1996 Buick Skylark

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN. NEITHER THE SPEEDOMETER NOR THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED ACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

WHILE ON VACATION WE TOOK A TRIP. ON THE WAY HOME AT NIGHT ALL ELECTRICITY DEVICES STARTED TO DIE. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE DIED AND WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT HASN'T STARTED SINCE. I TURN THE KEY AND GET NOTHING. WHEN I TURN THE KEY ON, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM LIGHT IS LIT AND NEVER GOES OUT. THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND I CAN START THE CAR IF I JUMP THE STARTER BUT NOT FROM THE KEY. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES WORK FINE. *JB

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000: IF THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENTS FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SOMETIMES PRODUCE ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNING FOUR STARTERS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT A WARRANTY. *AK *SCC (THIS DOCUMENT IS AN ADD TO) *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL 02V070000 ON IGNITION SWITCH, AND WAITED 1 MONTH FOR REMEDY APPOINTMENT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, WARNING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. *AK

VEHICLE HAD NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V070000 PERFORMED BY THE DEALER, SAM TAYLOR BUICK CADILLAC, ON 9&10 MAY 2002. SINCE THIS TIME THE VEHICLES' ENGINE FREQUENTLY SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING. IN EACH SITUATION THE CAR WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND SHUT-OFF. THIS ACTION HAS REPEATED UP TO TWENTY FIVE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE VEHICLE ALSO DISPLAYS A CONSTANT THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT (LOCATED ON DASH PANEL) WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILS TO CONTINUE RUNNING. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A THEFT DETERRANT SYSTEM WHEN I PURCHASED IT. ONLY A RADIO THEFT DETERRANT SYSTEM. I ALSO DO NOT HAVE THE CONTROLLER TO REMOTELY LOCK/UNLOCK MY DOORS, WHICH IS PART OF THE THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE STARTED IN PARK OR NEUTRAL SO THE GEAR POSITION SWITCH IS GOOD. FURTHERMORE, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR/CHARGING SYSTEM ARE GOOD. SEAT BELT INTERLOCKS DO NOT EFFECT ABILITY TO START OR REMAIN RUNNING. THIS PROBLEM NEVER OCURRED UNTIL THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. PROBLEM CLEARS OVERNIGHT AND REOCURRS AFTER ENGINE IS WARM. IGNITION SWITCH, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER CONNECTIONS ARE GOOD WITHOUT ANY CORROSION. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERS NOW. THEY SUSPECT THEFT MODULE MAY BE BAD. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOUR WORKING DAYS SO FAR. A SIMILAIR PROBLEM WAS NOTED IN CUSTOMER COMPLAINT NUMBER ODI ID 709641, BUT THIS OCURRED PROIR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN.HAS THIS PROBLEM BEEN REPORTED BEFORE?*AK