Common Issues & Solutions

[SingsCountry1967]

Over the years, we have noticed common issues with this generation of Bonnevilles. Below, the topics are listed alphabetically, with a Miscellaneous section at the end for...well.....miscellaneous stuff ....or problems that were noted as being not common.

Bubbling Hood:
Symptom:
Paint bubbles on hood due to an incompatible primer on the aluminum hood of the 00’s. 2001+ used a better primer to prevent this.

Solution:
Strip and redo: Unfold the front seam, mechanically remove all material down to bare metal, reprime, and paint.

Note:
It should be noted that this is not a GM only issue. Ford had a similar problem on their higher end trucks that had aluminum hoods, during the same period. (98 to present) Also, one member’s ’01 did have this problem.

Estimated cost: $430 DYI = _______

Occurred at: various


DIC:
Symptom:

Solution:

Estimated Cost:

Occurred at:



Door Water Leak::

Symptom:

Solution:

Estimated Cost:

Occurred at:



Intermediate Steering Shaft::
Symptom:
Clunking sound while fully turning the steering wheel right and/or left. Can also sound like someone is sliding a piece of cardboard on a grill.

Solutions:
Temporary - Lube it. Can replace the intermediate shaft, however if replacing with the same design, problem may reoccur.

Estimated cost: $190US (227$cn) + 2h labor DYI= _______

Occurred at: 61k



Lower Intake Gasket: (is this SC and NA both?)
Symptoms:
Loss of coolant, (uses or leaks) if you open the oil cap and touch the inside, you can see the oil is different, and in some case valves are knocking.

Solutions:
Replace lower intake gasket (soon!)

Estimated cost: $400 – 700 DYI = $100

Occurred at: 75k

Notes:
-Intake gasket: 95.20$ + taxes
-3 other gasket for reinstall: 26$ +taxes
-coolant : xx$
-Labor: 3-4h @ xx $

Additional cost for gummed lifter, they may be need to clean the lifter because of chemical reaction with the heat, oil and coolant :
Cost:
Gasket: 2X 22.90$ + taxes
Oil: xx$
Labor: 3-3.5h @ xx$



Oil Pressure Sender::
Symptom: Gauge pegged out without presence of warning lights

Solution: Replace sender P/N 12584940 from http://www.gmpartsdirect.com

Estimated cost: DYI $30

Occurred at:



Pressure Control Solenoid:(tranny):
Symptoms:You feel hard shift on light acceleration, it can be intermittent.

Solutions: Get the car scanned, code P1811, get the car to dealer for repair as soon as you can, damage can be done to transmission in long term use.

Estimated Cost: $80 gasket+ 5h labor

Occurred at 75k



Radio Lights:
Symptom: Radio lights/ HVAC light burn out

Solution:

Estimated Cost:

Occurred at:



Road Rash::
Symptom: sandblast effect on rear door panel; road debris from front tires.

Picture: http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/si ... adrash.jpg

Solution: Unknown (fix just the spot or all the rocker of the body???)

Note (Willwren): SOME 2000+ have a factory rough finish to prevent this. Need to clarify; need more research.

Note: Can try buffing – may only be clearcoat damage

Estimated Cost:

Occurred at: 30k



Trunk Water Leak::
Symptom:

Solution:

Estimated Cost:

Occurred at:

Note: Depend how much time they search for the leak, 1-2 h labor



Wheel Bearing (WSS):
Symptoms:
Groan from one of the wheels, louder depending if you are turning left or right, all that at mid to high speed. Or on a jack holding the tire in your hand you can feel the looseness in the bearing.

If you have a SES light, ABS light and the code is C1221, or C1222, or C1223, or C1224 with one or more of those code set, your ABS system will be disengaged. That means you have a bad wheel speed sensor.

Solutions:
You need a new hub assembly/bearing.(the hub assembly hold the bearing and the WSS, you can’t just change the WSS or just the bearing)

Estimated cost: $370 + 1hr labor ($430cn) DYI = ------

Occurred at 65k.



Window Regulators (Rear):
Symptom:
Faulty design permits rubbing of cable until breakage occurs, window will not close.

Solution:
Replace regulator

Estimated cost: DYI $150 (ebay)

Occurred at:



Miscellaneous:

Boost control solenoid (SC only):
Symptoms: Your boost gauge will show you very low boost, but will still move, performance will be also lower, a SES light (service engine soon) may come "on" code :P0243
Solutions: Get the car scanned at Autozone or dealer. Replace by dealer or DYI - Just pull the old one and install the new one. The boost control solenoid is in front of the boost bypass valve which is describe in the below link
http://www.mccgp.com/upgrades/boostbypa ... bypass.php .
Estimated Cost: $40 + 15 minutes labor. DYI: $37 FROM GMPD, 10 MINTUES
Occurred at 74k
Note: a Boost Control Solenoid is not a common issue. 75% of the 00+'s like all the other years don't have a BCS.


CV boots on one side as a pair: $180 parts and labor

HVAC air-mix door actuator (electronic controls) - $470 parts and labor

Fuel Pressure Regulator Recall

Power steering pressure hose... $123 from the dealer... found an off brand one for $15 gmpd

Rear shock mounts and rear shocks: clunking noise in the rear of the vehicle. The shock mounts were $90.00 a piece(180.00) and the shocks were $85.00 a piece(170.00) from a dealer.

Steering Wheel Position Sensor:
Symptom: You get a message on your DIC : "service stability system" your electronically assisted steering wheel system will disengage, NOT DANGEROUS, you still have power steering...
Solutions: Get the car scanned for the code ,C1286, C1287, C1288(not 100% sure of the code) Get the car to dealer for repair
Estimated cost: $80 + 2h labor ($100cn)
Occurred at 65k
Note: This is extremely rare

[Whitecrystal1]

Bubbling Hood:

Symptom: (Add 2002 to the list)
Here are some picture of mine before the repair.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169 ... res012.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169 ... res013.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169 ... res014.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169 ... res015.jpg

Estimated cost:
Not sure because I was having other damage repaired at the same time.

Occurred at:
Less than 30K miles


Door Water Leak:

Symptom:
Water running in the car between the door panel and the door seal. In my case both front doors leaked right under the speaker, the rears were in various places

Solution:
Replace the Buytl Seal inside the door.

Estimated Cost:
$8.00 for one box of Ribbon Seal @ Autozone. Note: One box is enough for two doors

Occurred at:
All four of my door leaked anywhere from 20-30K miles


Steering gear (rack):

Symptom:
Steering rack making Elephant noises. Watch videos below

http://s120.photobucket.com/albums/o169 ... ise002.flv
http://s120.photobucket.com/albums/o169 ... e001-1.flv

Solution:
Not sure if there really is a complete fix but my dealer replaced the rack, it helped a lot but it hasn't totally solved the issue.

Estimated Cost:
I had it done under warranty.

Occurred at:
19K miles yet it still does it a little every now and then, but nowhere near as bad as it did in those videos.



Transmission Mount (front mount):

Symptom:
You may have a clunk in the drive train when taking off or from a stop or when taking off hard from a slow speed roll.

Solution:
Replace the mount with another OEM mount (hydraulic)or do the Hockey Puck mod (solid mount).

Estimated Cost:
I had it done under warranty

Occurred at:
26K miles

[Toms94]

OK, I need some links about the IM shaft. I was just out to the "other" Bonneville site and it is down (what's going on there? IDK), but there were part numbers and links that I am going to need to repair this issue on the 03 SSEi. Any one help here?

[Archon]

Techinfo - just like before...
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=55&t=217

[dissmn8]

Anyone have detailed photos on the Oil Pressure sensor. I just need to know what I am looking for before I pull the wrong thing.

Also, I was working a thread on the other site for the sticky PCS. I appears that there may be a secondary solution other than just replacing the PCS.

[Toms94]

Techinfo - just like before...
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=55&t=217

That's the one, Thanks.

[Velo]

OK, I need some links about the IM shaft. I was just out to the "other" Bonneville site and it is down (what's going on there? IDK), but there were part numbers and links that I am going to need to repair this issue on the 03 SSEi. Any one help here?

The P/N for the 2003 Bonneville SEEi Intermidiate Steering Shaft (ISS) is 25810450
I know this is the latest p/n and has the dubble D design instead of the splines.
This according to the GM dealer.

[dayton.reed]

Road Rash . . .

Tonight I used some of the Turtle Wax Rubbing and Polishing Compound on a place where I hit a pole, and it fixed it all up for under $10.00. I wonder if it would work for this application?

[00Beast]

No, the road rash is physical removal of paint by rocks. When you hit the pole you got paint from it and scraped your clear. Big difference.

[dayton.reed]

Oops. Sorry.

[BonneBill]

I recently bought a window regulator and motor on eBay from a company called autoandart. $35 shipped and it was Taiwan made. Good quality and fast delivery. Beats trying to fix one of these with a broken cable.

[brownbrentm]

I had the pressure control solenoid replaced, $550 at tranny shop

[02ssei]

I'm having the same issue with my tranny. Guess I better get it fixed. I'm also getting the service stability system light. I haven't seen any codes for either though when scanning. Maybe it's not either problem. Ideas?

[00Beast]

You need a better scanner. This isn't something a code-reader can read, you need either a Tech II or a high-end Snap-On scanner.

[02ssei]

Lol.. I used a highend snapon scanner. That's why I wad thinking maybe it wasn't the same problem.

[seekinhighhp]

I'm wondering once you get all these things fixed how long will the newer parts last before u have to do all of it again?