Picked up a 1997 Bonneville SSEI

[scootercooch]

Just picked up this car a little over a month now, looks great for the most part, just needs a little TLC. She has a black exterior, 16" chrome oem wheels, just needs to have the front bumper and hood repainted (clear coat issues). The car also has 211k miles on it, was only $1500 as well.

done so far:

-new tires
-valve cover gaskets
-supercharger flush
-new belts
-front brakes and rotors
-oil pressure switch
-replaced the stock bose sound system w/ Kicker
-kenwood head unit
-interstate battery
-magnaflow muffler w/ new piping & catylac conv.
-sway bar end links
-washer fluid pump
-idler pulley
-tinted windows

need to do:

-oil pan gasket (leaks all over my driveway)
-front struts (clunks)
-rear brakes and drums (rusted)
-coolant level sensor (low coolant light on dash, but levels are fine)
-thermostat (works fine, but might as well)

I'm thinking if they take off the oil pan, they might as well replace the oil pump and do the water pump too.

Recently my oil pressure gauge has been reading a little low after I replaced the oil pressure switch and I was getting the "check gauges" light when I came to a stop. So today, I got another switch installed and the oil changed, and that seemed to help out a little bit, it's not getting in the red anymore when stopping but not too far from it. It is a higher milage engine, so I take that into consideration, but the mechanic said there are no knocks and no flakes or anything funny looking in the oil. So I am leaning towards the oil pump being bad (never has been replaced, from what I gathered).

Anything else I should look into getting replaced considering it has 211k?

[2002BonnevilleSE]

Welcome to the club.

[wake]

[InfiniteRiddles]

I bought a 1993 Bonneville SSEI off my uncle. It had the same issue after having the motor replaced. Eventually the oil pressure went to deep red and thats all she wrote for that car. I was alittle salty after just having paid my cousin to install the motor. Found out there was a wiring issue and I just sold my grief to someone else who now enjoys the splendor. Check the wires out, but definitly don't wait it out. Other than brakes I would say this is a priority issue.

[scootercooch]

did you ever find out where the electrical issue was? I think the mechanic was hinting it was possibly an electric problem too. Just replaced the battery a week ago and for some reason its still reading at a good health battery, but on the test, it was 4 bars from the top, from being perfect. And something is still draining, I was thinking maybe the altenator or starter.

[00Beast]

Replacing the oil pump isn't like on a small block chevy, where it's right in the oil pan, the pump is merely a gerotor in the front cover that pushes the oil to the whole engine. There is literally nothing to wear, and unless it catastrophically fails, which I have seen once in 3 years on this site, they usually don't have issues. It's also a real bear to get to, and there's literally 3 pieces, the 2 gears and a seal. I'd be more inclined to say your rod bearings are probably getting a little worn, probably from abuse from a previous owner, or the pickup is maybe gummed up, or the pan is dented in and the pickup cannot suck oil like it needs to.

You didn't mention anything like filters, plugs, wires, etc, so here is my maintenance list. Make sure this is all up to date.

• 1987-2005 Bonneville / Buick 3800 Maintenance List
  
  Run Seafoam, Chevron Techron or Gumout Regane through gasoline every 5,000 miles.
  
  Grease: Ball Joints, Tie Rods Every 8-10k ( Green Grease or Amsoil Grease recommended)
  Air Filter Every 15k (Amsoil EaA, Purolator PureONE)
  PCV Valve Every 30k
  MAF Sensor Element Cleaning/TB Cleaning Every 50k viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1661
  Fuel Filter Every 15-25k (Purolator, AC Delco, WIX) http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 45&t=23215
  Spark Plugs Every 30-50k (NGK TR55, AC Delco 41-101 or Autolite 605) (Never Bosch)
  Ignition Wires Every 30-50k (Napa Belden, AC Delco, Autolite Pro, NGK) (Never Taylor or Bosch)
  Oil & Filter Every 5-6k or Every 6 months (Valvoline SYNPower, Pennzoil Platinum, or Amsoil )(Mobil1, Purolator PureONE, Amsoil EaO, K&N or WIX) (Never Fram) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=214
  *Conventional Oil Every 3k/3 months(API SM/SN rating) (WIX (Napa), Delco or Purolator filter)
  Tires: Check Inflation Pressure & Visually Inspect Monthly Rotate Every 6-8,000 Miles
  Transmission Flush or Pan Drop Every 15-20k (Always make sure filter is changed when flushed) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=10193
  Cooling System Flush Every 25-50k or 3-5 Years (Peak or Prestone Mixes-With-Any Coolant Only) (Never Dexcool)
  Oxygen Sensor Every 80-100k (30k for non-heated) (AC Delco or Denso) (Absolutely never Bosch) viewtopic.php?f=48&t=794
  Accessory Belt Inspect every 15k, replace every 100k, or as needed
  Cabin Air Filter Inspect and Replace every 15k, or as needed in dusty conditions. (Note: 00+ Only) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=13626
  Evap Core Cleaning Whenever Needed (Note: 99 and older only) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=2432
  Brake Fluid Flush 3yr/50k
  Power Steering Fluid Replacement/Flush Every 100k or 5 years
  
  *Special Considerations*
  All Series II/III 3800's RPO's: L36, L26, L67 & L32, especially important on vehicles factory installed with orange Havoline Dexcool Antifreeze/Coolant: http://www.dex-cool.net/
  Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement, every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your engine oil, this happening can cause irreversible lower engine damage, requiring replacement of subject engine)
  
  [/b]Series II, Naturally Aspirated, RPO:L36:[/b]
  Upper Intake Manifold Plenum Replacement, Every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your intake manifold, possible damage to occur can be hydrolock, irreversible damage to emissions devices, misfires, etc. Most times, engine replacement is required if ignored long enough.) viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1061
  
  Series I, II, III RPO Code L67 & L32:
  Change Supercharger Oil; Every 30-50k. (Intense Racing or GM Dealer) viewtopic.php?f=56&t=1690
  Supercharger Belt; Inspect Every 15k, Replace Every 100k or as needed.

7/9/11 by 00Beast

[InfiniteRiddles]

Sorry cant remember for the life of me. I just know when the pump went out it didnt get very far afterward lol I really wish I could help but dont beat around the bush, faulty oil pressure in any sense is a serious issue.

[scootercooch]

when i first replaced that oil pressure switch last tuesday, i tell you that oil pressure gauge was all over the place on the drive home and then thats when i started getting the check gauges light. the old switch was pretty soaked with oil on the inside. but on friday had another switch installed and had the oil filter and fluid changed, it helped a little bit, i no longer get in the red after driving 10-15 minutes. now it usually is about 35-40 when driving and then it drops to about the 2nd line over the red, which still needs some help in my opinion. its getting looked at again with the oil pressure tester though on wednesday, so wish me luck, lol.

the car does leak some oil though, the mechanic said from the oil pan gasket, which usually leaves a couple spots when parked. i figure though if the oil pan is out already, im going to switch to a thicker oil, probably 10w40 and im going to have the oil pump replaced, check the tubes, timing chain and water pump replaced. better safe than sorry. can you think of anything else while that section is taken apart?
crankshaft seal?

[slowassta]

i had a similar problem with mine (98 ssei), mine had a lot of sludge in my motor. when it got hot it would break down the sludge into a really thick liquid and clog my p/u tube... plus my pickup tube screen had only a quarter size hole to pick up oil from all the neglect of the previous owner...

id would pull the pan and clean the pick up tube and pan and run some kind of engine flush.. ,my $0.02

[scootercooch]

yeah, im hoping its from something simple as the tube and pick up being clogged. always have to pay for someone elses neglect

[InfiniteRiddles]

This has me concerned aswell. My 2002 SSEI dips into the red zone at idle and I am not sure why. I'll price check the oil sensor n see.

[scootercooch]

your '02 have a lot of miles? my guess is the sensor and if not, hope for the best, lol. heard the electrical systems are nightmares on bonnevilles, picky. bad gauge?

[1oldman]

Just picked up this car a little over a month now, looks great for the most part, just needs a little TLC. She has a black exterior, 16" chrome oem wheels, just needs to have the front bumper and hood repainted (clear coat issues). The car also has 211k miles on it, was only $1500 as well.

done so far:

-new tires
-valve cover gaskets
-supercharger flush
-new belts
-front brakes and rotors
-oil pressure switch
-replaced the stock bose sound system w/ Kicker
-kenwood head unit
-interstate battery
-magnaflow muffler w/ new piping & catylac conv.
-sway bar end links
-washer fluid pump
-idler pulley
-tinted windows

need to do:

-oil pan gasket (leaks all over my driveway)
-front struts (clunks)
-rear brakes and drums (rusted)
-coolant level sensor (low coolant light on dash, but levels are fine)
-thermostat (works fine, but might as well)

I'm thinking if they take off the oil pan, they might as well replace the oil pump and do the water pump too.

Recently my oil pressure gauge has been reading a little low after I replaced the oil pressure switch and I was getting the "check gauges" light when I came to a stop. So today, I got another switch installed and the oil changed, and that seemed to help out a little bit, it's not getting in the red anymore when stopping but not too far from it. It is a higher milage engine, so I take that into consideration, but the mechanic said there are no knocks and no flakes or anything funny looking in the oil. So I am leaning towards the oil pump being bad (never has been replaced, from what I gathered).

Anything else I should look into getting replaced considering it has 211k?

OIL PAN GASKET - get the Felpro professional gasket and save yourself a lot of leaks down the road. It's $29.95 vs $9.99, and well worth the cost. - BC

[InfiniteRiddles]

Not sure. I had a mechanic who toys with the 3800s as a hobby rebuild my top end and I am sure he trusted the bottom end. It came off a t-boned gtp with 80k.

[scootercooch]

well had the oil pressure checked out this morning at the shop with that gauge they hook up where the oil pressure switch is.. at a warm idle it didn't get any lower 28psi. was told most likely it is the gauge on the cluster that needs to be replaced. anyone know if you can just buy the motor part of the gauge or do you have to get a whole new cluster? the low pressure light "check gauges" beep gets a little annoying whenever it wants to drop to the red. I'm just happy it wasn't nothing too serious.

[00Beast]

Replace the sender with an AC Delco or Delphi unit, I bet your cluster is fine. The aftermarket units can be a little wonky.