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1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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Mike Williamson
New User
Aug 28, 2009, 5:23 AM
Post #1 of 9
(12868 views)
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1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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I have a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SE 6cyl 3.8L that is giving us quite a challenge. Sometimes it won't start, and sometimes when it is running (driving or idling) it will just turn off. Sometimes it will re-start right away, and sometimes it won't. The period of time during which it won't start can vary from a few seconds to several days. We initally thought it was the fuel pump, since normally you can hear the fuel pump pressure up when the key is turned on, but when it won't start, you don't hear the pump at all. However, we also discovered that when the problem is occurring, the power windows will not operate. All the other electrical components seem to work just fine. The mechanic has replaced the fuel filter "just in case" (before we discovered the window issue). He finally decided it was the ignition switch module, and replaced that. The car ran fine on the way home from the shop, and the few times we've driven it since. This week, the problem started up again. My guess is that there is a common electrical element with the fuel pump or other ignition component, and the windows, but I am clueless as to what it is. Any ideas? When it does start and keeps running, it runs great, no different than it always has. It will turn off regardless of whether the car is idling or running down the road at 70mph, although it seems to be more frequently when the car is idling or going relatively slow.
Thanks for any insight anyone can give me!
links removed.........not allowed
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 28, 2009, 6:24 AM)
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 28, 2009, 3:12 PM
Post #2 of 9
(12852 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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You pretty much have the right idea. If both systems are malfunctioning at the same time and come back at the same time there would have to be a common link affecting them. Being an intermittent makes it harder. The best case scenario would be being able to trace the circuit while it is dead.
The best place to start would be to look at a wiring diagram from common power & ground sources. If the fault isn't happening when it's at the shop, the next best thing to do would be to do some voltage drop testing on the common circuits to see if there is any excessive resistance in them. If replacing the ign sw seemed to help for a while, maybe double check the pins in the connectors to make sure they are making good & tight contact.......
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ssimmons
New User
Jan 28, 2010, 11:22 AM
Post #3 of 9
(12607 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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I don't know if you have found the problem yet or not, but I used to have a '95 Bonneville. Great car for the most part. I did begin to have problems remarkably similar to yours though. My problem turned out to be the O2 sensor. It wasn't completely out, but 'choosing' when it wanted to work. When it would go on the fritz, it would just about snuff out everything. Really easy to fix though and inexpensive. I hope yours is the same. Good luck to you.
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 28, 2010, 12:23 PM
Post #4 of 9
(12602 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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The post is an old one so more than likely the problem is fixed...
I know you believed the O2 fixed a lot of your problems but it's impossible for an O2 sensor to affect another 12v system. O2s operate between 100mv & 900mv (less than 1v) plus in open loop the PCM ignores the O2 signal until goes into closed loop, so it being the cause of a cold no start is virtually impossible as well......
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ssimmons
New User
Jan 28, 2010, 3:54 PM
Post #5 of 9
(12599 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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I'm quite sure that you know WAY more than I do about these things, so I won't even attempt to argue with you...lol. It has been some years back since I had my Bonneville and I may not be remembering it as well as I thought. Thanks for correcting me.
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beggarsopera
New User
Jun 6, 2010, 4:40 PM
Post #6 of 9
(12408 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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any chance mr williamson is still watching this thread? i was wondering if you found a root cause to your problem yet. my brother in law is experiencing the same issues with his 98 bonne and is beating me to death with preposterous theories and remedies (icm, alternator) all the while enjoying use of one of my vehicles while his is dead :) my knee-jerk recommendation was tracing shorts but he just blows it off as too great of a task to do himself. to recap: 1998 bonne 3.8 intermittent stalls with random amounts of down time from moments to days before the vehicle will submit to restarting. when the car is dead the power windows wont work, and the power door locks have sporadic functionality as well but other systems (hvac, lights, radio) seem unaffected. what did you do to repair your issue? any assistance much appreciated. thank you much.
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Brutus5
New User
Feb 12, 2012, 11:05 PM
Post #8 of 9
(10994 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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I had the same problem with my 1998 Pontiac Bonneville. It would stall out and wouldn't restart. At the same time the power windows wouldn't work. The starter was replaced, spark plugs, later the fuel pump, and I still had the same problem. I thought it was a short all along. Finally, my mechanic diagnosed the problem. There is a ground wire under the driver's side carpet that had become corroded, and would short out. He fixed that and it's working fine. Hope this helps.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 13, 2012, 4:06 AM
Post #9 of 9
(10980 views)
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Re: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville VERY challenging question!!!
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Brutus5... If you have a problem, then you need to start a new question of your own.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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