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Pontiac Bonneville General Maintenance and Repair

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

You are in the Pontiac Bonneville Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Bonneville, Sedan

Messages Page 53 of 227

#520 of 2268 Bonneville vibration: more to come by giamomj

Sep 10, 2001 (11:50 am)

Thank you, John Milberg, for your kind help in getting me that "vibration bulletin" - which I just printed out. Tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept 10) my 2000 Bonneville goes in for the "final repair" in keeping with the NJ/PA Lemon Law. It's going to a Pontiac dealer that I've never been to; apparently they have the Hunter GSP9700 that may (or may not) do the trick.
 
I'll keep ya'll informed. Trouble is, if they don't get it right (and if not my attorneys will likely get all of my money paid back for the car - all of it - as it's already paid for) - don't know what kind of car to get next (that I can also afford.)

#521 of 2268 Alternator Problems by upnorth3924

Sep 10, 2001 (1:19 pm)

This is for anyone who has had problems with their rebuilt alternators. I have tried a number of alternators from different vendors and they all fail to maintain voltage at idle with a number of electrical loads (fan on high and rear defrost, etc.). The original factory alternator always handled the load fine. A good friend of mine rebuilds alternators and gave the following explanation. It seems that the same basic alternator used on the bonneville and other GM 3800 engines is also used on other GM vehicles, some of them with smaller engines. When installed at the factory, GM would install different voltage regulators based on the needs of each vehicle. Larger cars with larger engines and more electrical loads would receive a voltage regulator which would produce more output at idle. Smaller cars with smaller engines would receive different voltage regulator that put less load on the engines at idle. However, on the rebuilt market, the only voltage regulator available is the one used in the smaller vehicles. So, basically, all rebuilt alternators are made for smaller four cylinder engines that cannot handle a larger load at idle like the 3800 can. These alternators also have had a history of overheating and the new regulators will shut them down when they experience a heavy load to save them from failing. Unfortuantly, there is no fix and the rebuilt alternators keep the battery charged. Just have to live with dim lights, slow wipers, etc. The 140 amp retrofit may be an option but it is pricy. I have had some luck finding used OEM alternators from junk yards but they don't seem to last more than a few months as they are already well used.

#522 of 2268 WET FLOOR by ssnaakee

Sep 10, 2001 (3:23 pm)

Has anyone had problems with the drivers side floor getting wet (I am assuming that it is some kind of ac problem. I dont frequent the boards so feel free to email me at aikifarmhotmail.com
It is a 98 SE, btw it too has had alternator problems. As well, although not to often, in mid flight it will quit on me...I shift to neutral and start it again and off we go. Why does it do this and what is the cure?
   What's good for GM is sh-t for the country?

#523 of 2268 CD Changer by jbrnsn

Sep 11, 2001 (10:05 pm)

Does anybody know how to adapt an aftermarket CD changer (FM modulated) to the 2001 Bonneville radio? The antenna connection on the Bonny radio is not standard.

#524 of 2268 Cont. of 216, 499, 508 by joeyj

Sep 12, 2001 (9:10 am)

I heard that GM will do nothing about the wiring harness of the Bonnieville. The tranny shop said that a new harness will cost about 1500.00 and the installing will be about the same. They told me that there is a loopback plug that is 108.00 that will keep the car from going into O/D and not burn up the tranny again. Just to let everyone know, this problem has been going on since the car was 7000 miles out of warranty. The car is not worth the money for a new harness. Thanks GM for this piece of #$%!!!!!!!!!!!!

#525 of 2268 Ignition Control Module by chasbville

Sep 12, 2001 (4:38 pm)

What is it about 88,000 miles that makes a car start failing? Upon starting my 1994 SE yesterday, I got the "service engine soon" light, which stayed on as I drove about 12 miles. Car was driving poorly. When I turned the engine off and re-started the car, the light was gone and car was driving as normal. However, I pulled the code and found it indicated the Ignition Control Module. I'm thinking it could have been some kind of poor contact, temporary from moisture of something. Any thoughts on this? If I DO replace the ICM, any recommendations on aftermarket brands, or should I have the dealer hold me up for one? THANKS ALL and DRIVE ON!

#526 of 2268 Shift cable update by mfahey1

Sep 12, 2001 (6:32 pm)

I know that I posted last night on the owner's board because part of the post involved the enjoyable drive I had in New England. However, tonight's is more appropriately done on this board.
I talked to our local dealer's service manager today who I have known for awhile and who's judgement I trust. I asked him if I was being unreasonable in assuming the dealer in Maine could have put my Bonneville back in running order and he said absolutely not. We also looked up the service bulletin about replacing and rerouting the shift cable. Imagine our surprise when we read that the service bulletin only referred to cars with a column shift, not the console mounted shift that I have. I then called the dealer in Maine and suggested that he might want to actually read the service bulletin. I told him that I expected him to get back to me with an answer on why they would have ordered a shift cable for column shift. Depending on the dealer's answer, I believe that I'll be contacting Pontiac to give them some feedback about one of their dealers.
The local dealer here in Illinois also said that although it is not being advertised, effective the first of this year, all GM dealers can perform warranty work on all GM cars. I had called a local Chevrolet dealer in Maine and he told me to call Pontiac. So, if any of you find yourself in a fix, you don't have to go to a Pontiac dealer for repairs although if the dealer you go to doesn't sell a comparable platform, you run the risk of someone working on a vehicle they're not familiar with.

#527 of 2268 ignition module by gmlover1

Sep 13, 2001 (4:52 pm)

Try car parts.com . I put an after market control module on my 90 bonnneville 6 years ago, and have had no problems. You should do plugs and wires to.

#528 of 2268 CD Changer Add On by jgmilberg

Sep 16, 2001 (9:59 pm)

The GM antenna connector is called a mini plug, and if you go to best buy, or circuit city they have the adapters. You will need one of each, one to go from mini to standard, to plug into the modulator, then one to go from standard to mini that goes from the plug on the modulator cord to the radio. That's it, I have used the FM modulators with success on 4 other GM cars,91 Delta 88, 97 S-10, 98 Express Van, and a 01 Yukon XL, with no problems at all.

#529 of 2268 Re: CD Changer by jbrnsn by campo57

Sep 20, 2001 (9:45 am)

Try following the antenna cable from the back of the radio towards the antenna. I had the same problem with my '92 and I found that there is an adapter to go from the standard size cable end to the mini end near the glove box. The cable with the mini plug end is about 1-2 feet long so I just put the adapter for the CD changer under the dash near the glove box and didn't have to screw with finding an adapter to go from standard to mini.
 
Hope that helps.
 
Campo57

Messages Page 53 of 227

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