HELP PLEASE!!!

[mandadu]

I have a 1996 Bonneville SSE. Its my first one. I will admit when we first got it I hated it. I had my heart set on an 07 Impala and wanted nothing to do with Bonnie. However, as all of you Bonneville owners can attest to Im sure Im now hooked.I love my car.

On the inside it has a few cosmetic problems like headliner starting to come down,missing radio power button,broken up front cigg lighter and the center console lid wont stay down.But those are all things that could eventually be fixed. Not so worried about them right now.

Heres my problem: We bought the car from what we found out later was a crappy car dealer in August of 2010. 5 days after having the car she broke down at a patients house.Started it up, put it in gear and about 4 ft into driving she died. Lost all power in my windows, sunroof etc. Had it towed to our mechanics (who by the way we trust very highly-they are good guys who my husband has been going to for 25 years now).They had it four days and about pulled their hair out. Thought we had it fixed. Since then it has been one thing after another with my Bonnie. All electrical. Hmmmm. The mechanic believes it has been in a flood because of all these electrical issues. We are averaging having this car in the shop every 2 weeks and this time it has been in the shop 4 times in 2 weeks(latest was Friday when I took it to the mechanics to ask if they could fix my tailight the car wash broke-when I left after talking to them I got down the road a ways and lost all power steering in my car-tension belt snapped).

About 2 months ago at a patients house (I work for hospice-drive alot all day to different homes) it was dead when I went to start it.Dead,dead. Nothing. So I waited a few minutes and it started right back up. It did that at 5 more pts homes that day.Took it back to mechanics,they coded it,didnt find much,fixed what they thought was the issue,replaced the battery at my ok even though they told me they werent sure that was the issue.But the battery was a cheap one and over 3 years old so I told them just replace it.Hoping they were wrong and it would fix it. Nope.Then,one day driving down the road it just died on me,they fixed what they thought was the issue(it did the same thing.After 15 or so minutes it started right up) and away we went.2days later it did this again while driving! Died,started back up a few minutes later.

2 weeks ago the check gauges/engine light started coming on.I kind of ignored it for a bit figuring I would take it BACK to the mechanic soon.But then it said low coolant so I thought (like a woman) "oh maybe thats why it was coming on".Filled the coolant and still was coming on.Most annoying ding ever! Saturday it drove fine minus the light going off and on(cg/engine).Sunday I go to start it and it makes a thumping sort of noise(sort of like if your bass was up on your radio) but wouldnt start.Sunday afternoon my husband tried and it was completely dead.Took it to the mechanics and they charged it and it started right up.GRRRR.They looked over everything and figure it is losing charge somehow/bad connection but after 2 days they couldnt find out where.They fixed some "little stuff"(wires,etc) and we all know we will see the car back in the shop because at this point its been there every few weeks or more.But I had hoped it would fix the check engine light.It didnt.

I took it to AutoZone today because I had had it and though ok maybe their coder is different or something.Theirs showed a P0171 Fuel Trim Bank One Condition.I bought some fuel injector stuff they recommended even though Im sure it wont so the trick.

I really want to keep my car for a while.Yes she has almost 150K miles but she is a great car...when she runs.My husband is ready to send her to the Junkyard though because he has now put $2500 into a $4000 car. My question is this:could this code have been the problem all along?Do any of you who have experiance with Bonnevilles think this will finally fix it?

I really dont want to give up my car but doing the job I do I need to know it will start.I dont have time in my day for waiting on tow trucks.Please help.Any feedback is appreciated ed

PS...I dont know if it means anything and I have mentioned it to the mechanic but it seems like everytime I fill the car full of gas is when it does the not starting thing.When they first had it in the shop they did fix something with the fuel lines because the guy we bought it from had it so rigged under there.Also the engine light mainly comes on only when Im turning a sharp corner.Im soooo very frustrated but dont want to give up my car.Sorry I wrote a book here but I really need help.

[mandadu]

ok I think I posted this in the wrong section.Sorry.Im new to this

[repinS]

Hey Manda, no worries about the section thing. You can post Mechanical problems about your car in 1992-1999, and general non-mechanical stuff in General Chat (example: a topic saying "I love my car!" could go in General Chat). Electrical problems can go in Everything Electrical and Electronic.

I don't want to be rude or knock you for your grammar or anything, but I'm have a really hard time reading your post. It's not that its too long, but could you kindly edit it and break it down into paragraphs? It'll greatly help us lend a hand with whatever issues you're having with your SSE and get your thread moved to the right section. It'll stay in General Chat for now.

[mandadu]

no problem. I usually try to paragraph anyways but got ahead of myself on getting the story out an forgot to break it up.I will edit it and do that. Thanks =)

[repinS]

Thanks I'll move this to the 1992-1999 section! It should provide the most visibility.

I know your mechanic checked the little obvious things, but do you know if they cut back the insulation on the battery CABLE itself and checked for corrosion internally? These cars like to be tempermental with that and this corrosion cause a host of issues that appear like dead batteries and unexplainable electrical problems.

I'm not sure if it can cause drivability issues, but a Gearhead can chime in to confirm whether or not the ground bus connectors under the carpet could be to blame.

[lash]

Manda, it does sound like you may have more than one issue going on, especially since it has 150K on it. The first two things that you or your mechanics should check are as mentioned above by Jerry.

1) The battery cable itself can get corroded under the insulation and this can cause all kinds of unexpected grief. It is number one on the list, IMO.

2) Check the condition of the ground Buss connectors. These are located along the outside of the front seats just under the carpet. In a bit, I'll go try to find a picture for you so that you know what to look for.

The items above have been known to cause all kinds of electrical grief. Additional items to check, after the two above are:

3) ICM (Ignition Control Module). This can go bad in a way that it will fail inconsistently though usually when the engine compartment gets warm/hot.

4) Vacuum leaks. The age of the rubber components means that many times the various rubber elbows, connectors, and Tees will begin to crack and/or split. This can be tedious to locate, but the best bet is to buy some rubber vacuum hose of the size(s) that will slip tightly over the hard vacuum lines. Then cut to lengths that will replace the straight and sometime the elbow sections. A very careful visual and tactile review of all the small vacuum lines is important. Don't just take the easy way out and spray carb cleaner around while the motor is running, hoping to hear a change in the sound. While this does help to let you know that you may have a vacuum leak, it is important that you review every inch of your vacuum system.

Do not forget to remove your airbox and check the condition of the vacuum lines running underneath there. These are important as they control the solenoid and charcoal cannister that keep vapor emissions from your gas tank from escaping. A failure here can cause some of the fueling symptoms you're experiencing.

5) As a precaution, make sure you do not overfill your gas tank when refueling. No bump, bump, bump to top it off. That can overflow the evaporative emissions line and ruin your charcoal cannister.

There are a number of other things that could be contributing factors to your problems, but let's take them a few at a time. Plus, it is best to address the lowest cost possibilities first, IMO. Let us know what is found after each of the above items has been addressed, or if they already have been. Good luck!

[Jrs3800]

Yep... The two most important places to check are going to be both the Positive Battery cable for corrosion and the negative to make sure you are getting a good body ground, the grounds for the body are bolted to the body next to the battery..

You will want to check the ground Buses on both sides of the car.. They live under the carpet at the driver and passenger foot well.. If they become corroded they can cause all sorts of issues with the electrical systems of the car..

Those are the first 2 things I would do..


EDIT.... Mike beat me to it

[lash]

Ok, here's a thread with pics of where the gound busses are located and the corrosion that can cause so many issues.

viewtopic.php?p=12094#p12094

[willwren]

The 3 posts above this one are most likely going to solve the majority of your problems. I give it 9:1 odds.

[mandadu]

thank you to all of you for your replies.You dont know how much I appreciate it! I spent 5 hours last night reading this forum and am so glad I found it

After reading about the grounds under the carpet last night in some of the forums I talked with the hubby about it because #1 we do live in MI where there is lots of snow and ice seeping through the carpets and #2 the mechanics are almost positive the car is a flood car.

The battery was replaced but not sure about the cables but I will ask. I topped off all my fluids today even though none showed to be low and the check gauges light hasnt come on all day (fingers crossed). It was only flashing yellow when it did come on (another thing I learned from the forum).

I will be having them check all this when it goes back in the shop which Im sure will be soon.I dont even take the mechanics little yellow sticker they put on my keys with my name and number off my keys anymore because its there so much.

Sheesh,if you guys just saved my Bonny I will be indebted forever =) Thank you thank you thank you! Even if it doesnt fix it its a start

[lash]

If the mechanics do or have done all we mentioned already and there are still issues, please do not give up. There are more things that can be addresses. As I mentioned, it's possible...likely even... that there is more than one thing wrong. Make sure that all of the above items have been completely addressed and if there are still problems, we'll address those at that time.

As far as the vacuum leak possibility; this is a fix that you or your husband could do if you have the time and/or inclination to do so. It only takes a pair of needle-nosed pliers, a knife/scissors to cut the vacuum tubing, and maybe the purchase of a couple rubber elbows or rubber tee from a GM dealer. We could walk you through the evaluation and repair if needed.

[willwren]

The ground busses are very easy to check and clean on your own as well. VERY easy. If you want to tackle any of these, we can post or link you to detailed easy to follow instructions.

We pride ourselves in keeping money out of mechanic's pockets.