SOLVED
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zigger21
- SLE Member

- Posts: 86
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:43 am
- Year and Trim: 1997 Bonneville SSE
2005 Bonneville GPX
SOLVED
I have a problem where my Bonneville wont start, its getting fuel to the spark plugs, because they are wet and smell like fuel when I pull them and I checked for spark and it has that also. Its almost like the car is flooding. It turns over then its almost like there is a big puff of air out of my K&N cold air intake filter. Could the air intake manifold be faulty and is there any way to tell if it is bad. Besides hooking it up to a computer. I have a Fluke 87 for testing and I have a Innovice check engine reader but I cant fing it right now so Im now sure what I did with it. Thanks and Take Care. Please help
Last edited by zigger21 on Sat Jul 06, 2013 12:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Bugsi
- Resident Gearhead

- Posts: 2405
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 7:36 pm
- Year and Trim: (RIP 10/31/15) 1997 SE
05 Mercedes S500 4Matic - Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Re: 1997 Bonneville needs help
Mass Airflow Sensor, 100%.
Right down to the gasoline puff from the air filter. It's your Mass Airflow Sensor.
If you want to convince yourself first, unplug the wiring harness from the MAF and your car will start.
But seriously, that's what it is. Replace that, you'll be good as new.
Make sure your air filter isn't dirty so you don't kill the new MAF sensor.
Here's how I know, read entire thread:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ml#p344482
Right down to the gasoline puff from the air filter. It's your Mass Airflow Sensor.
If you want to convince yourself first, unplug the wiring harness from the MAF and your car will start.
But seriously, that's what it is. Replace that, you'll be good as new.
Make sure your air filter isn't dirty so you don't kill the new MAF sensor.
Here's how I know, read entire thread:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ml#p344482
PontiacDad at WCBF `08: "By any chance, was his name. . .Radomir?"
R.I.P. 10/31/15: 1997 SE: "Silver Shadow"
`05 Mercedes S500
R.I.P. 10/31/15: 1997 SE: "Silver Shadow"
`05 Mercedes S500
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zigger21
- SLE Member

- Posts: 86
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:43 am
- Year and Trim: 1997 Bonneville SSE
2005 Bonneville GPX
Re: 1997 Bonneville needs help
You are a God Send, thank you so much Ill go unhook the Harness and give it a try. God I hope your right because I have been struggling with this for the past two months. Thank you. Ill reply after I unhook the harness. Thank you so much.Bugsi wrote:Mass Airflow Sensor, 100%.
Right down to the gasoline puff from the air filter. It's your Mass Airflow Sensor.
If you want to convince yourself first, unplug the wiring harness from the MAF and your car will start.
But seriously, that's what it is. Replace that, you'll be good as new.
Make sure your air filter isn't dirty so you don't kill the new MAF sensor.
Here's how I know, read entire thread:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ml#p344482
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zigger21
- SLE Member

- Posts: 86
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:43 am
- Year and Trim: 1997 Bonneville SSE
2005 Bonneville GPX
Re: 1997 Bonneville needs help
I unhooked the harness to the mass air flow sensor and it still doesn't start?? I'm at a loss?zigger21 wrote:You are a God Send, thank you so much Ill go unhook the Harness and give it a try. God I hope your right because I have been struggling with this for the past two months. Thank you. Ill reply after I unhook the harness. Thank you so much.Bugsi wrote:Mass Airflow Sensor, 100%.
Right down to the gasoline puff from the air filter. It's your Mass Airflow Sensor.
If you want to convince yourself first, unplug the wiring harness from the MAF and your car will start.
But seriously, that's what it is. Replace that, you'll be good as new.
Make sure your air filter isn't dirty so you don't kill the new MAF sensor.
Here's how I know, read entire thread:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ml#p344482
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zigger21
- SLE Member

- Posts: 86
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:43 am
- Year and Trim: 1997 Bonneville SSE
2005 Bonneville GPX
Re: 1997 Bonneville needs help
zigger21 wrote:I have a problem where my Bonneville wont start, its getting fuel to the spark plugs, because they are wet and smell like fuel when I pull them and I checked for spark and it has that also. Its almost like the car is flooding. It turns over then its almost like there is a big puff of air out of my K&N cold air intake filter. Could the air intake manifold be faulty and is there any way to tell if it is bad. Besides hooking it up to a computer. I have a Fluke 87 for testing and I have a Innovice check engine reader but I cant fing it right now so Im now sure what I did with it. Thanks and Take Care. Please help
Going through it all I checked my sparked plugs and they have gas on them from me trying to start it, I checked for spark on the plugs and I have good spark. I turn over the car and it turn over and sputters without starting. I know the banks are getting fuel and I know there is spark. I changed the Coil packs. The car wont start at all. It turns over and sputters then a puff comes out the air filter and dies. Its killing me. I unplugged the mass air flow sensor to see if that would help it run and that didn't help it run. Could it be the mass air flow sensor anyways, could that be the reason for it not starting. Could it be the EGR Valve. I need this running in the next week and I will PayPal anyone who helps me get this running. Would the fuel filter be the reason its not starting, I have never had a car just stop running and not start, I replaced the plugs and fuel filter 3 years ago and I also installed a cold air K&N air filter and got rid of the big air filter box and it ran great after that 3 years ago but one morning I went to work and it ran fine. After work I the car started rough but once I got it going it was sputtering but when I got it on the highway it ran like its suppose to and ran great all the way home. the next day I tried starting it again and it sputtered and wouldn't start so it sat there through the winter months. This last couple weeks I put a new battery in it and I have the same problems. I put fuel injection cleaner in it and nothing. could the EGR valve, MAF Sensor or fuel filter cause it not to start? I need you guys more than you know I need to get this running. Take Care and thanks in advance I am desperate. Take Care
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myfirstbonnie
- Resident Gearhead

- Posts: 5530
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 10:19 pm
- Year and Trim: .
2015 Buick Enclave
2013 Buick Regal GS - Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Re: 1997 Bonneville needs help
Pull all the plugs and clean them, check the gap and dry them, or buy new ones. When you try to restart it, press the accelerator to the floor and hold it. This disables the injectors and the PCM will not give them the priming pulse and will allow the cylinders to clear the gas. Next, unplug the MAF and then try to restart it.
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zigger21
- SLE Member

- Posts: 86
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:43 am
- Year and Trim: 1997 Bonneville SSE
2005 Bonneville GPX
Re: 1997 Bonneville needs help
This topic has been resolved. It was the spark plugs all along?

