Serious Electrical Problem?

[Shutterbug5k]

I have a ’99 Intrigue with the 3.8l engine.

Early Saturday morning I tried to start my car but all it did was click once and then absolutely nothing – no clicking or anything. Since this was the coldest morning of the year so far I figured the battery was dead.

In the early afternoon I opened the hood and checked the battery and cables. The battery is about 3-1/2 years old and looks good. The cables were tight and not corroded. I tried to start the car and it started without any problems. The only thing I noticed was that the radio clock was several hours off when it had always been very accurate. I let the car run for about 30 minutes to warm up while I checked everything under the hood. I didn’t find anything suspicious so just figured it hadn’t started earlier due to the cold. I shut off the engine and went back inside.

I came out about 45 minutes later to run some errands and the car wouldn’t start! Again, a single click and everything went dead. This time I was paying a little more attention and noticed that there were no dash lights at all, no radio sound, no clock, no door locks, nothing electrical would work – it was like someone had removed the battery!

Any ideas where I should look first?

[BNaylor]

The battery. You can't tell if it is any good until properly tested. Sounds like it is not holding a charge or has a dead cell. Autozone will test batteries for free.

[panzer dragoon]

do a search on this forum for ignition switch. I think yours is bad and I think GM can test for that with the Tech2. The clock losing power is weird and you would think that would be battery related.

Read up on other people's ignition switch problems on this intrigue forum.

[somilwaukeejames]

I had the exact same problem Sunday morning. I just purchased the 2000 Intrigue the evening before. I tried jumping the car, I even replaced the battery, no such luck. Monday morning I phoned the dealer I bought it from, after schooling him on good customer service, he finally told me to unlock the front passenger door using the key, then try to start to car again. I did so, and the car started. He told me there was something wrong with the GM Passlock system. This morning the same thing, car won't start, I turn the key, car goes click, instrument panel shuts down. So I go through the routine, lock the car, unlock the passenger door with the key.... doesn't work this time. It was like trying to decode a secret handshake. After walking around my car locking an unlocking doors in different sequences, I got the car to start. Not sure what I did this time. After work this evening, again, the same thing. I did the door routine. Then I remembered something I read in another area in the forum. Leave the key in the ignition at the on position for about 10 minutes, then try to start car. After doing this, the car started. Needless to say, I drove right to a GM dealer. I hope to find out tomorrow what is wrong. I'll let you know what I find out. As panzer dragoon states, there are a lot of other people having very similar problems. Check them out. I now have a list of things for the service tech to go on.....