Lemon Law

[INTRIGUED]

So here's the deal, On my 00 Olds Intrigue when driving at night the headlights flicker, Hell everything in the car that lights up all dim. The motor even kicks down and feels like its going to die. It did this since the very first night that I bought it. So my 30day/1000 mile warranty threw the dealership I researched the problem and found out that it is a very common thing among these cars will little to no known fix anywhere. One thing I found from my research was that the alternator could be the issue and they said to replace with this certain replacement alternator. With a good part of a day arguing with the dealership threatening to just return the car and wipe my hands of it they did as I asked and replaced a "perfectly good alternator" for the part number of the one I wanted. Well by time this all took place and I had them actually replace the entire rack and pin my month was past and this damn headlight flicker is still there!!

So tonight I am driving home and this problem has just gotten worse with time. The lights basically cut completely out and I have just gotten to the point now where something needs to be done. Every single shop I bring it to just shrug their shoulders and say we have no clue why it does this. Naturally shops are closed in the evening and I can't duplicate this during the day for them to see it with their own eyes. I get people flashing their lights at me thinking that I am tring to flash them or something, I think that one of these times a cop is going to see it and think there is some booming system in there dimming my lights so bad and some late night I am going to get pulled over because of it. Also there is the side of it that you never know, Those lights could dim at just the right time and a flipping deer is going to run out and I won't see it until its to late.

So! Anyone familiar with the lemon law coughStevecough that there is some way for me to go after GM to do something about this?

[9guy9]

It has to be under factory warenty. To lemon it. Its something like the car has to be brought to the dealer for repair 4 or 5 times in a certain amount of time.

[INTRIGUED]

Yeah I read that, I have a feeling I am basically screwed on this. I would just think that seeing how there is something electrical wrong and there is quite the record of this issue and there are no TSB's with a fix. There is notation of the problem with no known repair. So its a documented problem with the car right out of the box, even brand new.

[Goat Blower]

To tell you the truth, I'm totally shocked you got a 30 day warranty on this. There is no lemon law on used vehicles, only new ones and it takes multiple trips to the dealer for the exact same problem reoccurring to be able to return the car.

This site will tell you everything you need to know.

http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Cars/MNCarlaws/MNCarLaws_2.asp#Used%20Car%20Warranty%20Law

But basically, unless this Olds had less than 75k miles on it, the dealer was pretty nice in doing anything for you in this situation. To me, it simply sounds like the voltage regulator, most likely found inside the alternator.

[INTRIGUED]

Well when I bought the car it had 40K miles, Now just clicked 77K just the other day actually. The voltage regulator was pretty much what everyone on all the forums I've read. People have replaced the alternator 4-5 times and the problem still presents itself.



http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_15924.html

Example of the issue and how popular it is.

[1QUICK4]

Could it be a bad ground strap?

[123abc]

So many of my friends that own GM vehicles have the same problem. Just a weak electrical system all together from the way it sounds.

[runninW.O.T.]

Well you could always replace the entire harness!!

[9guy9]

I looked up the TSB on this at work today. First of all GM says it is perfectly normal to have you lights flicker at night

"the customer should be assured intermintent flickering of exterior and interior lights is a normal occurrence":rolleyes: With a GM scan tool you can turn on the air pump while the lights are on to make the car do it, to "demonstrate it for the customer".

It said you can try to replace the alternator with the specified one, which you claim you did. But this is not a guaranteed fix. THe problem is caused by the air pump (only CA and East coat emissioned vehicles have) turning on while the lights or blower fan are on causing a large voltage draw, which spikes the voltage regulator (int the alt) and it then resets its self.

So basically deal with it, or sell the car:(

[INTRIGUED]

Thanks for the info guys. I have a new car sitting in the driveway right now.

Anyone have a carfax account going? :)