problems with 96 intrepid...can anybody help?

[eastangel28]

A couple of years ago I started having problems with my intrepid. The gauges wouldn't work and it wouldn't shift out of 1st gear, but you could still drive it. Also, the power windows and windshield wipers still worked. It wasn't too bad as after a couple of minutes of turning the car on and off the gauges would kick in and it would run fine. I took it to Auto Zone where the put it on the computer and said they didn't know what the code meant because it was a dealer code. So I called the dealership, they said that they didn't know what the code meant since it didn't come from their computer. We didn't want to go spend $70 to put it on their computer so our neighbor, a mechanic, and one of his buddies looked at it and told us it was the main computer. Well just a couple of weeks ago, we went to the junk yard and got a comp. My car ran fine for about 2 weeks and it started back on it's same old problems, except now I can't get the lights to come on at all, even after driving it around (which used to solve the problem). We read somewhere that it might be the BCM, so we took it out today, but have not found a place that can test it to see if it's good, or a junk yard that has another one.

Just wondering if anybody has any other ideas on what the problem could be. I love my car, and it runs great when it's working properly.

[Dawezilla]

Originally Posted by eastangel28

Just wondering if anybody has any other ideas on what the problem could be. I love my car, and it runs great when it's working properly.

I feel your pain

Don't discredit the value of cleaning/checking all connectors. Remember, the Intrepid is one of the first heavily computer controlled cars in production. There is a lot of feedback and sensors. The only problem is that the diagnostics are not excellent. The 'code' we all look for are only when there is a fault... no fault, no code. I don't know what triggers a fault, but some systems that are not mission-critical to the vehicle may not be geared to be detected. Keep in mind that you could have one of those bastard inline fuses that has corroded or a wire with a compromised wire sheath. I have seen that before too. During soem conditions, it carries current, and other times it just didn't do it. The diagnstics will let you know if there is unusually high resistance somewhere... it could be the sensore, it the wire itself.

I would recommend having it put up for a full shop diagnostic. Lets say you have a voltage issue on a sensor/connector. I have no exact numbers so I'll make up some for example's sake.

Imagine a sensor that is 5.0v. It has a +- 0.5 v tolerance for normal resting state before the magic check engine light comes on. Say it is corroded and sits with a normal voltage of 4.7v the next sensor in the system is off with 5.4v. The two together are both out, but never fault the system and record a code.

Seeing its an intermittant issue, I would start cleaning every plug connector you can get your hands on if you are not going to have a full diag run on it.

I had an issue with a mustang that resulted in poor performance and rich mixture, no fault was ever flagged, one under full diagnisis, the O2 sensor and another were ot of spec. I replaced them and it was bang-on.