Workshop Manuals Factory service & repair Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile common faults and how to fix them

Faults that are well known on Oldsmobile models we hold manuals for: what the owner notices, what causes it, and the pages in our manuals that cover the repair.

Oldsmobile Bravada stalling: air suspension electrical spike recall (2002–2004)

Symptoms

The engine stalls while driving, and in some cases won't restart because the engine computer has been damaged. It affects Bravadas with the electronically controlled rear air suspension.

Cause

NHTSA recall 04V289000 covers certain sport utility vehicles with electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS); it appears in our 2002 Bravada manual. The air suspension system can produce a brief electrical spike that disrupts the powertrain control module (PCM), stalling the engine. If the spike damages the PCM, the vehicle may not restart.

Fix

Check with a GM dealer that the recall has been done; the remedy installs an additional wiring harness. On a Bravada that has stalled and won't restart, check the engine computer for damage as well as the usual fuel and ignition checks. The Oldsmobile Bravada stalling recall notice gives the details. If the PCM is replaced, it has to be programmed to the vehicle.

Repair instructions on this site

Sources: NHTSA recall 04V289000.

Oldsmobile Aurora fuel leak: 4.0 V8 fuel rail cracking recall

Symptoms

A smell of petrol in or around the engine bay, or wet fuel on top of the engine. There may be no other warning.

Cause

NHTSA recall 04V110000 covers certain cars with the 4.0 V8. The nylon tubing used in the fuel rail can degrade and crack, and the 1995 Aurora also has an underhood fuel return line that can crack. Either can leak fuel into the engine compartment, which could start a fire.

Fix

Treat any fuel smell as urgent and don't drive the car until it has been checked. Ask a GM dealer whether the recall has been carried out. The Oldsmobile Aurora fuel rail remedy replaces the fuel rail with a stainless steel one and fits a revised fuel return line. Relieve the fuel pressure before working on any part of the system.

Repair instructions on this site

Sources: NHTSA recall 04V110000.

Oldsmobile Bravada P0300: rough idle and misfire on the 5.3 V8 (2004)

Symptoms

A rough idle and misfires, with the check engine light on and P0300 (random misfire) stored.

Cause

GM bulletin 05-06-04-029A traces this to the upper intake manifold gaskets. It was written for the flex-fuel 5.3, where extra fuel for ethanol can pool on the gasket material between the manifold and the cylinder heads. GM states it may also apply to regular-fuel 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 V8s, including the 5.3 (LM4) used in the 2004 Bravada. The fix is a revised gasket material.

Fix

Start with the normal misfire checks: plugs, coils and leads, and a smoke test for intake leaks. If the intake gaskets are leaking, the Bravada misfire bulletin replaces them with the teal green gasket material, part number 89017589, and warns not to refit the original orange gaskets (17113557). Clear the codes and road test afterwards.

Repair instructions on this site

Sources: GM service bulletin 05-06-04-029A.

Repair instructions for every Oldsmobile model: Oldsmobile workshop manuals