1999 Oldsmobile 88 problems

[ajm786]

The car is a 1999 Oldsmobile 88 LS. It has 64K miles on the engine.

The problem that I'm having is doublefold.

1. Randomly, when I shift into reverse, the car will not respond. If I give it a little gas, it will begin to reverse, slowly. Sometimes, it will not reverse at all. Other times, it works perfectly.
2. I was sitting at a traffic stop with the car. As the traffic started to move, I slightly touched the gas, and the car started vibrating/shuddering extremely VIOLENTLY, for about 2 seconds, then started driving normally. I first I thought I went over some rocks. But then it did it again, and again.

Doing some research on the net, I found GM TSB 00-07-30-002B which says that it's the pressure control solenoid. So I took it to a shop to do some diagnostics. They hooked up their scanner, and got the following error codes:

P0502 VSS Circuit Low Input
P0135 H02S Heater Circuit Bank 1 Sensor 1

The mechanic at the shop mentioned that he's seen cars with the VSS go bad do all sorts of things, including the problem I explained.

I've changed the VSS to no avail, as well as did a full service on the fluids.

I'm going to buy the solenoids and have them replaced. In the meantime, you know when you turn your car to ACC, all the lights on the dashboard come on, momentarily? This is normal. The problem is that there are 2 lights on my dashboard that don't light up AT ALL, either when you turn the car ON, ACC, or trigger. It's LOW FUEL and LOW COOLANT.

Am I to assume that the light bulbs are out? The reason why I'm thinking this may be the case is because I drove around until the fuel tank was almost empty, and the LOW FUEL light did not come on.

I just want to make sure before I go through the trouble of ripping the entire dashboard out to change those damn light bulbs behind the instrument cluster.

Thanks!

[maxwedge]

Check the owners manual, certain warning lites do not go thru the test cycle. The low fuel lite comes on at about 2.5 gallons, it is possible you were on the edge and it down not come on.

[ajm786]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Check the owners manual, certain warning lites do not go thru the test cycle. The low fuel lite comes on at about 2.5 gallons, it is possible you were on the edge and it down not come on.

I have the manual, but I can't seem to find what lights are included in the "test cycle". Do you have any suggestions?

[maxwedge]

You could test the low coolant lite by unpluggingthe sensor and jumping over the connector see if it comes on.

[ajm786]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

You could test the low coolant lite by unpluggingthe sensor and jumping over the connector see if it comes on.

Can you tell me where I can find this sensor?

I'm more concerned about the LOW FUEL sensor as it's saved my behind (in my other car) more than a few times.

[maxwedge]

Either in the upper r/s of the radiator or in the coolant jar. A wiring diagram is required to pinpoint the wires for the low sensor and do the same type of test. BTW you should not run the tank that low anyway, as it will shorten the fuel pump life.

[ajm786]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Either in the upper r/s of the radiator or in the coolant jar. A wiring diagram is required to pinpoint the wires for the low sensor and do the same type of test. BTW you should not run the tank that low anyway, as it will shorten the fuel pump life.

Correct, I understand that I should not run the tank that low, I never do. But sometimes it happens, and it's good to have that light to tell me that something is wrong.

Here's what I did. I put the car on an incline so that the gauge points right on empty (E), but the LOW FUEL light does not come on. When I do this in my other Olds 88, the LOW FUEL light comes on.

[ajm786]

My brother is going to rip apart the dash today and get behind the instrument cluster to see if we can replace the bulb.

I called my local GM dealer to ask them about bulb replacement on the gauge cluster, and the tech I spoke to didn't even know that you can replace a bulb in the cluster.

[ajm786]

Update: no bulbs are popped out.

I'm going to run the fuel down as much as I can tonight to see if I can trigger the light.

[99lss]

Originally Posted by ajm786

Update: no bulbs are popped out.

I'm going to run the fuel down as much as I can tonight to see if I can trigger the light.

my 99 olds lss(which is the sport version of the 88 ls) low fuel light comes on as soon as the needle hits the orange which is at 1/8 tank. all cars are different but i would assume that yours should come on before it hits the empty line if it is working properly!

[ajm786]

Originally Posted by 99lss

my 99 olds lss(which is the sport version of the 88 ls) low fuel light comes on as soon as the needle hits the orange which is at 1/8 tank. all cars are different but i would assume that yours should come on before it hits the empty line if it is working properly!

I tried running it down all the way, but not till the car sputtered, because that damages the fuel pump. The light does not get triggered at all.

I don't know if it's the sending unit, if it's the gauge cluster, or what it is. Can someone help?