NHTSA Complaint #717371 — 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER

WHEN IGNITION KEY IS IN "RUN" POSITION, "ARCING" AS EVIDENCED BY INTENSE STATIC ON THE AM RADIO, IS TAKING PLACE. WHEN KEY IS IN "ACCESSORY" POSITION, NO STATIC IS PRESENT AND AM RADIO FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE ORIGINAL DEALER DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. REFUSED TO EVEN INVESTIGATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRESENT OWNER, WHOSE SERVICE ADVISOR, WHEN PRESENTED WITH PROBLEM BY ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THE STATIC, ADMITTED THAT, "THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN." DEALER REPLACED RADIO. OBVIOUSLY, NO CHANGE. RADIO IS NOT THE PROBLEM, JUST THE "MESSENGER" AND IS PROVIDING THE EVIDENCE OF A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. CONTACTED BUICK (FILE 9901-07-953). THEY ALSO REFUSED TO INTERVENE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ISOLATE PROBLEM BY DISCONNECTING INDIVIDUAL POWER TO BLOWER, FUEL PUMP, ETC., TO NO AVAIL. I AM CONCERNED THAT, EVENTUALLY, WHATEVER IS ARCING WILL CAUSE ENOUGH HEAT TO START A FIRE. CAN YOU HELP? *AK