2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue Sterling Edition 3.5 DOHC from North America
Summary:
Speed, performance, but not reliable
Faults:
I too have been plagued with the intermittent flashing of the lights during night-time running. The dealer has replaced the alternator, but to no avail. Apparently it is a factory problem that they do not wish to address.
After my vehicle went over it's 100000 mile warranty, 113000 to be exact, it overheated on my return from work. After checking under the hood and seeing no coolant leakage or belts broken, I made it home without the air conditioning (This happened in July 2003). I had the vehicle towed to the dealership thinking that it might be the water pump. After a week of examination, it was determined that the head gaskets were leaking and needed to be replaced. Apparently the steel head bolts and the all aluminum motor created a corrosive mixture that eroded the threads of the bolts and block allowing added clearance between the heads and the block. Once the block was removed from the vehicle and all head bolt openings heli-coiled, it was reassembled. Needless to say the cost was extremely high due to 37 1/2 hours of labor. Calls to GM were to no avail and I was stuck with the bill.
I personally had enjoyed the car up to that point, but now have a difficult time trusting it's reliability and will definitly not buy any further General Motors Vehicles.
General Comments:
Prior to the head gasket problems, the vehicle was a dream to drive.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 4th December, 2003
18th Jun 2004, 15:11
Want more info on your head gasket situation? Go to cadillacforums, com and review the Northstar technical section. I have a 3.5L engine and I am concerned about the possibility of a head gasket problem because it is expensive to repair. Don't know if the failure is common or not. Change the dexcool before the 5yr/150k miles and add the Cadillac radiator tabs to the upper radiator hose and drive.