1991 pontiac bonneville having problems

Ragsdale Farms · Mar 25, 2012

I have a 91 bonneville with a 3.8 liter engine it will start and run until it gets hot then it just suddenly dies doesnt spudder or anything just quits then when you try to start it back it will diesel and run backwards then finally it will start back and run three or four minutes then quit again and sometimes it wont even start everyone says it a bad fuel pump but for it to diesel its gotta have gas getting in there right? i think its timing problems myself but im clueless how to check it any help will be appreciated thanks

MeAnthony · Mar 25, 2012

I picked up a '96 a few years ago, had several strange problems: kept burning up fuel pumps, would randomly quit or not start and windows wouldn't work at the same time, etc.

Turned out to be a bad ground, called the G340 ground splice connector, according to the shop that found the problem.

You might try this: pull off the bottom door sill trim on the front driver's side, pull back the carpet and you should see a rectangular piece of tin that has several flat male spade connectors around the edges. This piece of tin is a common ground point for several circuits and is known to corrode, causing odd, random, seemingly unrelated issues.

Hope this helps and please let us know what you find to be the cause of your trouble.

Anthony

Ragsdale Farms · Mar 25, 2012

I pulled it all apart but I can't find this tin connector your talking about maybe I didn't pull the carpet back far enough how far under there is it?

Bryan inIowa · Mar 25, 2012

Have you checked fuel pressure and volume ? checked for loss of spark ? I'd wanna find whats missing before tesaring into a wiring harness or chasing grounds .

MPK · Mar 25, 2012

I have heard of cases that had something like a timing sensor or a crankshaft position sensor was causing trouble like that. I can't think of the right name for it now.

Goose · Mar 25, 2012

I had the ignition module do something similar on a '92 Olds 88 with the 3.8.

It would quit for no apparent reason, and if you let it set for a half hour it would start right up. It did it once when there was a few inches of snow on the ground, and after it stopped, I jumped out and held a handfull of snow under the ignition module till the snow melted. Got back in and it started right up.

bradk · Mar 25, 2012

Take a garden hose and run cold water on top and just ahead of the front crank pulley for a minute or so once it acts up.The crank sensor is located there behind the harmonic balancer.If it starts and runs normally,you"ve found the problem.Replaced MANY over the years.

You need a special tool to adjust the new one and I"d personally go with a GM sensor.

Ragsdale Farms · Mar 25, 2012

Well I found the problem the wire harness from the coil pack to the cam sensor and crank sensor have two naked wires rubbing I just happened to pull on those two wires and it died so I took the harness out the two wires rubbed the alt. bracket until they were both naked luckily I have a spare motor with harness I put it on there and it runs like a top drove it for an hour just to make sure but its fixed its funny it ran fine cold but once it warmed up it quit everytime but thanks for all the comments and help its good to have knowledgeable folks that have been in the same situation to ask cause the dealerships sure are no help unless it has a code showing which this did not but thanks again

Spook · Mar 25, 2012

The car is 21 years old. Time to get something newer.

Ragsdale Farms · Mar 25, 2012

Its not my daily driver I'm fixing it for my wife's grandparents their car threw a rod the other day and they can't afford another car so I'm fixing this one for them til we can do better

1991 pontiac bonneville having problems

Ragsdale Farms

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MeAnthony

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MPK

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Goose

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