Is this major enough to keep me from visiting inlaws?

[harrybastidge]

I hope someone can give me some insight as to what is wrong with my 2000 Intrigue. First of all, I am aware of the electrical issue concerning the alternator having a regulator issue. But after reading through the forums,I think I may have one of the most bizarre electrical problems yet. I have installed a remote start/keyless entry module (aftermarket) about a couple years ago. I could never get the start option to work so I disconnected it from the remote so I wouldn't have to go into the wiring again to disconnect it. Recently, my security light comes on after I start the car and stays on until I get to where I am going and turn the car off. Now when I start it again, it is not on. So at first I thought it was the remote start module causing this since it has caused the security light to come on, but the motor wouldn't turn over. I disconnected it from all 3 ignition wires and have connected it straight to the battery to run the door locks, windows, and trunk release. Things worked good for a while. Now my security light comes on while I am driving or shortly after the car is running and the lights start to flicker to the point they are almost off. My gauges run wild, the lights shine as if with the light of heaven, my fan motor sounds like a tornado, then everything is calm for a few moments, then it starts back up. It will do this whenever the security light is first on and I shut the car off and start it back up. It drives like normal while these shenanigans are going on, but in traffic, I get alot of funny looks like I'm purposely making the car do this. So far, it's great at getting people out of my way. I'm assuming they think I am the law, but as the winter creeps in, I'm worried this problem will get worse as it seems to happen especially when the motor is cold. So far it has happened when the morning outside temperature was at least 55 degrees. Never has happened when it was warm. Any ideas as to what this might be? I have a trip to the inlaws coming up and I would really like to use this as an excuse to stay home!!!

[lunasea808]

I would do two things. If you have a OBDII scaner find out the codes see if you can repair them yourself or take the car to the dealer to get it fixed. If not and you have some money take it to the dealership to get it fixed. You don't want to be stuck on the side of the road when it's cold out and no one around to help you.

[harrybastidge]

This is an update to my electrical issue with my '00 Intrigue...
I eventually had to cancel the In-law visit, and stayed home thanking my car for the opportunity to explore things further. I had it checked out at the local garage and no error codes were found. So after a little chat with the mechanic, he suggested that something might be shorting out causing the computer to lose power and come on again. After a couple hours of detective work checking out connectors and wires, I discovered my battery was as old as the car itself. So I went out and purchased a new one and when I went to switch it out. To my surprise, I noticed my battery was leaking, nothing serious, just a little drip now and then. When I went to take the terminal connections off the old battery, the whole positive terminal came off as one piece. I got to looking, and the leak was coming from the terminal where the positive line attatches to the battery. There is a little adaptor fitting that apparently screwed into the battery itself. I am thinking because of the way it looked, it was never making good contact with the inner terminal. There was that bluish oxidation "paste", as I saw it because the battery fluid was absorbed by the powder, in between the two pieces which could have been the culprit all along. Anyways, after switching the battery out, I have yet to see that problem occur. Security light is not coming on and staying on, the lights have behaved themselves so far. Still have the flickering lights, but nothing like it was before the battery was changed. So I have to say, this has been one heck of an episode for myself and my Intrigue. Great car, I love it, nothing has been a major problem on it. Other than little things, This car will be driven into the ground for as long as it takes. Other than routine maintenance issues, like reaching oil filter and sparkplugs, there is nothing I can say negatively about my Intrigue.

[panzer dragoon]

You are lucky, sometimes when you replace an auto battery, the damn battery terminal lead connection is extremely hard to get off like it's soldered on.

Maybe GM needs an OBDii code that says: Battery has disintegrated beyond use. Battery voltage inconsistent/unstable. Battery has fallen off car!

I haven't seen an auto battery fall apart like that before. I wonder what they are going to say when you return it to get your core charge back. In WI it's $5. Some of these returned batteries are pretty incredible.

I had a battery that fell out of it's holder (base) due to corrosion (1978 Dodge 4x4). The battery fell into the wheel well (covering) (rusted also) and was pushing it against the 35" BFG M/T tire. Really only the wiring kept the battery from falling out of the truck. After that I stapped it in with hooked rubber straps and some rope.

[Laser17]

I had something like that happening to me today, i solved the problem, check the nuts on the fuse box just above the battery, make sure they are tightly screwed in place, i found my guages kept going wild everytime i hit a speed bump. Just grab a rachet and tighten them up. This goes for the 3.8, i don't know about the 3.5

[harrybastidge]

Oh, you should have seen the guy I turned my old battery over to. I had to call first to see if they would even take it in its condition. I had a good laugh taking it in wrapped up in garbage bags. He was OK with it, but his manager saw it and had this look of "what the hell?". I wrapped the leaking end with duct tape and threw it into 2 bags so the unfortunate employee wouldn't catch anything from it. But, hey, I got my 8 dollars back for it though. I went with a top-post battery with the new one and after a little modification to the lines, it sure looks pretty covered in this terminal grease. I think its just vaseline in a squeeze pack. Oh well, things are OK and thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions.

[kmohr3]

exact same thing happened to my daughter's 98 Intrigue