Here is the trouble with a '94 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme: SL
- Momentary loss of power. By this I mean any acceleration will stop (cruise
control will switch off if I am using it), the spedometer and/or RPM gauge
will "zero out", typically (but not always) the "low oil level" and "air
bag" message lights will appear, and sometimes this will actually turn the
ignition off, which means I'm pulling over on the highway to start back up.
Most of the time, after about 1 second, the gauges will return to their
normal reading.
-When the car "wakes back up" from this loss of power, sometimes the
physical power of the vehicle will be out of whack. If I'm cruising at ~2500
RPMs and the car zonks out, when it wakes back up, sometimes it will require
~3500 RPMs to attain the previous speed. If I'm doing city driving, when the
car is idleing, there will be no drive whatsoever and I'll really need to
push the gas just to get going from a stop.
-Since this seems to be an electrical issue, I have tried driving w/o the
radio, A/C, etc. This does not seem to make any difference at all.
-Last but not least, the windshield wipers seem to need an exorcism. They
will spontaneously turn themselves on and off without me adjusting the
switch at all. Not sure if this is related, but I'll throw it out there.
Thanks.
Mike Romain - 26 Dec 2006 17:19 GMT
You could very easily be describing corroded battery cables or body
ground mesh wire. Don't forget the battery cables have two ends....
On the olds, the mesh cable for the body is usually off a transmission
bellhousing bolt up tot he body. If it is bad, then the small ground
from the battery to the fender usually melts.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
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> Here is the trouble with a '94 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme: SL
>
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>
> Thanks.
MZB - 26 Dec 2006 19:19 GMT
Mike:
Didn't think it could cause such symptoms.
Mel
> You could very easily be describing corroded battery cables or body
> ground mesh wire. Don't forget the battery cables have two ends....
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
>>
>> Thanks.
Mike Romain - 26 Dec 2006 20:39 GMT
You have computers these days. When they see an interruption or a low
voltage situation, they just shut off. In the old days, the engines
just slowed down when the voltage went low.
Even batteries that have enough juice to turn the starter sometimes
still won't start the vehicle because of the lowered voltage when the
starter is in use and the slightest bit of corrosion on the body
ground. Jeeps and Chryslers are really bad for that.
We had an intermittent stalling problem on our Cherokee a bit ago and
sure enough, the mesh ground was rotted. It was stealing ground through
cables, but just not quite enough to go around...
Mike
> Mike:
>
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> >>
> >> Thanks.