Junking my bonnie
- murderedout
- SLE Member

- Posts: 76
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- Year and Trim: 1989 bonneville LE flat black paint 133k
Junking my bonnie
im sick of this dang car. its an 89 with only 130k on it and i just put a fuel pump and filter on it. 300bucks and now, as before, it decides to not start. for example just 5 minutes ago i was at wally world for ten minutes came out wouldnt start. it had fuel and spark. im just gonna get rid of it i cant fix it
- SSEiMan01
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Re: Junking my bonnie
Where are you located?
Will
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
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91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
02 Bonneville SSEi | 171k mi | Black w/Neutral Int. | Backup and road trip car
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 165K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily
James May wrote:Hello.
- PLAGUE PHANTOM
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Re: Junking my bonnie
When was the CPS replaced last. That may be your issue
1997 Bonneville SLE...(SilverStreak)...Totaled...1/25/13...Gone but not forgotten.
1968 Chevrolet Bel Air....the project
1968 Chevrolet Bel Air....the project
- murderedout
- SLE Member

- Posts: 76
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- Year and Trim: 1989 bonneville LE flat black paint 133k
Re: Junking my bonnie
im in western, ky
camshaft position sensor was replaced about 6 months ago, magnet still intact.
camshaft position sensor was replaced about 6 months ago, magnet still intact.
Re: Junking my bonnie
You may have gotten a bad CPS. That happens.
- murderedout
- SLE Member

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Re: Junking my bonnie
i just went outside and it started up. im really leaning towards it being heat related. it sat for about 2 hours and i just went outside (around 55*) and it fired up no problem 4 times in a row. WHAT GIVES im taking it to a mechanic if i cant figure this out by thursday
- PLAGUE PHANTOM
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Re: Junking my bonnie
Mine was replaced 2 months ago with an ac delco unit and it is already going bad. Duralast crank sensors are junk so do not get one of those.
1997 Bonneville SLE...(SilverStreak)...Totaled...1/25/13...Gone but not forgotten.
1968 Chevrolet Bel Air....the project
1968 Chevrolet Bel Air....the project
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Jrs3800
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Re: Junking my bonnie
murderedout wrote:im in western, ky
camshaft position sensor was replaced about 6 months ago, magnet still intact.
Have you ever replaced the Crankshaft Positions Sensor ? You are perfectly describing a Crank Sensor failure....
Were the injectors firing ? You would need a noid light or a certain bulb to test this.... You can have fuel but if the injectors are not firing it'll never start..
The crank sensor is a 2 part sensor, 3x's pulse for spark and 18x's pulse for fueling... This can fail on one side or the other or simply fail completely...
Last edited by Jrs3800 on Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
- murderedout
- SLE Member

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Re: Junking my bonnie
No I have not replaced the crank sensor. I didn't know I had one! Is there a write up on it or any hints or tips on how to do it? I have a FSM. Any pictures would be great!Jrs3800 wrote:murderedout wrote:im in western, ky
camshaft position sensor was replaced about 6 months ago, magnet still intact.
Have you ever replaced the Crankshaft Positions Sensor ? You are perfectly describing a Crank Sensor failure....
Were the injectors firing ? You would need a noid light or a certain bulb to test this.... You can have fuel but if the injectors are not firing it'll never start..
The crank sensor is a 2 part sensor, 3x's pulse for spark and 18x's pulse for fueling... This can fail on one side or the other or simply fail completely...
- Jfridge92
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Re: Junking my bonnie
The crank sensor is located behind the harmonic balancer

Joseph
Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
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- murderedout
- SLE Member

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Re: Junking my bonnie
oh im sure this weekend will be fun replacing that thing... should i put a new HB on it to while its off?
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nickdalzell1
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Re: Junking my bonnie
just out of curiosity is yours equipped with VATS or PASS Key? does a light show as SECURITY while starting? that can cause a no-start condition that magically seems to go away on its own, and in my case heat exasperates the condition.
1992 Pontiac Bonneville SSE (3800 Series I, 277K miles and counting! with a horrific knock sadly)


- murderedout
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Re: Junking my bonnie
no it doesnt have that style key. But i drove it 4 hours today all highway and when i parked it at my apartment i let it idle for 2 minutes and it died. im thinking the icm is getting to hot?nickdalzell1 wrote:just out of curiosity is yours equipped with VATS or PASS Key? does a light show as SECURITY while starting? that can cause a no-start condition that magically seems to go away on its own, and in my case heat exasperates the condition.
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1oldman
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Re: Junking my bonnie
That's the way the ICM on the Magnavox ICM I use to have would act when it was in the process of "giving up the ghost". - BCmurderedout wrote:no it doesnt have that style key. But i drove it 4 hours today all highway and when i parked it at my apartment i let it idle for 2 minutes and it died. im thinking the icm is getting to hot?nickdalzell1 wrote:just out of curiosity is yours equipped with VATS or PASS Key? does a light show as SECURITY while starting? that can cause a no-start condition that magically seems to go away on its own, and in my case heat exasperates the condition.
In Memory of Brad - 1/21/1977 .. 10/23/2013 ...... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 .....
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321
Re: Junking my bonnie
I remember my Uncle had this problem in his old Buick. He gave up, sold it, and bought a 5.0 Camaro instead.
If I were you, I'd give up and buy a camaro. But that's just me.
If I were you, I'd give up and buy a camaro. But that's just me.

- murderedout
- SLE Member

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- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:30 am
- Year and Trim: 1989 bonneville LE flat black paint 133k
Re: Junking my bonnie
so your saying its most likely the icm and or coils? im gonna take it to autozontastic tommorrow and have them test it a few times and hopefully it fails and we can put my car troubles to rest...except the trunk leak and the front window leak1oldman wrote:That's the way the ICM on the Magnavox ICM I use to have would act when it was in the process of "giving up the ghost". - BCmurderedout wrote:no it doesnt have that style key. But i drove it 4 hours today all highway and when i parked it at my apartment i let it idle for 2 minutes and it died. im thinking the icm is getting to hot?nickdalzell1 wrote:just out of curiosity is yours equipped with VATS or PASS Key? does a light show as SECURITY while starting? that can cause a no-start condition that magically seems to go away on its own, and in my case heat exasperates the condition.
- RJolly87
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Re: Junking my bonnie
I give up! Many have told you the symptoms you describe perfectly fit the Crank position sensor, and I have as well in your other thread here:murderedout wrote:No I have not replaced the crank sensor. I didn't know I had one! Is there a write up on it or any hints or tips on how to do it? I have a FSM. Any pictures would be great!Jrs3800 wrote:murderedout wrote:im in western, ky
camshaft position sensor was replaced about 6 months ago, magnet still intact.
Have you ever replaced the Crankshaft Positions Sensor ? You are perfectly describing a Crank Sensor failure....
Were the injectors firing ? You would need a noid light or a certain bulb to test this.... You can have fuel but if the injectors are not firing it'll never start..
The crank sensor is a 2 part sensor, 3x's pulse for spark and 18x's pulse for fueling... This can fail on one side or the other or simply fail completely...
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=31708&start=20
Now, in all honesty, the old magnavox ignition systems were prone to failure, and that is probably not helping, . My suggestion now is to just do both and be done with it.
Unless you still plan on junking it . . .
~Randall~


1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
- murderedout
- SLE Member

- Posts: 76
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:30 am
- Year and Trim: 1989 bonneville LE flat black paint 133k
Re: Junking my bonnie
im taking the icm to autozone today to find out if its bad. ill be sure they test it multiple times. hopefully it fails! an EPIC FAIL! so i can put this problem behind ALL OF US.

