93 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera -electrical problem(?)-

[Iampoison]

Just in case any of you wonderful, knowledgeable, people could figure out what the hell could be wrong, I am posting this. You never know. Or if anyone is having the same problem...you're not alone.

My car has already been to the shop several times in the past 2 years to try and find this problem but no one can seem to fix/find it.

STATS: 93 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (light blue) -Bought brand new in 93

THE PROBLEM: At times I will go out to start my car (this has also happened while driving a handful of times). It will start up fine but the headlights will not go on. The interior lights will not turn on, the dash lights will not turn on, power locks do nothing, and my CD player (installed several years after purchase) will not turn on.

All of these features do not work during this problem:

- Headlights
- Radio / CD Player
- Dash and internal lights
- Power Locks

Even if I stop and start the car up again nothing will change and the lights/electrical will not turn on. They always come back at random, sometimes less than a minute after this issue has occurred. Sometimes close to an hour. The car will start up and drive just fine during that time. The turn signals still light up, windows open and close, car starts and turns over perfectly.

Eventually, the car (even when turned off and parked)will fix the issue on it's own. The headlights will flash for a second and all the power will be back.

AFTERMATH: All CD player radio presets and clock are gone. Clock is back to how it was at time of purchase. Other than that, everything is just how it was and is fully usable. This problem has been around for almost 2 years and I have taken it to mechanics but the problem will fix itself before they have a chance to find it (or so I have been told). I have also been researching this problem online and I have never seen any cases like this.

Any and all car knowledge is appreciated.
Thank you so much for any and all comments or help.

-Maria

[Airjer_]

What has been done in the past to try to resolve this issue?

The first thing I would check is the ignition switch but I guess that doesn't make sense because the headlights should be on no matter what. Maybe the fuselinks down by the starter. Maybe a chasis ground. Have you checked to see if you have power at the radio? Have you checked to see if the radio has a ground. Same for the headlights. I guess with a quirky issue like this i would be more likley to suspect a ground. Checking the ground on the headlights would probably be the easiest first step. This can be done easily with a test light hooked to the positive side of the battery and then probe the grond pin of the headlight. the test light should be just as bright as when you touch it to the negative side of the battery. You can also make a ground jumper wire that you can use between the negative side of the battery and the headlight ground. Assuming that the headlights have power to them. If they don't have power than I would be looking down by the starter to see if there is a bad fuselink or a corroded conection.

That should keep you busy for a little bit. Let us know what you find!!!

[spytearbite]

Yep, I am on the short side with Airjer. Headlight is tied in with that fuseable-link is the positive battery cable could be a possibility.

If that (+) battery post was ever exposed to that white crust (acid) you can see in the red band or booty cover? Most likely the main (+ cable) wire harness that forks off to the headlights, etc has eaten that white acid too. might be your short to the link?; or the ground is out of the loop or the posi side is not making contact is one or the other, say, makes a complete circuit.

Start the car, soak a paper towel wet so if sparks occur, you do not light a dry paper. Now, say the headlights are off, (running)? Then go under the hood and yank on that red cable that forks off to the starter/etc. First, I would make sure the battery posts are clean and tight. Get that variable out of the way is more not the problem, but with the wet towel is you start pulling or re-connect that rotted corrosion that is trying to make that, "phantom contact."

Throw the towel away properly. Wash your hands/do not touch clothes is you are a fuseable link to placing holes in your Lacross.

[NTxLS]

Iampoison, From my own experiences and some friends with an Oldsmobile the first thing I would check would be the main Fire Wall Connector that passes all power and other features through the FW. This is usually found on the upper left side, driver side of the car, and has a bolt head screw in the middle. Is a very large connector and some have found it to be loose and just tightening will help, some times you need to unscrew it and inspect it for dirty contacts. Be very careful because there is the full power of the battery on some connections there. Might disconnect the battery first if you feel safer doing it that way. Also wear some surgical gloves because that is also covered with some very nasty sticky sealant to prevent water damage and you may get that on your hands and Heaven forbid on your clothes. I also know that it is not that easy to work under the dash, but; you may need to check the connection to your CD/radio just in case it has come loose. Good Luck,