1986 Oldsmobile Custom cruiser problems

Common 1986 Oldsmobile Custom cruiser problems

The 1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser has been known to have several common problems, primarily related to the engine and the Tempmatic heating system.

One of the most frequently reported issues is the failure of the Tempmatic heating system, which is responsible for controlling the temperature inside the vehicle. This system uses a vacuum-operated door to regulate the flow of hot or cold air. When the system fails, the vehicle may only blow cool air, regardless of the temperature setting. In some cases, the system may intermittently blow hot air, but it will quickly revert to cool air.

The Tempmatic system is controlled by a vacuum checking relay on the programmer, which is a common failure item in 1986 Custom Cruisers. When this relay fails, the system may become stuck in either full cold or full hot mode. To bypass the Tempmatic system and make the hot-cold lever work manually, one would need to bypass the Tempmatic control and make the hot-cold lever open and close the little door directly. However, this may not be a straightforward task, as it requires identifying and accessing the Tempmatic control module.

Another common problem with the 1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser is related to the engine. Specifically, the cruise control servo bail may have a small nylon bushing that can slip out of place, causing intermittent and unexpected increases in engine speed or dieseling. This condition could also cause the servo rod assembly to wear through the ball and catch on other components, potentially resulting in a stuck throttle. This issue affected both gasoline and diesel engines equipped with cruise control and was the subject of a recall in both the USA and Canada.

Additionally, the 1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser has been known to have issues with the electric power brake booster leaking brake fluid, resulting in a hard brake pedal and reduced braking capability. This issue was reported by a consumer who had contacted the manufacturer for repair under the recall, but was denied on three occasions.

In summary, the 1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser has several common problems, primarily related to the engine and the Tempmatic heating system. These issues can range from intermittent engine speed increases to complete failure of the Tempmatic system and brake system. While some of these issues can be addressed by replacing specific parts or bypassing the Tempmatic system, others may require more extensive repairs or replacement of the affected components.

Why was Oldsmobile discontinued?

The Aurora caused only a minor stir, however, and by 2000 GM announced plans to phase out the Oldsmobile brand due to dwindling sales. On April 29, 2004, after 106 years, the last Olds rolled off the assembly line.

Who made the custom cruiser?

Oldsmobile Custom

The Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser was a Full-Size Vehicle, manufactured by Oldsmobile for three generations, from 1971-1992.

What company took over Oldsmobile?

The cars were colloquially referred to as "Oldsmobiles", popularizing the lyrics of the 1905 hit song "In My Merry Oldsmobile". It was eventually bought out by General Motors in 1908. Platforms that were shared with Buick had a "Series" prefix, while pre-GM vehicles had a "Model" prefix.

Was Oldsmobile owned by Chevy?

Oldsmobile. Another General Motors brand, Oldsmobile was founded as the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. Oldsmobile became a part of General Motors in 1908. Oldsmobile was the first brand to be manufactured with fully automatic transmissions, which debuted in the 1940 Hydra-Matic models.

Why was Oldsmobile discontinued?

The Aurora caused only a minor stir, however, and by 2000 GM announced plans to phase out the Oldsmobile brand due to dwindling sales. On April 29, 2004, after 106 years, the last Olds rolled off the assembly line.

Who made the custom cruiser?

Oldsmobile Custom

The Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser was a Full-Size Vehicle, manufactured by Oldsmobile for three generations, from 1971-1992.

Was Oldsmobile considered a luxury car?

Was Oldsmobile a luxury brand? Yes. But it's complicated, and “yes” is far from an absolute answer. The General Motors hierarchy of brands changed a lot over the past 120 years or so; it can be hard to keep them all straight.

How long did Oldsmobile last?

On April 29, 2004, the last Oldsmobile comes off the assembly line at the Lansing Car Assembly plant in Michigan, signaling the end of the 106-year-old automotive brand, America's oldest.

1986 Oldsmobile Custom cruiser car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Oldsmobile Custom cruiser problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

• Service brakes problems
• Hydraulic problems
• Engine and engine cooling problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1986 Oldsmobile Custom cruiser vehicle components and the number of complaints received.