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Pontiac Bonneville Engine Surging Problems

28 messages,  Last post on Jul 30, 2011 at 11:54 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Bonneville, Engine, Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 3

#19 of 28 very quick surge by kyle120

Jul 01, 2009 (5:12 pm)

I have a 2000 Bonneville with 130k miles the last couple of months it started this surging thing when on the highway at speeds of 75 mph it feels like I have ran over something in the road but there is nothing there. The problem comes and goes with no apparent pattern I'm not sure if i would call it a surge or a drop in rpm but it is very fast, fast enough I dont loose any speed sometimes it will do it a couple times in a row and is getting progressively more frequent. I put about 60 miles on this car a day. There is no code coming up in the computer, but the service engine light has come on a couple of times but of course goes off by the time I get to the shop. I have heard that it may the the mass air flow sensor or possible the fuel pump the techs i have talked to think that it is the transmittion but sometimes the car will do this at idle as well it comes really close to dying but revs right back up. I have looked at the mass air flow sensor and there doesn't seem to be any dust or anything on it any ideas? A new mass air flow sensor is $150 . As to any more clues I can provide the only other thing i can think or is that most of my gauges seem to not work very well or be slow. The oil pressure gauge only moves a little bit when throttle is applied and is always above 40 and the fuel gauge doesn't work very well ether I put $10 of fuel in the other day at empty and it said i had over half a tank which i know to be wrong. Any feed back would be helpful THX

#20 of 28 2001 Bonneville Surging/Backfire by jhardy3

Sep 15, 2009 (12:50 pm)

I have a 2001 Bonneville and I have been having a tough time trying to figure it out. In the mornings when I start it when it is 50 -55 deg, by the time I get 1/2 mile away from home, it starts to surge and backfire with no acceleration. If I park it and let it warm up, it runs fine the rest of the day including when I go home in the afternoon. It has done this 5 or 6 times already and all have been in the morning when it hasn't been run in 10-12 hours. My local shop hasn't been able to figure it out, they have replace the crank & cam sensors along with the ignition module with no luck. A couple of times it has gotten so bad it had quit and I haven't been able to re-start the car for a couple of hours, but when it does restart it runs fine. Any help would be appreciated.

#21 of 28 Re: very quick surge [kyle120] by danthemandawg

Nov 18, 2009 (4:55 pm)

Replying to: kyle120 (Jul 01, 2009 5:12 pm)
Ky le
I have similar issues with my 99 pont. Bonn sse, no turbo. 140k miles
I have changed plugs, wires, o2, tbs, and even went as far as replacing valve seals in the motor.
It runs ok, starts every morning gets me to point Ato B no problem, but does surge (misfire, buck, lack of power), and I notice this happens when I try to accelerate on a on ramp around 35-45mph ( I can hear a clicking ping sound almost like its coming from the exhaust) and when my cruise control is on 70, its surging( bucking, loss of power) more often now.
 
I am burning oil, but not leaking anything, this is driving me nuts.
I have talked with a few techs, and one was telling me that the exhaust system gets clogged which can cause these issues. My engine light is on, the code is for cylinder 6 mis firing, now when I pulled out the spark plug , its bad, really bad, corroded burned out (it only had 10k miles on it).
 
Another thing I noticed is, I replaced my oil cap with an after market brand that dosent seem to fit perfect, maybe this is my issue, yeh right, but a 3 dollar part sure beats an engine rebuild. I love this car and dont want another car payment at this point in my life.
 
next time this happens im going to hit the brake and gas at the same time to see if it stops, also will try driving in 3rd gear to feel if it stops.
 
Wondering if maybe I have a few issues, clogged exhaust, bad gasket (wishful thinking) or does it sound like the motor needs rebuilt??
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dan

#22 of 28 Re: 2001 Bonneville Surging/Backfire [jhardy3] by danthemandawg

Nov 20, 2009 (8:30 pm)

Replying to: jhardy3 (Sep 15, 2009 12:50 pm)
Pont, Bonneville 99, no turbo, 140k
My car did the same thing, it started out this way, after about a year it got worse. These are my symptoms
 
1. engine light on (cylinder 6 misfire) 2 more I need to look up
2. excessive smoke out of exhaust
3. burning oil, not leaking, I dont see anything on the ground (a quart every 2wks)
4. 3rd gear still hesitates, also when I try brake and gas same time, still hesitates, Its now hesitating in neutral after I start up in the morning.
5. started out hesitating only a couple of times, progressively is getting worse after a yr.
6. spark plugs are shot after only 20k, in cylinder 6, I will check the other ones
7. I have tried several after market products (slick 50) when I change the oil, helps a little bit
8. I have cleaned and tightened up my battery connections, they needed it
9. Oil cap, is a aftermarket, that dosent seem to fit tight.
10.I haven't noticed if it hesitates when Im in reverse, dont go fast enough
11. I also can hear a pinging noise ( on rare occasions) when trying to accelerate on a on ramp, like a piston ring going bad, but it seems like its coming from the exhaust.
 
I have done all routine maintanence, plugs, wires, sensors (map, o2)
I believe from everything I have read its the lower intake manifold gasket leaking, finally causing the control sensor to go nuts which would explain the surging, the oil burning, plugs going bad, slick 50 helping a little bit.
I think the exhaust is also finally backed up or clogged somewhere.
 
I will try to get it done in the next couple of days and post the results.
Thanks for everyone help on this one
Dan

#23 of 28 97 bonne rpm surge by 97surges

Aug 23, 2010 (11:38 am)

what will fix this i have the same problem...up hill at steady rpm will buck like its trying to down shift. thanks

#24 of 28 Re: 97 bonne rpm surge [97surges] by imidazol97

Aug 23, 2010 (5:54 pm)

Replying to: 97surges (Aug 23, 2010 11:38 am)
Most likely plug wires and plugs.
 
Replace with quality OEM type and AC Delco spark plug.

#25 of 28 97 surges by 97surges

Aug 24, 2010 (10:03 am)

thanks for reply..i left out what i did allready,sorry....new plugs,plug wires and made sure no plug wires touched 02 sensor (#6 was). droped tranny pan replaced filter and fluid. replaced several rubber fittings to hard vac line which direct factory replacements dont exist but got it done anyway (rubber "L's" and "T''s). cleaned two positive side battery connectors (corrision medium). new battery last year. this was my dads 97 sse and has 82 thousand miles. it came off the show room floor and has all options down to the chrome opt. rims. he had this problem for several years and it had its third ecm/com replaced while under warranty. used to be occassional but now its definately daily. its a bad ass ride and i cant sell it espically with the surge. all suggestions appreciated

#26 of 28 97 sse rpm surge.... from 97surges by 97surges

Sep 22, 2010 (9:51 am)

i had the under load uphill surge like all u guys...did all the stuff per my earlier post. lastnight i just installed a new-adjustable transmission module to the tune of 27.00 and now under hard throttle i can scratch 2nd gear. old module had lost its tension ability on the nipple that slips into the transmission and it was full of tranny fluid...probably do to my dad overfilling the fluid level to the point of filling the dip stick tube which was how he tried to fix the surge at about 50,000 miles. gonna do more uphill testing today but last night it seemed to be gone. module located on drivers side near exhaustmanifold. also comes with new 3 inch long L shape hose to eliminate old funky 2 hose with inline connector. more connectors equalls more chance for vacum leak. also car now shifts more harder than i like so hopefully a few turns of the screw inside the vaccuum nipple will solve that. also front tires burn out with traction controll on now...turning screw now good luck

#27 of 28 transmission module was problem by 97surges

Sep 22, 2010 (5:11 pm)

surgeing now gone ...still shifts a little hard,,,will try adjustment on modulator after it cools down...way to close to the exhaust manifold to chance,,,probably why everyone has this problem...design flaw or maybe vaccuum modules like 800 degree neighboring parts...not

#28 of 28 89 Pontiac bonneville by bonniesmom

Jul 30, 2011 (11:54 pm)

I have an 89 pontiac Bonneville and everything on my car is original except for 5 internal pieces and a few external. Recently we had a series of problems on the fourth of july my car was running just fine we get to the fireworks show i kill her start to start her back over and she wouldn't crank (this is after all day my driver's side door wouldn't open.. after she wouldn't crank that started opening again and hasn't messed up since) but what it did that night was basically i putted it back to the house. I took it to the shop they swore it was my spark plugs.. nope nope.. then it was my catlike converter.. still not a fix. After my muffler fell off now the only problem i have is once i start hitting 40 and she kicks back down in rpm's she will start vibrating real hard at me as long as i stay on the gas for the majority it goes away. (its real hard to explain its one of those things you just have to drive it.) If anyone has had the same problem or any idea im up for it i just don't know whats going on and please don't say junk the car she is my baby and pride and joy i have more sentimental value in that car then money can buy!

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