Oldsmobile Intrigue

mfletouva

As far as I know, all the 2002's that have the PCS option have the badge. Mine is a Ruby Red '02 with spoiler and the PCS badge.

dindak

Well onlt PSC equipped cars would have a badge, not all 02s.

redline65

Whenever I turn my steering wheel with the car stopped I hear a popping noise. At low speeds I also hear the popping noise. My thought was the ISS needed to be lubed. I have taken the car to two garages, and the first one said the steering gear needed to be replaced ($800 just for the part!). They are a GM dealership, by the way.

The second independent garage said a bad strut is causing the popping. They claim that even when stopped there is something turning inside the strut that is popping. I don't know who to believe. I'm thinking of just getting the ISS lubed to see if it takes care of the problem.

b4z

There is a rubber insulator in the strut that torques when the wheels are turned.
It can cause a popping sound.
I would just have the ISS lube done and call it a day.

Martypa

same problem and needed to get the steering gear replaced. $1800.00 at the dealer. GM picked up half the cost because my car had only 27 K miles on it, but was out of warranty due to time.

redline65

Thanks for the replies. The steering gear replacement sounds a little extreme. I think it might be a case of the dealership looking to make a few bucks. I'm going to get the ISS lube done and see if that takes care of the problem. If not, I'll most likely replace the struts. Bad struts could explain why my Dunlop SP Sport A2 tires got chopped after 12K miles too.

Tirerack.com sells some KYB struts that appear to fit the Intrigue. Are these higher quality than the OEM GM struts? Looks like they only cost $48 each, which seems pretty cheap. Of course the mounts cost more than the struts, at $69 each. Not sure if I would just need to replace the strut or the mount also?

mfletouva

Uh, isn't that what I said? "...all the 2002's that HAVE THE PCS OPTION have the badge?"



I wondered why after 4 model years (well not really, they didn't always call it PCS, but still), they decided to add that badge. Someone get bored someplace? I'm glad they did...the car should have had badging like that from the beginning--let alone the manufactuer of the car.

dindak

Sorry, I may have missed something there. Typical.

;-)

Oldsmobile badge should have been on the Intrigue in big letters from day 1. I still have people asking me who makes the car. UG!

redline65

I wondered why after 4 model years (well not really, they didn't always call it PCS, but still), they decided to add that badge.

Stability control (PCS) wasn't added to the Intrigue until the 2000 model year. I believe all Intrigues with stability control have the PCS badge.

b4z

Was available 2000,2001,2002.

v8lincolnguy

My 01 GLS which had PCS had the badge. 98 and 99 Intrigues did not offer PCS. But they did have heated mirrors:)

dekester

ANyone know the correct wiper sizes for the 98? Had them replaced by mu mechanic at an oil change earlier this year and they seemes about an inch shorter than the OEM ones. IIRC one is supposed to be longer than the other?

What's the best blade? I always used Anco, but lately whatever I use seems to streak and leave that annoying residue at the place where they stop the upward wipe and return.

Deke

ab348

Funny you should ask about wipers - I was killing time the other day walking around Canadian Tire looking up various replacement items for my Intrigue. They list a 22" blade for the Intrigue but make no mention of different sizes for different sides. My experience in the past has been that the OEM GM blade you get from the dealers parts dept (not the AC/Delco replacement which most also carry) is both effective and often cheaper than aftermarket.

One interesting thing I noted in my parts lookup is that they listed 2 different air filters for the 3.5: one up to and including 2001 models, and a different one for the 2002 Intrigue. I find it difficult to believe they made a change for the last year. Unfortunately they didn't have that 2002 listing on the shelf so I couldn't compare it to the 2001, which was there.

focus

Just bought a winter wipers for my winter car from Canadian Tire; they have a Cdn. Tire best value sign on them, with a certified check mark on the package, made in the USA. It's the best wiper i ever got and also much cheaper than others.

dindak

I tried 2 different replacements and nothing worked as well as the OEMs so I went to the dealership this year and went back to them. They definitely cost more than most in the store but oh well, it's worth it and safer.

sda

99 Cutlass to 00GL to 01 Aurora. I can't believe I'm writing this as I thought I would own my 00 GL for several more years. I was very satisfied with it. By chance, I came across an 01 Olds Aurora 4.0 for 13995. White, neutral interior, sunroof, heated seats, Bose with 12disc cd changer, chrome wheels, gold package. Clean car. Well, it called my name and I bought. Wife not as enthusiastic, thou. "Why did you have to sell the Intrigue, I loved that car..." Short term pain, I hope. Sold my 00GL, sunroof, spoiler,38k, midnight blue to CarMax for $9300. So I feel good about the prices on both cars. I will continue to read this thread. I really enjoy you all.

dindak

Wow, I am so jealous. Seems like a great upgrade at a very reasonable cost. What was the mileage on the Aurora though?

We have to keep our Intrigue for at least another 4-5 years as I would like to get on a cycle where we only have 1 car payment. We will likely buy a smaller SUV or van next fall.

v8lincolnguy

Not a bad move IMO. Intrigue was a nice midsize/sport sedan, but the Aurora is a totally different class of car. If it wasn't for the fact that Olds service here is so bad, I might have seriously looked for an 01 or 02 V8 Aurora. Hope you enjoy.

sda

Car is clean. No nicks, scratches, or door dings. Car drives tight and smooth. It will get the 'clay' treatment and thorough detailing/waxing in the next week. Clean Car Fax, new tires. Has 52800 miles. A little more miles than I'd like, but from what I can determine, I bought the car at close to wholesale. And I thought $9300 was a decent price for my Intrigue. What's the old saying? "You pays your monies and you takes your chances." Hopefully I won't be disappointed.

dindak

52K sounds like it was mostly highway in that short a time. Hopefully you made a good trade. Oldsman is right, it's a different class of car, especially with the 4.0.

b4z

Aurora has beautiful interior. real walnut. Solid body structure. Great engine.
Our buddy down in Florida told me he was looking at one a few weeks ago.

focus

Congratulations on your upgrade. Aurora is one classy looking and powerful car. While the Aurora Northstar V8 is more powerful, it is a heavier car. Please post your driving impressions compare to the intrigue.

ab348

I took the Intrigue in for an oil change today at the dealer since it's been 3 months since I had it. I'm wondering if I got a deal. They did it while I waited and it was the Goodwrench 15-point inspection plus fluid top-up, tire pressure adjustment, lube of door hinges, etc., chassis lube, oil and filter, all for $29.95 Cdn. Since the 3.5 takes 6 liters of oil and the filter is over $10 off the shelf I'm wondering if I got an unexpected benefit? Regardless, I'm not complaining. I'm going there from now on.

ozznet

My dealer charges a couple dollars more than yours for the exact same thing in Manitoba so that must be around the standard price for a oil change.

dindak

Same price here. $39.99 and you get a rotation added in. I go to my dealer or Quick Lube if I have a coupon. I've tried to go to Costco twice but they are always backed up and I can't wait.

focus

here range from $29 to $39, but i often wonder if they actually do the door hinges and chassis lube, many times not even the tire pressure.

Are we Canadian more "intrigue" than American? It seems we do lot more posting relative to the population

vcjumper

Any Canadians had this done out of warranty/can tell me what it cost them? I plan on getting it done next time I bring it to a dealer (its been over a year since I've been to one!).

ab348

I can tell you the guy did all of those things to mine, even gave me a measure of tire tread remaining, because I saw him do it. I was actually impressed with GM dealer service yesterday. Hopefully they are as good if the car has a problem - none so far.

redline65

I'm not in Canada, but I just had the ISS lube done and it set me back about US$160. They charge 1.5 hours labor for the job, if that helps. Seems to have completely fixed my popping/rattling noises.

dindak

Good news. I had mine done under warranty last winter and I figure I will need another one in 2-3 years which is fine. Part of owning an Intrigue I suppose.

taycron

I had my ISS lubed at my local Pontiac dealer for $65...

vcjumper

I guess I'll call three dealers to see what pricing I can get.

redline65

Yeah, call around. My dealership is in an expensive part of town, and they happen to be an Infiniti/Cadillac dealer on top of that. So I get to pay top dollar when I go to them for service, which is very rare. Better than the Pontiac dealer I went to though, who wanted to do $2800 of work to my Intrigue for stuff I didn't need.

dindak

What part of Dallas would that be in?

dekester

Has anyone checked to see what the size(s) are? I want to replace the whole blade - not just the rubber refill - but all I get at Pep Boys are blank stares when I ask.

I really don't want to pay dealer prices for OEM equipment - still hurting over the $15.00 spoiler brakelight bulb! PIAA has a blade with something like triple blades. Any suggestions? And no Canada Tire stories...I'm not driving from NYC to Ontario just for wipers!

Thanks.

Deke

dindak

Best ones I have had on the Intrigue (by far) are the OEMs. I went back to them this year and paid the piper (GM). I bought some at Costco last year and they sucked. The way I look at it is, the extra C$15 the OEMs cost might save our lives one winter because I can see better and that's all I need to justify it.

If you find anything cheaper that works, let me know.

evandro

The Intrigue uses 22" ones. I usually buy the blue Amco. Recently I took a chance at Bosch and regretted it. It not only is a flimsy piece of metal, but the pressure is not even because of few articulations, causing a tip to never touch the far right of the windshield. Not to mention the streaks it leaves... All this for about 50% more, darn it!

redline65

My dealership is in Plano, north of Dallas. Plano and Frisco are two of the more pricey suburbs. Within Dallas, the Park Cities area is really expensive.

As for wipers, I use the Anco 22" refills. I did have to cut about 1/2 inch off of the end of them to make them fit properly though.

ab348

I posted days ago that the size was 22" and that the OEM ones were often as good/better deal than aftermarket. Go to your dealer's parts counter, ask for the original equipment blades and ask them to quote you wholesale. They will almost always give you that price which makes them cheaper than many aftermarket items.

sda

On Sunday, I went to my parent's house to pick them up and give them a ride to my daughter's birthday party. She's 2. They have two Oldsmobiles, dad a 95 Cutlas Cierra SL with 58k, and mom a 98 Aurora with 54k. Dad came out first. The car was angled so you could see the driver's front and driver's side. I pointed to it and asked dad, what kind of car is it? I hadn't told them sold the Intrigue and bought an Aurora. Truly perplexed, he started guessing. Toyota, Acura, Lexus? I pointed to the wheels with the Aurora emblem. Still no clue. I mentioned to him it was an Aurora. He was speechless. And then he beamed, and said" beautiful car, its a shame Olds is going away." Mom came out, and the scene played out almost word for word. Dad and I looked at her just shaking our heads and smiling. Finally, when I told her it was an Aurora, she said, "Wow, I see it now. I sure do love mine (her '98)." Again, no wonder Olds is going away, even loyal owners like my parents didn't recognize it. Happy Thanksgiving!

dindak

I often wonder what the next generation of Oldsmobiles would have looked like under Bob Lutz. As someone who always loved the old Cutlass when I was a kid, Oldsmobile lost it's way and then found it again in the late 90's only to discover it was too late for a come back.

As the proud owner of 2 Oldsmobiles I'm sad they will likely be my last. That said, I'm pretty young still and I hope some day I can afford to get a classic Oldsmobile as a summer car. Who knows, but glad to hear you're enjoying the Aurora.

ab348

Well, on this past Sunday I got together with a couple of buddies. I have my Intrigue, and also a restored '68 Cutlass 2-dr; friend #1 has a '70 Cutlass Supreme SX; and we both met at the house of friend #2, who has another Intrigue, a '97 88 LSS, and a restored '71 Cutlass Supreme SX. It was almost like an Olds museum!

white6

the other day on the highway... new (2003?) 4.0 V-8 model in jet black; truly a terrific looking automobile!

v8lincolnguy

Both the first and second generation Auroras were good looking cars. IMO, Cadillac should have gotten the V8 model once old folded. This would have given them a two pronged entry level offering. The CTS for those who want performance and sport in their luxury sedan and the Aurora(or whatever name Cadillac would have given it) for those who prefer a softer ride and luxury over performance. Back in the early 90s, Cadillac had a concept car called the Aurora.

sda

Thought I'd share some observations about some similarities and differences between the Intrigue and Aurora 4.0. Power difference, not much. The Intrigue is plenty quick, the Aurora maybe a tick faster. The 3.5 is smooth, refined, and loves to rev. The 4.0 is same, but has a more muscular note. I think the shorter gears on the Aurora allows it to pull away from a stop quicker. I believe the Aurora has a 3.71 and the Intrigue a 3.05 ratio. Gas mileage, the Intrigue hands down. I consistently got 23+mpg around town, the Aurora about 19mpg. Ride,handling, quietness, fit/finish, quality of materials, improved in the Aurora. The Aurora still has a firm ride like the Intrigue, but it manages to take the edge off sharp bumps better. Corners a little flatter. Overall personality of the car is similar to the Intrigue. It is willing to play when the desire hits. Panel alignment, quality of leather, plastics nicely done. Bose stereo sounds great. Less road noise and wind noise. Though it sounds like the Aurora is better in a lot of areas, it is, the difference isn't great. A lot of this is very subtle, and I only noticed after a week of driving, rather than on the first drive. I will post updates if you'd like.

ketch

Well, 4 years ago today, I picked my Silver Mist 2000 GL Intrigue. I now have 34k miles, and "she" still looks as new as the day I picked it up. As my minivan aged, the Intrigue saw more use as our travel car, so it's latest trip was to San Diego.

As of 3 months ago, when we bought a new 2003 Saturn Vue AWD v6 to replace the 9 year old minivan, the Intrigue mostly serves only as transportation to work and back. With that, I should be able to keep it another 6 years and see just 60-70k total miles at that time when I replace it.

I seldom let the car stay dirty, which has been alot easier for the last 10 months that I have lived in Henderson NV (near Vegas). So the car did see some salt from the several winters near Chicago where I had lived.

No major problems, but did have the new alternator put in last winter for the lights flicker problem, and of course I has the ISS lube fix like many here. 2 years ago I got to race the car around Road America race course for over an hour (and no ill effects since then luckily), something I will never forget!

So I raise a toast to all you Intrigue owners and wish you Happy Holidays and great times with your rides.

dindak

ketch : Good to hear from ya. It's been a while. Our Intrigue will turn 4 in March, and we also may buy a VUE in the new year assuming the resale on out Alero is greater than the amount owing. Sounds like your GL is just like mine in every way. :-)

sda : Interesting comments. Thanks for the post. Surprised the V8 is not much faster than the Intrigue though.

newbuy1

Thinking of buying a 99 intrigur with 69000 on it. Looks in good shape but has clunking noise in steering when makint turns. Also on slight bumps (from up front). Dealer says that it is a common problem in the steering column that is an easy $120 fix.
Am concerned about the fact that this has an aluminum engine. Had a '74 Vega - need I say more?
MOney is limited. Other option is a '98 Windstar with 79,000 on it for about $2500 less ( the Intrigue is going for $6800).

Any suggestions?

dindak

Engine is likely rock solid as it the transmission. Steering wheel fix could be $120 if it's a lube job, more if the ISS needs to be replaced. Is the seller willing to fix the steering for $120?

You will be likely far better off with the Intrigue than the Windstar. Windstar transmissions are horrible and it will cost a lot more to fix than than the ISS in an Intrigue.

b4z

Windstars also blow head gaskets.
Vega engine didn't have steel liners
like the 3.5L shortstar.
Have him fix the ISS before you buy, then test drive.