The lights go out in the dash soon as you let off the switch?

Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
I recently contacted you guys about my car listed above about to know crank when you hit the switch the lights go out in the dash soon as you let off the switch they come back on. But just before all this happened one of the turn signal lights on the driver side well the only one on the driver side wouldn't flash so I pulled it out of the socket looked at it it's also part of the daytime running lamp system there's a wire there's four wire four prongs in there but one of the prongs is missing so I took a wire and stuck it in there the kind of rig it up but from that point on my hazard lights went flashed they still don't flash and the car started acting the way it is does that have anything to do with anything I mean could that possibly not make my car not start or act the way it is like this or act the way it's doing is there any way I can bypass the daytime running lamps if that's the cause any kind of help with be great right now all I'm trying to do is get this thing running so I can get my butt back home to Tennessee! I pulled the starter on it Mike's phone and starter I did find some wires aren't in casein and like they're supposed to be from Factory so I bought some and I put it on it, it did look like wires are getting kind of hot because they are kind of close to the exhaust so I made sure everything's pinned up but it should be and I still have I don't know I thought it was a starter I did it bench test on it started fine like I said I'm still I don't know I'm confused I don't know what to do next. As I told you before someone told me it might be the ECM but in y'all said it's not pointing in that direction is there any other inline fuses I should be looking for maybe I don't know because before I fix that turn signal light I pulled the ground I didn't pull it off I took it off the battery the ground cable and it started fine you know what I mean I started it to move it to where it's at right now shut off everything seem normal I put the cable back on after doing the turn signal light and it's doing what it's doing.
Saturday, May 11th, 2024 AT 9:00 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,432 POSTS
Hi,

I don't feel this is related to the signal/DRL. However, I'm back to square one. The idea it worked until you removed the negative terminal and then failed when you reinstalled it leads me to believe that cable isn't good. That would explain the original problem. (Lights on dash until the key is turned to start then everything shuts off and returns after a bit).

It's possible that the cable is damaged internally (under the insulation) and you're not seeing it or where it is attached to the engine block.

Try this. Have a helper turn the key to the start position. If nothing happens, wiggle the negative battery terminal to see if anything happens. I realize this sounds really basic, but based on what you described in both posts, it makes sense.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, May 11th, 2024 AT 9:08 PM
Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
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Everything and anything that has to do with the battery, the grounds and the hots I've already done! Left turn signal which also comes on with the DNL had a wire miss out of it which is causing the daylight the DNL not to work and a directional on the left side I rigged a wire in it so that it would work it hasn't started since even after I removed it still doing the same.
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Saturday, May 11th, 2024 AT 11:27 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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To me it sounds like the ignition switch is bad, to be sure check for power at the starter trigger wire when the ignition switch is in the crank position, this guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Check out the images (below). Please upload pictures or videos in your response to any problems so we can see what to help you with.

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Monday, May 13th, 2024 AT 8:03 PM
Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
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  • 8 POSTS
I've done everything that I know that I can do I chased every wire down made sure everything was tight everything was clean restart or new battery the new battery post ground in positive I think in the beginning like I said when I there's four prongs on that DNL and one more broke off and I slid one in there and ever since I did that it it's been going crazy it's not started that's why I started that's what I said in the beginning! So is that being said I took it back apart and still nothing somebody told me that I could have bad dimmer switch what's the dimmer switch where is it I got a part number off of a thing that clicks underneath the hood if I send the part number to you could you tell me what that is that might I don't know it makes a clicking clicks out underneath the hood into this thing then it clicks under the passenger side Dash is there any way I can bypass the ignition if the ignition is bad can I just run it on the toggle please let me know something as soon as you can. Thanks, TJ
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Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 AT 1:35 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Can you upload a short video of the problem so we can see? I don't see how a bad dimmer switch can cause this problem, it is for the headlights.
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Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 AT 10:02 AM
Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
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What is this? This is one of the things that chick located under the hood! Yes I'll do a video this evening and send it as well.
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Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
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So I have no idea what's going on with this thing this is the biggest video I will let me send I can probably send another one if need be like I said I hazard lights won't work fuel gauge stopped working turn signals they work and then they I don't know so sometimes they click fast sometimes they don't and but they still work
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Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 AT 7:08 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video. It looks like one of the legs of the ignition switch has gone bad, to be sure let's use this guide and the wiring diagrams below to check for power at the yellow wire when in crank.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, May 16th, 2024 AT 11:44 AM
Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
So, you remember I told you there was two things clicking when you hit the switch the thing underneath the passenger side dash and then there was a little box of the black cover underneath the hood that would click and wouldn't let me upload the picture, but there is the number on it. I don't know if you could look it up tell me what it is capital letters top left corner FB below is the number 25315094A. I haven't had a chance to test the ignition switch out I've been really kind of busy but I'm going to try to get around to that this evening and I will let you know something shortly after.
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Sunday, May 19th, 2024 AT 1:01 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

The part number is for a cruise control servo module. See pic below. Is that what you are seeing?

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below.
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Sunday, May 19th, 2024 AT 7:10 PM
Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
You had recently sent me information about my ignition switch might have a faulty lag on it and if that's the case as long as when I turn the switch and all my lighting comes on and so forth and my fuel pump comes on as normal I'm asking cuz I got a friend that's got a car similar to mine and he runs his off of toggle switch so can I just bypass the whole ignition switch system. And run the vehicle on a toggle? You guys sent me this link and tell me to go test all the fuses test everything so I'm about to do that right now and I hope to hear back from you before the night ends and maybe I can get this thing up fired up tonight thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon

Tj Johnson
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Monday, May 20th, 2024 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi:

I'm not familiar with using a toggle switch. What does the switch turn either on or off? Usually, I discourage people from modifying things in this way simply due to safety. If you use a toggle switch to keep the engine running, if there is an accident, the driver will need to immediately know to switch the toggle off. It isn't a safe idea and really is a concern based on what you are bypassing.

Joe
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Monday, May 20th, 2024 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
TJ JOHNSON
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Yes, I am still interested.
I do have the a question today on this 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue okay! So the battery sends juice to the ignition and the ignition sends juice to the relay that's underneath the hood and then that relay sends it to the ECM and all that other good stuff is this what is this how that works because when I took the relay out and I jumped it she spun over she's always been hard to start but she's been over and everything else fuel pump come on all that good stuff! So with that being said it's basically the ignition switch is not doing its job on that leg you said it's probably burned out. So last night or yesterday evening I got in there tinkering around I found a couple blowed fuses that I didn't they look good but they were bad I replaced them I got in there testing all them fuses and I just jiggled the crap out of that key and then when I clicked it off I wiggle it and it still trying to kick my fuel pump on the ignition was I was wondering about that too so it I think that you guys are right 100% I think it's my ignition switch and today's news or guys up a little bit and I get in the shop I'm going to run a toggles switch if you have any idea how to do it I tried watching videos if you leave the the ACC loan By the way I intercept it was don't touch the ignition don't touch it at all you're on a hot to the battery solenoid from the battery just solenoid and you ground her off and when you got it when you turn the switch you actually got to turn the switch and flip the toggle at the same time and she'll fire off! Guess so if you have any ideas or how to maybe a diagram of it or something that'd be cool if you can get that to me this evening I think you guys for all your help and I have a couple friends that's probably going to be hitting you guys up thank you

Tj Johnson
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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Nice work, here is the complete wiring diagram for the ignition switch and I included the starter motor wiring diagrams as well. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes
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Friday, May 24th, 2024 AT 12:26 PM

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