary brain for the car. the coils could be bad but brain good and or it could be spark plug wires, if its not their then I would check for compression and if you have compression then try checking the air box hose because if the air hose is not tight enough then the sensor see a mix of air from multiple directions so if you tighten those then that shouldn't be it and sensors rarely go bad I would then check the wireing harness oldsmobile from 88 and a half had problems with harnesses all the way through the 3rd and 4th gen v6

1 people found this helpful.
1,150

Could be a bad fuel pump. Or the Crank position sensor

2 people found this helpful.
50

I have 2002 Olds Intrigue 3.5L engine. Engine in very good condition. I replaced new Starter, new Alternator, new Battery, new Water pump, new Brakes, new Head gaskets (few months ago I did it by myself), new Crankshaft sensor, new Camshaft sensor, new Idle sensor, new TPS sensor, new Coolant water temperature/ heat sensor, new Spark plugs, new Transmission gasket, filter and oil, and all electrical connections are okay. I was driving it since I replaced new battery on April1-2002. But, 3 days ago when I released parking brake, engine instantly shut down. When I turn ignition key it shows lights in Instr. panel but it is not cranking no any sound when I turn the key last position for start engine (start position). Also, it has always battery draining problem. Something is taking power from battery by little by little. I checked all lights etc..are okay. I checked all relays and fuses are okay too. Looks some Positive cable is touching to frame/body. I am second owner and since I bought this car has this battery draining problem. If I don't start engine again between 7 hrs, battery goes under 12 Volt, even down to 11 or 1oV, then I must charge battery again. It is brand new battery and brand new Alternator. I checked all cables again and again all of them are okay and no corrosion, very clean. Who can help for this problem?

50

Thanks for your answer. There was Catalyst code last week. It has original catalytic converter and muffler. I know muffler has a very small crack/hole but not noise yet. I also know Catalytic (perhaps) full too. I want tell this too: When I replaced head gaskets Right and left side as first time since GM, I removed Manifold 8 bolts Left side and 8 bolts Right side with very difficulties. They were original GM bolts. Left side ones were easier to remove and put back than Right side ones. I noticed that some of Right side 5 bolts heads were badly damaged. I think someone/ mechanic did some work and damaged heads of bolts. I tried to find same bolts from GM but they represented to me ordinary same thread bolts where I can buy same one from Home depot, Lowes and from any hardware stores such as Bolt Plus etc.. Original bolts have guided for easy pass stainless stell manifold gaskets R and L sides. Because these gaskets have 3 prongs in holes. Guided bolts can pass easily these 3 prongs. But GM said no more that original ones. It is impossible to find them. Not even in USA. So, no choice, last Summer I replaced only 3 bolts top area of Right side Manifold to engine bolts. Other 5 bolts I did not used because damaged heads. Tool not holding it. Can't tight. So, I was driving with 5 bolts missing in Right side manifold. Perhaps, that's why it shoved Code P1258. I didn't mind too much because Catalytic or Muffler or gas leaking issue from Right Manifold. I also want to tell this. I removed my car's Delco radio for Battery draining problem, thinking may be my radio has something wrong. When I removed it I noticed that right side of it is very hot. It has thick aluminum flat plate at Right side (facing Left side of car). I didn't open radio nor strted engine in that hours/moments but that aluminum plate was very hot. I removed it. I went to Salvage auto place and I found same Delco radio belong 2002 Intrigue GL. It is same same radio as mine. I paid $29 plus Tax for it. It was in good shape. (My car is GX) (no big differences). I replaced this new Delco radio removed from GL Intrigue, I noticed that it was looking okay. It's aluminum plate was not getting that much hot when I was starting engine. So, it was okay but it was showing LOCKED and no sound, nothing...I removed it too. One day after, I put back again that salvage radio to my car and I noticed that LOCKED didn't show again and i was opening radio very good sound and reception etc... I was surprised that how come this salvage radio unlocked itself and everything is okay now. When I started engine and when I released Parking pedal, instantly engine shut downed. Until now, it is not cranking, no any noise and I am not hearing Fuel pump noise too when I turn the key in half position. Before when it was okay, I was hearing Fuel pump noise when I was turning key in half position (not START) position. Now, there is few things to think about.

1 people found this helpful.
50

Note: When I replaced new head gaskets last Summer, I bought FELPRO brand. I didn' t made more km after replacement. i made only 400km until few days ago's problem. I will check Spark plugs If I can see some problem. Even, GM plant installing head gaskets are not really good. Some famous company makes for GM, Ford, Chrysler and Japanese cars etc.. Perhaps, MAHLE makes for them. I want buy MAHLE brand for keep at home for just incase. FELPRO is so so quality.

50

Note: Last week I removed Negative (grounded) terminal from battery. This cable has one very short cable goes to body with bolt and other which thicker cable, goes to engine block with bolt. While Negative head separated/removed from battery, I checked with light tester. One end i clip to that short cable which connected to body, and tip of tool I touched to battery it gave light. I would do it without removing the Negative (black) terminal too. So, in my view there is Positive current in body. That's why Battery is draining itself little by little. There is some short circuit. But I checked all cable and sensor connections of Positive and Negative cables all of them are okay. My job was okay. So, what can be this Positive current on body/chassis? This one is killing the battery even it is brand new.

50

Note: I checked inside fuses (right side corner of Dashboard) and main fuse box in Engine compartment. All fuses and Relays inside car are okay. Regarding main Fuse Box in engine area 5 of fuses have no show any light when I checked. All others were okay. I also replaced relays numbers: 11, 13 1nd 19 These mini fuses have no lights up when I am checking but all others are okay even big ones. Numbers: 25, 26, 28, 29 and 37.

50

Mini fuses: 25, 26, 28, 29, 37 are in good condition but have no power on them, even battery is good and + - cables connected.

50

All relays, maxi fuses and mini fuses have voltage excluding those Mini fuses: 25, 26, 28, 29, 37.

50

Hi, There is Positive current on body. Even, on brake tubes, ABS module, on engine body, everywhere...This problem is draining battery. I checked Negative and Positive cables starting from battery terminals 2 days ago. In front bottom of car area (Left bottom side of engine) all are correct. Nothing wrong. Negative and Positive cables are connected in true places such as Starter, Alternator, Negative thick cables to engine block etc... I will also check right side of engine bottom area connections, if I can see something wrong or not. If I can see Positif cable touching to engine or car body or not.

50

Hi, I am late to answer you. I will check it this days. It was cold weather, therefor I couldn't lie down under the car. Thanks for your helps.

50

I replaced myself new alternator last 2019 October. Problem for see the alternator if anything wrong with it or not, I have to remove out fan assembly. Old alternator was its original one since 2002. First time I replaced with new one last Oct. I did a good job. It is connecting to engine block with 2 bolts side by side plus a long bolt by holding idle pulley to body with alternator together. Two short bolts and one long bolt. There is some problem somewhere, I can't see it. Some positive cable is touching to body. When I bought this car had this problem already. Perhaps first owner did smth, wrong or some mechanic, or someone. I took over this problem from them. Now, I am suffering.

50

I will check alter's and starter's positive and negative cables soon. But, I don't think so they are creating this problem. I have to replace new axle shaft seals front L and Right sides. Also, I will replace new Crankshaft rear seal as first time. (Big one.). It is slightly leaking oil. I replaced front crank seal (small size) last Summer when I did engine head jobs.

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