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Anyone experiencing lights blinking/flickering on Olds Intrigue
dbs0809
Member Posts: 2
I need to know if people are experiencing a flickering of the lights at night (exterior and interior) on Intrigue. This is a strange problem. The dealer says it's the Airpump pulling excessive amps. I don't buy it as I can drive an hour with nothing happening or a half hour with the lights blinking/flickering 12 times or more. I want to know if anyone out there has experienced driver distraction issues or a near accident from this problem. Also, has anyone tried to take this issue through BBB arbitration? Let me know. I have an arbitration hearing coming up in January and need assistance. Thanks for your help.
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I see these cases every week, and GM loses.
Intrigues, Auroras (though not as many), Grand Ams, Grand Prixs, Malibus, Impalas, Centurys and a few Jimmys/Blazers suffer the affliction.
Seems to be those three components that are freaking out, along with a few floundering BCMs. A bad BCM makes for big trouble, and on some occasions, incorrect mileage on the odometer.
Nothing like having flickering lights AND a TMU car, huh?
ha, ha, ha ha ha, ha, ha... oh, my aching side...
anybody ever consider going back to wiping contacts instead of block-contact switches? I run across 60 year and older electronic switches all the time that only need a little cleaning and they're right with it.
Go to www.lemonlaw.com and click on Maryland in the US map. There will be a link to an attorney in Maryland that handles lemon law/breach of warranty cases.
The BBB is not a great step and the manufacturers don't seem to take these hearings very seriously.
Contact me off line (fiftycalsniper@yahoo.com) and I'll send you some information that will address the issue.
It's definitely a safety issue and I did take it to BBB arbitration. A very surprising thing happened.....I won! It was not much of a victory, though. I wanted the problem fixed, but all GM offered was to repurchase the car with a huge writeoff for depreciation. I declined their offer but reserved the right to pursue it in small claims court. The BBB ruling in no way affects going back to court in the future.
Do your homework. Get your hands on Ralph Nader's book on Lemon Laws. Have all the paperwork you need organized and a good timeline. Have you talked to Angus at GM yet?? What a peach....
In the end I got what I wanted. Our car is no longer flashing light signals to oncoming traffic. We still have other issues with the clunks, rattles and various electronic glitches but they can be dealt with more easily. This car's too great to give up on!
In PA, the offset is 10 cents a mile from delivery until the first reported non-conformity. If your car started acting up at 1,000 miles, you as a consumer, are liable for 10 cents a mile for 1,000 miles, or $100.
I did talk to a Lemon Law attorney(from that website) and he said to win one of these cases was rare and I should accept GM's offer. I didn't agree with him. Why should I lose so much money on the car and have to search for a replacement?
I haven't seen one lost yet, here in PA and NJ - maybe that guy just doesn't have any experience.
Been there , done that, i am working on altenator #3, loking for #4. 3 is a lot better but not right.
Gm now seems to be pushing the "normal operating characteristic of the car". I asked the girl at GM hotline why they didn't add that to the brochure if they are so confident that this new feature is to be popular with buyers.. Response no comment.
Been reading with interest this new forum, however, sueing is not worth it. I believe gm is too powerful and i can not afford endless court sessions and cost that will surpass any loss that must be taking to sell.. Gm can . I think the big mark up on car prices is to pay the lawyers the fees to get them to delay endlessly all the incompent and unexcusable designs they introduce the public.
The automotive industry is about the only manufacturer in the world where customer satisfaction with their products is a tronblesome rash. Unlike your toaster or washing macine or stereo, if it has major or even minor problems after purchasing they simply take it back, refund or replace. Yeh Yeh cars are not toasters, but there cost of manufacturing percentage wise are probably the same.
JJ . you are now in the third of 4 "D" auto guys use
1. deny/ there is no problem 1-2 months
2. dismiss/ that is normal 3-6 months
3./ delay/ we are working on a fix 1-2 years.
4./degrade/ no one is is complaining until you sell and never buy another
Customer problem gone, mission successfull.
GOOD LUCK
I give opinions in court - here's my opinion on TSBs:
The manufacturer’s publishing of a technical service bulletin on the “light flickering” issue does not relieve them from having a minority of vehicles that are defective and does not relieve them from being liable for a vehicle with uncorrected mechanical problems. Manufacturers tend to think that just because they publish a TSB on a given issue, they have a “get out of jail free” card. The manufacturer, in my opinion, is still responsible for the appraisal differences between this car and one like it without the problems described in these repair orders.
When looking at potential used car purchases, appraisers may choose between the vehicles with the minority of the vehicles with these issues and the majority of these vehicles without these issues. In that light, there is a huge value difference.
Next week we'll be bringing it in for an overnight to get the other strut replaced, the brake caliper clips replaced, re-attach all the wheel splash guards and a re-do of the ISS to get rid of the clunk.
We'll see how it goes....
My service department was great. Great until the dealership folded today.
I have become Thoroughly disgusted with General Motors, however. I am an engineer and it is obvious to me that the Intrigue has been plagued with several design problems since it's introduction. My '98 had the autoban package. I had warped rotors every 15,000 miles and steering column parts replaced twice. The 2000 has had the ignition replaced, the dash replaced, the stereo replaced, steering column parts replaced, and 4 alternators to fix the flickering headlights which are now worse than ever. there must be a loading problem with the electrical system that is also responsible for the VERY hot stereo buttons.
I drive a dark mountain road every night home from my work and the flickering lights are very distracting. I have 72,300 miles on the car with a 100,000 GM "commuter" warranty. I am now thinking I would like to pursue a lemon law case against GM. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, not having done this before, I'm not sure what to expect from a successful settlement.
By the Way, my 2002 Bravada (nice vehicle) had the engine replaced at 15,000 miles and was towed again today after a trip to the carwash. It appears that somebody tried to put the wrong key in it or something and now it won't start.
Dash message says that driver is not recognized.
Nobody at GM had a clue how to remedy the situation. I am sooooo done with GM.
Occasionally, I've noticed that my headlights seem to dim briefly, then come back up. I thought I was imagining things, or maybe hit a dip in the road. I have a total of 7600 miles on the car, and love it except for this weird glitch. Sounds like I need to bring it in...
What have you heard regarding grounding( frame, atenator, engine...) and could you elaborate on "gm stepping up to quite a few of lemon law cases.
Thanks
I see between 8-15 GM cases a week and I've seen many cases involving these electrical problems. For what it's worth, GM seems to settle the cases. It shouldn't need to get to an attorney to get handled for you, but my income depends on the fact that the manufacturers are stubborn and foolish, as well as not very consumer-oriented.
I don't think the flicker is just a matter of a grounding problem or they wouldn't have replaced our alternator 4 times.
It's just been easier & less costly for us to restrict our driving to the daylight hours.
Gas prices are now at $1.99 for 87 octane here in the Phoenix area. So glad to get about 20-25 MPG around town.
jjpowell - this statement:
"The problem with a buy-back is the depreciation that's at the top end of the scale."
Depreciation has no part in a true "buy-back". The manufacturer is entitled to a mileage offset, based on a certain amount per mile (caries by state), from 0 miles until the first documented problem.
Only trouble with my 2000 GLS, fixed just before it ran out of warranty.
Kirk