20 Most Recent 1996 Oldsmobile 88 - Page 8 Questions & Answers

you probably need to have the system regassed. If it is low on gas the compressor wont kick in.

will the starter engage or does it crank and not start?

under hood connected to firewall on passenger side. It is attached with 4 or 5 small bolts that you can remove. It will have squirel cage attached when you pull out. Make sure you disconnect the wire harness before removing.

On the inside trim, you can remove screws that are by the door handle, arm rest, under door and side of door and then gently pull back on the panel as there will also be retaining clips attached and you don't want to break them. You'll need to lift the door panel upwards in order to get it off the window ledge. Then you'll need to manipulate the panel and disconnect the door handle linkage from the door handle and disconnect the wiring for your controls. Then you can access the bolts that secure the mirror onto the door

If the car is a 1996 Olds 88 with the 3.8L engine, then it has a timing chain. If you visit the autozone.com website and register the vehicle information, you will have access to an online repair manual for the car, and info is available on the timing chain. The manual is a very handy resource and it is free. I think that you will find it useful. Hope this helped and best wishes.

If you brought it to our GM shop, we would bypass your Pass-Key sensor to eliminate any future problems.

Second gear layshaft bearings need replacing - gearbox out & stripdown required.

should be on the tank

This is just a possible solution to you all follow the airtube from your air filter box and remove the aluminum block that is on the intake the air tube connects to this block, once its out of the way look inside the intake to see if antifreeze is present if so you need to replace the plastic intake, due to poor construction it is common for them to crack and leak water in to the combustion chambers eventually cause your car to stop running and it will not crank, because the cylinders are full of water,

The problem sounds like the solenoid that locks up the torque converter. This will not set a code or turn on the check engine light. The car will restart each time after it stalls. This will happen when you are comming to a stop or turning a corner. At times, you can start the car in neutral but when you put it in drive or reverse, it will again stall.

This can also happen after you have driven the car and parked it. When you restart the car, it may stall when you try to drive it because the solenoid is still locked from when you pulled into the parking spot.

Try to free it up by driving the car about 32 mph in drive (drive with the square around the D) where the overdrive and lock up torque converter will work. At 32 - 34 mph, pull the shifter down to the next Drive (D without the box around it) and you should feel the bump of the torque converter unlocking. Then put it back into the upper drive location and you will feel it lock up agian. Repeat this about 20 times and see if this does not help. These can start becomming mechanically "Sticky" and cycling them 10 - 30 times can help.

There is also a 6 wire connector on the forward (front of the car) side of the transmission. This connector might be dirty. Clean it with electrical contact cleaner (spray type) and reconnect it to the transmission. This connector is probably not the problem but worth lookign at anyway.

There is also a small port in the valve body of the transmission that if plugged, it can cause this problem. I feel it is most likely a "Sticky" soleniod that locks up the torque converter and makes the car stall just like comming to a stop in a standard transmission car without pushing in the clutch.

Good luck,

IF you are still running the old points distributor, check your points, and condensor. Make sure the plugs aren't fouled from trying to start it either. Next step would be to step up to a HEI distributor if you want reliability and ease. The HEI provides better starting/idling, and better throttle response. IF you have already done the HEI swap, make sure the coil is getting power when you are turning over the vehicle. You will need an assistant for this. Make sure you have at least 12 volts at the wire. If you are getting voltage, check to see if you are getting spark. If you are getting spark, check timing. IF your timing and spark are there, try spraying some carb cleaner in the carb, and see if it starts. IF it does, you have a fuel pump/filter clogged issue. If you have fuel and fire, and the plugs are good, last thing to check is compression of the cylinders. You should have at least 125 psi per cylinder, with no more than 10-15% difference between cylinders.

try a sylvania number 906 or 906LL

if old compressor fail your air condition has to be discharge at dealership or a garage that does ac repair.then the ac lines has to be flushed out before putting on new one. because old one when it fails clutch lock up or compressor fail.small metal particles get in line.stop up orifice tube.you will have to replace orifice tube the accumalator .you will need vacuum pump to pump down air conditioner .to get moisture out of system.you will need a manifold gauge set for air conditioner.ac tools are expensive.it would be cheaper to buy compressor - accumulator - orifice tube. take it to a good air conditioner mechanics.let him put parts on and pump down system.then charge it up.because buying tools to get ac going .is going to cost $475.00 thats the vacuum pump price.you can buy a cheaper vacuum pump that works from air from a regular air compressor you pump tires up with.manifold gauge set causes from $100.00 up to $300.00 for a good set.another thing you have to be familiar with working on air conditioners you put too much R-134 in system you will damage compressor or get seriously hurt.

probably needs a good workout to lubricate all the seals again...drive it around the block a couple times and slowly work it back up to highway speeds...seals and gaskets can dry out and contract over time if not lubricated or pressurized by a running engine. next time you have to park your car for an extended period have somebody start the engine once every couple of weeks and run it for 10-20 mins.

did you check the cam sensor? those two work hand in hand to send signal to computer!!

a tune up will not cure smoke, sounds like u may need a head gasket replaced.

there should be a belt tensioner holding the belt on and you use a socket are a breaker bar to lift or push down on to release the belt give these websites a try it www.autozone.com and the other one is www.alldatadiy.com and i also would like to give you this information if you every have any hard to find GM-parts they only sells GM-parts it Schram auto& truck part 1-800-292-1032 and the website is www.schramauto.com and i hope i have been some help to you Michigan Man

U joints!!!!!!!!

I had a 2002 dodge town and country that lost fire and found that a wire under the fuses box was broken this is the fuse box up front under the hood. I used a test light to see if power was going to coil pack I had a friend crank while i tested each outlet on plug that is when I traced it back to the fuse box. I hope this helps