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Pontiac Bonneville General Maintenance and Repair

2268 messages,  Last post on Jan 25, 2013 at 12:52 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Bonneville, Sedan

Messages Page 154 of 227

#1528 of 2268 2000 bonneville 3.8 coolant temp 200 degrees by ashleman

Jun 03, 2005 (1:29 pm)

Good day to the kind souls who might rally to my aid. My recently acquired 2000 Bonneville with 18k miles is running at a steady 200 degrees. Most vehicles I have owned seem to operate at about 180 degrees. A call to the service manager at the local Pontiac shop indicated 200 is a regular operating temp. The manager did not say it was the "official" target temp. Is this accurate? Is this form maximum tolerances, performance, fuel economy? What will happen if I locate a 180 degree thermostat and swap it? Any advice appreciated! Tom

#1529 of 2268 Re: 2000 bonneville 3.8 coolant temp 200 degrees [ashleman] by imidazol97

Jun 03, 2005 (2:31 pm)

Replying to: ashleman (Jun 03, 2005 1:29 pm)
I assume your car has the driver information center readout that's digital.
 
#1 would be how accurate is the reading from the gauge. It may be off by 2 degrees. My 03 LeSabre says it's running at 198 after the radiator water gets warmed and it starts getting it as recirculated water. That's moving and with or without air conditioning running. Stop at a light and the temp moves up to 205 in warm weather like SW Ohio has now.
 
If you stop and idle while the car's been warmed up, the temp should go up to about 217 and then the fans kick in (air conditioning is off) lower it back to 205 and then kick off.
 
I'd look for patterns of not opening while car has air moving through radiator or having the thermostat open too much for signs that it's time to change the thermostat.
 
I would check to be sure the recall was done for the new bolts that hold the air intake to the manifold and had the sealer pellets put in. That should have been more than a year ago. I believe it should have a sticker on the radiator supports that gives the date, dealer and campaign number for the recall. If it's not there, check with a dealer to have them run the VIN number to see if it's been done. I believe any GM dealer can do the recall for you...

#1530 of 2268 Re: Courtesy lights [sgmburke] by apatsfan9999

Jun 04, 2005 (3:01 pm)

Replying to: sgmburke (May 24, 2005 5:33 pm)
Just got my 94 Bonneville back again. The relay for the power antenna was drawing all the juice over night. I just hope this finally fixes the problem!

#1531 of 2268 Re: 2000 bonneville 3.8 coolant temp 200 degrees [ashleman] by mlm4

Jun 07, 2005 (10:21 am)

Replying to: ashleman (Jun 03, 2005 1:29 pm)
When warm, the temp gauge on my 2000 SSEi always indicates 200, slightly higher when idling in traffic on a hot day. I think the target temp is actually 195 (it is not 180) but the gauge isn't that accurate, and there is no digital readout. I'd say 200 is normal. The dealer can use a scan tool to get the actual temp that the computer sees.

#1532 of 2268 Re: '94SSE 5th Alternator! [52merc] by gcash

Jun 12, 2005 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: 52merc (Oct 09, 2000 11:04 pm)
there is deffinately a problem, I'm on my 4th and I have had the car since 1996. it's a 94 sse. The next time it goes I'm replacing it with an alt for an ssei I'm told they are better. and may need a minor alteratin to mount it.

#1533 of 2268 Replace rear brake caliper dust boot - 2002 Bonneville by bonne02

Jun 13, 2005 (10:27 am)

Hi,
 
Thanks for the wealth of info here. I need help on replacing the rear brake caliper dust boot on my 2002 Bonneville that has a cut in it.
 
Could I simply pull out the old boot then install the new boot? Or do I have to remove the caliper from the car?
 
The repair manual says you have to remove the caliper completely to rebuild it. But from the instructions, it appears that you could possibly just remove the lower pin bolt on the caliper, swing the caliper up, and remove/re-install the dust boot.
 
Any opinion or help would be greatly appreciated.

#1534 of 2268 no power by alane4

Jun 15, 2005 (3:30 pm)

Hoping some one may have had this problem - 92 bonneville, shows to have a code 44 that auto-zone says is a oxygen sensor and is burning lean, we have replace fuel filter, mass-air flow sensor and the oxygen sensor. It only does this when the out side temp. is at least 90 degrees or hotter and we have run at least 2 hours or more. At this time the best that I can do is top out at 35 to 40 mph. We can pull over and let it set for 45 minutes and we are good for another couple of hours. If anybody can help i would be grateful.

#1535 of 2268 Re: no power [alane4] by imidazol97

Jun 15, 2005 (7:50 pm)

Replying to: alane4 (Jun 15, 2005 3:30 pm)
I'd post in the
leng05, "Got a Quick, Technical Question?" #1551, 15 Jun 2005 4:52 pm
discussion and hope that someone there, maybe Alcan, can tell you what is really wrong. The oxygen sensor is just an indicated problem. There most like is another single part that is not right. Before you hang a lot of parts, I'd see if thsi is a typical problem that someone can diagnose.

#1536 of 2268 Re: no power [alane4] by alcan

Jun 16, 2005 (6:21 am)

Replying to: alane4 (Jun 15, 2005 3:30 pm)
Check fuel pressure, coolant temp sensor, and air intake temp sensor.

#1537 of 2268 A/C by shawn7

Jun 18, 2005 (9:15 pm)

Messages Page 154 of 227

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