1998 Oldsmobile 88

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT A LIQUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL DID NOT GO TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKING POWER WAS LESS THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ER *JB

STARTING EARLY 2002 WITH ONLY 45000 MILES ON THE 1998 OLDSMOBILE 88 THE WARNING LIGHT ADVISING ABS WAS NOT OPERATING CAME ON INTERMITTANTLY. TOOK TO CUESTA CADILLAC OLDSMOBILE DEALER IN SAN LUIS OBISPO CALIF AND WAS ADVISED THAT REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. WE DID THAT BUT INTERMITTANT DASH ERROR LIGHT WARNINGS CONTINUED. IN 2003 THE DEALER SAID TO CONTACT GM AND REQUEST REPAIR BUT GM REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. ABS SYSTEM STILL INOPERATIVE INTERMITTANTLY AND DEALER SAYS THEY WILL REPLACE ABS PUMP FOR $2000 BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL BE FIXED. *JB

TRANSMISSION: UPPER PLATE GASKET WENT, CAUSING GEAR SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS WHICH GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE IN THE LOWER GEARS. TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT UNIT WHICH IS NOW EXHIBITING MUCH OF THE SAME SLIPPAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS (ONLY MINORLY AT THE MOMENT) @ 156,000KM. ENGINE: FIRST ENGINE HAD THE EGR/EXHAUST DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO MELT AND COOLANT TO POOR INTO THE ENGINE. REPORT FROM THE SHOP WAS THAT ENTIRE BOTTOM END WAS DESTROYED BY THE COOLANT, AND A FULL NEW ENGINE HAD TO BE ORDERED (COMPLETE WITH ACCESSORIES, ETC.). THE NEW ENGINE'S IDLER FOR THE SERPENTINE HAD THE BEARING CEASE, KNOCKING THE BELT OFF. SINCE THE WATERPUMP WAS BELT DRIVEN, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CAR WAS LEFT TO IDLE IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A TOTAL TIME OF ~ 5-15MIN. (THE TEMPERATURE OUT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND -40C / -40F.). BRAKES: PERHAPS CRONICALLY UNDERSIZED FOR THIS VEHICLE, ROTORS HAVE WARPED LIKE CLOCKWORK EVERY 30,000KM. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WARPED APPROACHING 160,000KM AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED --- AGAIN --- SHORTLY. THIS IS NOT A CAR THAT SEE'S MUCH HEAVY USE. GROCERIES ON WEEKENDS, ~ 15-20KM MAX. TOTAL DAILY TRIP DURING WORKDAYS. IT HAS YET TO ACCOMPLISH AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP (I.E., NORTH BAY -> OTTAWA OR NORTH BAY -> TORONTO, 4 HOURS (~400KM) AND 3 HOURS (~300KM) RESPECTIVELY) WITHOUT THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT BEING LIT. ADDITIONAL RECOLLECTION: FRONT FOG LIGHTS CONSTANTLY FILLING WITH CONDENSATION AS WELL, HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4-5 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRENTY. NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND AND NOW THEY'RE JUST NOT USED.

THE "ABS" AND "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" INDICATOR LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON AND STAY ON SOME TIME IN NOVEMBER 2000. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE ICE BUILDUP WHICH CAUSES THE SPEED SENSORS TO GO OFF. THE COST TO REPLACE ANY ONE SPEED SENSOR WAS APPROX $450-$500 PER WHEEL HUB. IN JULY 2001 I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE ABS AND TRACTIONCONTROL ISSUES FIXED. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ISSUES WERE FIXED BY REPLACING THE "BRAIN BOX" FOR THE SPEED SENSORS. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FIX, THE ABS/TRACTIONCONTROL OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR BACK AND THEY THEN FOUND THE BREAK PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE HAD A DEAD SPOT IN THE ARMATURE. TO REPLACE THE BPMV WILL COST APPROX $1600. THESE ISSUES ALL SEEM TO BE ELECTRONIC. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL IN THIS CAR? THANK YOU.*AK