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Vehicle make/model = Oldsmobile Alero
Year = 2002
Mileage = 48500
Engine size = 2.2L
dash lights = Engine Service Light
codes = No
work done prior = None known
work done to repair = None
tip/donation yes
tech = JK
question = Occasionally when starting the car, the lights, all dash
components, A/C, radio, power windows do not work. The only thing that
works is power door locks. The engine runs fine during this. I have to
shut the car off and restart several times for everything to start
working again. What's up?
JK:
Thank you for the tip/donation.
I need a little more info.
Is this a 2-door or 4-door.
Did all these things start to act up at the same time, or 1 at a time, and progressively
getting worse?
Can you think of anything odd that happend just prior to these problems?
VISITOR:
Everything happens when I start the car. The car will start normally, but nothing else
works. I happens this way every time it occurs. It is very erratic. I can drive it several
days without it happening, then all of a sudden it shows back up. Like I said earlier, the
engine runs normally and the car drives normally during the incident, but I have power
to nothing else.
JK:
In my experience, 2 things sound lke the most likely cause.
1. Check for evidence of water getting into the lf. side dash fuse block. With dr. door
open, it is behind the panel on the side of the dash. This is not only a fuse block, but
also a main juntion block for many of the electrical circuits in the car. Have had a few
occasions where water gets into the block and causes all kinds of odd electrical
problems. With the key off, remove a few fuses and relays and look for the sign of water
damage. It may be just dried up water residue on the terminals of the fuses or relays, or
in the block where these things plug in. May just look dirty, green, rusty, or white
resisdue. This is the sign of water intrusion. Also look around that block at the metal
dash brackets to see if you see rust. If you find any of these, that entire block will need
to be replaced.
2. Possible loss or low voltage to these circuits caused by a faulty ignition switch. The
ignition switch powers many of the different fuses and relays, and if the switch does not
send the proper voltage, it will cause these circuits to malfiunction. You can try to turn
key to "ON" position with all circuits functioning normally, then wiggle key, tap on dash
under the key. Sometimes this will cause a faulty ignition switch to act up and cause
those circuits to fail. The ignition switch is the housing the ignition key cylinder goes
into. Or when the circuits are acting up, test for battery voltage at several of the fuse in
the lf., rt. and underhood fuse block. A faulty ignition switch would casue the fuses
related to the problem circuits to not have voltage or have low voltage with key ON.
The fuse block problem seems like the most likely cause, since a bad ignition switch
usually will cause the car to not start, or give intermittant security / theft light.
Back
Year = 2002
Mileage = 48500
Engine size = 2.2L
dash lights = Engine Service Light
codes = No
work done prior = None known
work done to repair = None
tip/donation yes
tech = JK
question = Occasionally when starting the car, the lights, all dash
components, A/C, radio, power windows do not work. The only thing that
works is power door locks. The engine runs fine during this. I have to
shut the car off and restart several times for everything to start
working again. What's up?
JK:
Thank you for the tip/donation.
I need a little more info.
Is this a 2-door or 4-door.
Did all these things start to act up at the same time, or 1 at a time, and progressively
getting worse?
Can you think of anything odd that happend just prior to these problems?
VISITOR:
Everything happens when I start the car. The car will start normally, but nothing else
works. I happens this way every time it occurs. It is very erratic. I can drive it several
days without it happening, then all of a sudden it shows back up. Like I said earlier, the
engine runs normally and the car drives normally during the incident, but I have power
to nothing else.
JK:
In my experience, 2 things sound lke the most likely cause.
1. Check for evidence of water getting into the lf. side dash fuse block. With dr. door
open, it is behind the panel on the side of the dash. This is not only a fuse block, but
also a main juntion block for many of the electrical circuits in the car. Have had a few
occasions where water gets into the block and causes all kinds of odd electrical
problems. With the key off, remove a few fuses and relays and look for the sign of water
damage. It may be just dried up water residue on the terminals of the fuses or relays, or
in the block where these things plug in. May just look dirty, green, rusty, or white
resisdue. This is the sign of water intrusion. Also look around that block at the metal
dash brackets to see if you see rust. If you find any of these, that entire block will need
to be replaced.
2. Possible loss or low voltage to these circuits caused by a faulty ignition switch. The
ignition switch powers many of the different fuses and relays, and if the switch does not
send the proper voltage, it will cause these circuits to malfiunction. You can try to turn
key to "ON" position with all circuits functioning normally, then wiggle key, tap on dash
under the key. Sometimes this will cause a faulty ignition switch to act up and cause
those circuits to fail. The ignition switch is the housing the ignition key cylinder goes
into. Or when the circuits are acting up, test for battery voltage at several of the fuse in
the lf., rt. and underhood fuse block. A faulty ignition switch would casue the fuses
related to the problem circuits to not have voltage or have low voltage with key ON.
The fuse block problem seems like the most likely cause, since a bad ignition switch
usually will cause the car to not start, or give intermittant security / theft light.
Back
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