Hi all!

I'm 23, from Michigan, and currently own a 1994 Oldsmobile 98 regency. I bought it used about 3 years ago and it has had the usual mechanical problems that are easily fixed (starter, alt., etc.) Although some issues have came up over time that I put on the backburner and now the time has come to sell this car. I am buying a 1998 Grand Prix SE that was salvaged and rebuilt in the near future. Here are some problems that I am investigating (Not asking to be solved, just want to let everyone know of my progress and such, but help would be great too )

1. Interior lights: They dont turn on when the doors are opened, as the radio and windows don't work when the car is turned off (without opening door). The lights used to work but just stopped one day and flash on and off with the door open every now and then. I was trying put the car in diag. mode to troubleshoot and connecting the 5 to 9 (I think) pin makes the interior lights work. Im assuming its a bad ground.

2. Door locks: When pushing the button, I can hear the relay click but nothing happens. replacing the relay didn't help so I am assuming this is a ground thing too. The doors also dont lock when put into drive.

3. Speedo/Trans: This is the most recent and PITA issue. The speedo wouldnt go higher than 35 and the trans seemed like it fell out of gear if I punched it.. The check engine light went on and the trans went into limp mode. I cleared the code by unplugging the batt.. and the trans acts fine until the CE light comes on and it goes back into limp mode. The speedo is dead too.. the VSS is fine thought, and thats why im stuck.

I look forward to being a member of this site to get and give info, and will get some profile info in asap!

-Steve

Hi Steve....sounds uh...like fun.

When you are ready, toss your "issues" into the mechanical sections and we can start helping you through them.

Welcome to the GMForum Jim!

Welcome to the site.

I really suggest getting the car scanned and post up the codes. That will help you, as well a us track down the problem.

??? Your Kevin and he'* Steve. Who the heck is Jim?

Welcome to the forum!

I know a thing or two about Grand Prixs, I've owned 5 of them!

1. Sounds like a bad door switch. This happened to me one winter. The boot that protects the switch had fallen off, a bunch of snow worked its way up to the switch and it broke. You can test my theory by shorting the two wires that run to the switch.

2. Also happened to me. The door lock solenoid has wiggled its way loose. It usually has some rivets that hold it in place, but I just used some nuts and bolts.

3. It seems like the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) is broken or the wire that runs to it is shorting out. This also, has happened to me before. On my old "96, the wire got chewed up and I had no speed reading. The trans would only go into first gear the first time you started the car. Then it would take forever to shift out of first. After that, any starts from a stop would be in second gear. So check the VSS and the wiring that runs to it. You can find it on the very end of transmission on the passenger side.

Good Luck!

Kalium'* profile lists his first name as Jim??? So..I'm Kevin, your Bill and he'* ????

Being looked at by Admins at the moment.. Seems he'* got more than one name? Steve Jim doenst have the same ring as Jon Bob...

Welcome! As you can tell, we have a lot of people here who have owned these cars and gone through the same issues you're going through. Post your problems in the correct section, and we'll get your problems straightened out. Let us know if there'* anything we can do to help!

JonBob! I like it!