1992 Bonneville From Hell

[mackay316]

Hoping some of you can help a lady in distress.... One day my car started fine, I drove it home and parked it in the driveway.........the next morning it would hardly start. It finally did and I drove it to work. Parked the car and restarted fine. At the end of my work day same scenario, turn the key over and it acted like it didn't want to start. The voltmeter needle is almost in the red on the low side when this happens. On the way home the "check gauges" light came on, later the "service engine soon" light came on as well. I know Bonnevilles are notorious for burning out alternators so I took the alternator out and had it tested, it passed. Reinstalled alternator, disconnected battery so that everything would reset....started fine. This morning, same scenario again, finally cranked after I turned the key over 4 or 5 times, voltmeter shows low charge. Help???

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, tough to tell what you mean by "hardly start", turns slowy like the battery was weak, ? Also what were the codes that caused the check engine lite? Try cleaning the battery cables especially the ground?, battery tested ok?

[mackay316]

I'm sorry, I didn't explain the starting problem very well. When I turn on the ignition the car seems as if it isn't getting fuel. (like an older vehicle without fuel injection where you have to pump the pedal a couple of times..... cururrurrrrrrrurrrrrr) I put a brand new battery in the vehicle a couple of weeks ago, it's fully charged. I checked the battery cables last night, they're clean. I don't know what codes are being kicked out. Tomorrow I will check grounds and fuses.

[mackay316]

I've made great progress in my car problem. I took it back to the mechanic who took my car to the dealership and asked a few other mechanics about my problem. They put a new computer in, changed the plugs, put parts on, took parts off and the car still wouldn't start. I payed $150 more dollars only to be told that "your car just isn't going to start when it's cold outside". Taking matters into my own hands I researched every issue about Pontiac Bonneville starting issues. Then I happened upon a discussion about something called a purge solenoid. The vacuum hoses connecting to the throttle body and return to the charcoal cannister were dry rotted. I changed every vacuum hose I could find and now the car starts right up. I have a new problem now. The car intermittently surges when in park below 1000 rpm and back up to 1000 rpm. The check oil light is always on when I start the car, then after I drive it for 5 miles or so the service engine soon light comes on. Any thoughts? I'm thinking maybe I have a bad oil pressure sending unit or perhaps a faulty voltage regulator in the alternator?