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I just purchased a 01 Bonneville about 3 months ago and I love it, however I started having this issues. I started noticing and specially in the mornings when the engine is cool, that when driving, then coming to stop, then accelerating, I could hear the RPM's going, but the car wouldnt respond like it should, then slowly, it started to catch up. Now that only happened once in while, and then just yesterday, I noticed that when I would come to a stop in a red light, and then after releasing the brake, but not pressing the gas, the car would hesitate to advance. Then later, I noticed that when I switched to go on reverse it would do the same thing, so I kept switching back and forth to test it, untill when in reverse, the car would not move, I would give it gas but it would not respond, but when I switched it to drive, it did respond and then I would try reverse again and it would respond well. I though maybe it needed fluid, so I checked and it seemed that it needed some so I put some in and then that made it better. however, it still does the same thing a little. Another thing that I also noticed is a sound, almost like a flapping noise in the bottom of the engine.
If somebody would be able to give me some suggestions or information as to what might be causing this problems and how serious it is, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks.
Doug
1998 Bonneville.
Anyone else ever have this problem?
Bought the '98 Bonneville SE w/Ser II engine in 10/02 w/44K miles. Intake manifold and plenum were replaced in 7/02 by prior original owner @ 42K miles for $1400 by private former GM dealer trained mechanic of 23 years. Car still didn't run right thereafter and traded in on a new HONDA ACCORD. Dealer sold car on wholesale market knowing the car had problems. I bought for $7800 in 10/02.......and of course the car ran flawlessly when I twice test drove. With insistence from "alcan" I quickly discovered an ignition related problem....broken ceramic on #2 spark plug. Car has run like cherry since. At 65K I decided to change to Mobil 1, 10W-30. Later at 70K in August '03 I changed to Mobil 1 15W-50 and shortly thereafter I developed a bad oil leak from the oil pressure sensor. Used my extended warranty to repair at Pontiac dealer.....$140. I informed them while car was there of a small loss (<6 ounces est.)in DexCool and I asked them to check the "pink stain" on the intake manifold I recently noticed while topping off the oil. Guess What?? They recommend to change the intake plenum as they believe it is leaking as I do. The intake manifold was not changed. Car runs fine. Where do I go from here.
Good Luck!
Try sitting in park with engine running then turn off engine and listen for a minute or so until the vacuum reservoir tank runs out of reserve.
Or you could find the vacuum reserve tank and disconnect the output line temporarily. But finding it may be a job. It's probably tucked into a small corner under the fender or behind headlights somewhere...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Actually, try taking the battery out of your remote control, or leave it at home while driving. I have trouble with stuff in my pocket bumping the buttons on the remote and setting off the horn, etc. I realize it's on the key ring in the ignition probably. So is it possible you're bumping the button on the remote as you move the gear shift?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
That's the kind of thinking I had about the trunk. Next would be the radio wave unit that senses the signals or the connection to the button in the car to open the trunk making contact on a random basis.
Does the trunk opening occur in a particular locality? OR everywhere...?
We thought the magic garage door opening was from airplanes overhead at first due to ?radar? or radio signals from the airport/airplanes.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Other issues with my 'O2 have included high speed vibration, blown ignition switch, mysterious coolant loss, and sagging sunroof. Could be a really nice car if it weren't for the problems.
Had the familiar clunking in the front end, turned out to be the steering shaft which they greased?? Not sure how they did it, i checked and could not find any fittings to put grease in the u-joint. Heated seat on drivers side clicks on and shuts off. Trunk fills up with water in the spare tire well after rain. Compass keeps "needing recalibration" everytime other week. Security system continually displays error messages on LCD screen. I also have the noturious vibration and can't seem to have it fixed.
However one thing that does really worry me and it's the first i've seen posted here is in post 1197 about the mysterious coolant loss. I also have the same problem and can't seem to find where it goes. No smell of it burning, no sots in the driveway and no leaks anywhere.
I also have a problem with the rims, they are the chrome ones. However i had new michelins put on it to help with the vibration (yea right) and they kept loosing pressure, turns out the rims are corroding on the inside and won't form a complete seal!! I really love the car it only has 53,000 on it and i'm just not sure what to do with it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You're going to have to contact the service department at a dealership to ask how that works for 2nd owners. I'd assume it applies to the car, not the original owner.
I'm sure that recall hits most 2000 and up to early 03s. The dealer had to check by vin on my 03.
Did you buy it from a GM dealer? They should have checked the vin if you did.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm a new member to the forum and this is my problem: My car makes a strange "CLUNK" sound coming from engine or transmission when the car is on parking only and when I increase the RPM to 3000 and let it drop to 1000 it make the sound like a pice of metal is hitting another metal. Also if I press and depress the accelerator quickly it also do Clunk sound. I have no problem at all when I drive the car at any speed. The first time this happen I put the car in drive and went blank for few seconds. I replaced the transmission fluid and filter and still doing the same. Thanks
I'd try to drain the old out first if you can siphon it out with a small tube. If it will run with new gas and fuel system cleaner (Techron's product is good) at idle, just let it idle to give some time to clean up the "varnish" that has formed. If that seems to help, a new set of plugs would be my next step, unless the old one look good and are recent.
I'd try that for a couple of weeks starting it and running it. Then you may be down to a sensor not reading properly for temp and causing poor running mixture above idle.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I have a 97 Bonneville which just had the intake plenum replaced, thanks GM. Now that I have just invested $1000 plus I must keep this $4K car longer but have the following noises I hope someone can help me with. When I accelerate from a stop, and turn to the left I hear a growling sound, does not do it when I turn to the right. I also have a rattle in the transmission, it is predominant when the TCC is engaging, does anyone know where these noises come from, one more, when I accelerate from a stop I hear a pop sound comming from the driver side, it just started making this sound. I almost forgot TCC locks up in third gear at 38MPH, almost stalling the car, does anyone know if this is programming issue.
Thanks
Has anyone else had this problem? I love this car and do not want to get rid of it.
thanks in advance
kris
My heated seat ended up being the element after 2 days at the dealership with them ordering different parts for them. I told them i suspected the element because it started buring my butt when i had it on, but as usual it falls on deaf ears. They wanted over $900 just for the parts. I told them i'd stick with the cold butt. I'm not very happy with the quality of this car. My 99 GTP was much more reliable.
There was apparently a GM-ordered recall/repair (?) on sealants/gaskets(?) that might cause coolant to LEAK INTO THE ENGINE in Bonnevilles 2000 and perhaps newer. One of my dealerships did this for me recently (I had no trouble with this problem, however). Found out about this coolant loss issue when I took my 2000 Bonneville in for the annoying humming sound (see earlier message) which they 'couldn't reproduce' (and right now I'm trying to get info on that addressed on this bulletin board.)
Then try the same in 4th at 60. The engine speeds up even on level roads with no great load on the engine.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Can you (or anyone else) please clarify: if follow ideas in message #1214 and I do the 50mph, steady speed, in 3rd gear, then do 60mph steady speed, and step on the brake - will the spike in the tachometer you mentioned be temporary and any associated noise abate IF it's *functioning normally?* The hum (or drone) I am experiencing virtually always begins when I've achieved a steady higher speed (mostly highway, or higher-speed back roads) and if I let up momentarily on the accelerator it STOPS - then when immediately resuming acceleration the hum instantaneously begins again. I can usually make it start/stop just by goin off and on the accelerator while driving 60 mph/2000 - 2500 rpm, where this 'noise' really settles in to stay. Moving into neutral while coasting yet pressing the accelerator cannot reproduce the hum - nor can being in park and revving the engine - I have to be moving fairly fast.
Best - Mike
Has anyone else experienced a similar problem, or have some insight as to what could be causing this noise?
Have tried the torque converter test in message #1214 and #1216 - the spike mentioned when going a steady speed in 3rd and Drive and suddenly tapping the brake DOES NOT cause a momentary spike upward on my tachometer. Does this mean its not functioning properly?
This hum you had (or whine) message #1217: was is constant or only at a certain speed/rpm? Please advise. I am NOW planning to get my problem diagnosed by a non-Pontiac/GM repair shop, and then go back to Pontiac and say FIX IT.
but that's probably an emission control item
for the fuel systems. The pressure check on the
tank failed. I had one last year and it was a tube
had rotten at the end where it connects into the
charcoal canister. Then I had one last week, but it
was the gas cap was not tight. It had been several days since I had put in gas. But apparently it had vibrated loose enough that there was not seal.
Check you manual and see if the light solid means emissions. Flashing means something more important.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Occasional flash = intermittent problem.
Steady light = hard failure.
Flashing light = more serious problem which could cause engine or component damage.
If the problem is eliminated, the Check Engine light may turn off after a given number of drive cycles but the trouble code will remain in the computer's memory. A scan tool or code reader is required to retrieve the codes. Disconnecting the battery will NOT erase the codes, but will erase any radio and seat/mirror presets.
A loose gas cap is probably the most common cause of a Check Engine light, but certainly not the only cause. Auto parts outlets such as AutoZone will retrieve stored codes at no charge in the hope of selling parts.
Also i saw a 03 SSEi with 9,000 miles @ a dealer lot for $25,000, completely loaded was thinking about trading my 2000 in b/c of all the problems does that sound like a good price? I live in Mass. if that makes a difference.
After the repair I inspected what I could of it and noticed that the rubber boot over the shaft was pulled away from the point where the lower shaft meets the rack assembly. There is a lip on the boot and a flange on the rack that look like they should be clamped together, but it appears as if the boot just floats there. Doesn't look right but I think that's the way it was before they replaced the shaft.
Later on the day of the repair, when it was dark, I noticed that all the interior lamps were not working. Turned out to be a blown fuse, but I'm wondering what the tech did to cause that. So after replacing the fuse I decided to check everything electrical. When I went to lower the right rear window, the regulator made a cruch! noise and now the window can be raised and lowered only by hand. Another common problem on these cars. Ordered a new regulator (apparently you have to get the motor with it) at gmpartsdirect for about $90 less than the dealer wants even with shipping. Might even try to replace it myself.
SUPERCHARGER: Had a 92, 94, 96, and 2000 SSEI and I always checked the SC oil every 10,000 miles. I never had a problem with any of these. I purchased the oil from the dealer....
Thanks for the help:-)
I had enough. I had a 2000 Bonneville SLE that I just could not stop the tires from vibrating. I tried everything. And I mean everything. But when I finally wore out the goodyear tires and replaced them with dunlop sa sport a2 tires, which I loved and balanced perfectly, and the car still vibrated I went to my local Pontiac Dealer and traded it for a new Grand Prix GT 2004. You may ask "Why another Pontiac?". Well I loved the Bonneville. It was a good car. Even with all its problems. But the wheels just kept on vibrating. But as much as I liked the Bonne, the Grand Prix is a much better fit for me. I like the smaller size and the sportier handling. The 3800 III ,yes III , is a better fit for a lighter weight car. And the drive by wire throttle is much more responsive paired with the electronic trans. And the wheels do not vibrate, the trans shifts much smoother and at the right places everytime. I trully look forward to every drive in the Grand Prix.
Enough advertising. Just wanted to thank all you fine folks on the message board for all the info on how to repair the Bonne. It was most helpful. But it got to a point where the value of my car was decreasing and I needed to keep it or sell it. So bye, bye Bonne.
I had the vibration problem you had. I went NUTS over it - Pontiac dealers (I went to many) denied the vibration was there or just continually lied to me about it. I eventually had to buy $600+ worth of new tires, and get them continually rebalanced. I finally sued GM and settled out of court.
Firestone Corp. eventually got rid of the vibration problem! By just good balance jobs. I think GM dealers are a racket...
Is this common and is the cost of $65.00 in line for this type of service? Thanks for the help and guidance.
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