"The Intrigue Chronicles"

Intrigue Talk- This page contains Intrigue opinions/experiences from sources other than myself. Of course, that includes anyone who emails me with their Intrigue stories.

The Yahtzee Debate

One Intrigue problem that seems to be creating a lot of argument is the "Yahtzee-cup rattle" often heard from under the hood of many Intrigues right after they are started (see the Ownership Logbook for my own experience with this problem). Some say it's a mysterious defect, while others contend that it's simply the ABS self-test and therefore perfectly normal. Here's what one '99 Intrigue owner, who adheres to the ABS-test theory, says in an email he sent to me: "The ABS self-test usually runs when you turn the key and is not noticed because of the noise of the engine turning over. It will not be at start-up if you have your foot on the brake when you turn the ignition over...If you start the car with your foot on the brake, the ABS self-test does not run until you remove your foot completely from the brake pedal or until you reach a speed greater than 3 miles per hour." However, the people at Edmund's car guide disagree with the ABS theory, saying, "If this were the case, the noise would occur on a consistent basis. It doesn't. Second, we know the sound of GM's ABS self-test - we've heard it in almost all General Motors test vehicles we've driven lately. That sound is much less intrusive." Who is correct? I have no idea. Email me and let me know what you think.

Yahtzee Update

I have received a lot of email on the Yahtzee Noise topic over the past few days. Several owners had been told by their dealers that the noise was ABS, and another came up with an interesting and simple test to see if a noise is related to the ABS: Just pull out the ABS fuse, and if the noise goes away, then it was just the ABS self-test. We tried this with our Intrigue, and sure enough, the noise went away when the system had no fuse and was therefore disabled. Further, I watched the speedometer and found that the noise (after we reinstalled the fuse) did indeed occur at 3 mph, which matches the info that was emailed to me by another owner (see the block of text above this one). So, if you are hearing an odd noise in your Intrigue and you want to see if it's just the ABS, try pulling the fuse and see if the noise goes away.

Are the '99s Better than the '98s?

Yes, according to the majority of the owners who have emailed me. Here is what one owner said: "I purchased a 1998 Intrigue GL in November 1998 and had so many problems with it that GM repurchased the car from me in October 1999. Mind you, GM did not volunteer to repurchase the 1998 model without some 'encouragement' in the form of demand letters written to the GM registered agent in Texas...I then purchased a 1999 Intrigue GLS with the 3.5L engine. The 1999 model drives, rides, and handles like a totally different car...I have about 7,500 miles on the 1999 GLS and, other than a minor GM recall, I have had no problems." Sounds like a pretty big improvement to me. Do you own a '99 Intrigue? Has Oldsmobile done its job and worked the bugs out for the '99 model year? Email me and tell me what you think.

Another '98 Intrigue Nightmare

Another former '98 Intrigue owner sent me an email relating his unpleasant experience: "From May 31, 1998 to April 25, 1999, and in 18,000 miles, we had the Body Control Module replaced, the instrument cluster replaced, a battery wire replaced, the right front tire blow out spontaneously, the right front bearing blow out, the right front ABS sensor go bad, the driver's door realigned five times, the transmission slip, the front fenders moan in a crosswird, the tires go bald, the brake rotors warp, and the brake pads wear out." Needless to say, this owner chose wisely to get rid of his Intrigue and buy a Volvo S70, a vehicle that he is much happier with.

But They're Not ALL That Bad...

Another owner emailed me with an entirely different opinion of his '98. He says, "I must say in all honesty that it's been a fine car...I am about to turn 17K, and the car remains fun and reliable." He reported a few small flaws, such as loose knobs on the radio, but nowhere near the amount of trouble that others have experienced. '98 Intrigues seem to have been built in a wide variety of quality levels; everything from trouble-free to absolutely horrible.

More '98s...

One '98 owner informed me that his car, like many other '98s, has experienced a good helping of defects, ranging from warped brake rotors to interior parts falling off to engine/transmission hesitation during quick acceleration. He says he still likes the car, but would prefer a Honda Accord. Another offered a few general Intrigue views. He suggested investing in the upgraded stereo system, which he claims is a big improvement over the standard setup, and also avoiding the chrome wheels, which "look like plastic". The only real problem he reported having with his '98 was a bad power steering pump. Finally, a '98 GL owner said that he really liked his car. However, he was not supportive of the new-for-'99 3.5L engine, saying that Olds should have stuck with the already-proven 3.8L used in '98s like his. He, too, suggested avoiding the chrome rims, as well as the available spoiler. He had plenty of tips for minor aftermarket upgrades, such as replacing the stock 38-watt fog lamp bulbs with more powerful 50-watts, and adding mud guards and a GM-accessory front-end bra.

...And a '99

One '99 owner got his car on April 29, 1999, and the starter had to be replaced only two days after he took delivery of it. In spite of that defect, he still "really loves the car".

Got an Intrigue problem/opinion/experience of your own? Email me and tell me about it. If you have something interesting to say, I'll probably put your opinion on this page.

Intrigue Talk - Page 2

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