now what?
- velvetdreams21
- Posts like an LN3

- Posts: 557
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 9:52 pm
- Year and Trim: 1994 SSEi
- Location: Mason City, Iowa
- Contact:
now what?
a couple times now I would turn the key and it wouldnt start but I would hear a whirring sound and it would start if I let off the key and tried again. Now it made a klunk sound and it wont start at all
The gauges light up, the stereo works great still but it almost acts like the battery is dead which is cant be cause it only has a few months on it only running it maybe 3 times a week.
The gauges light up, the stereo works great still but it almost acts like the battery is dead which is cant be cause it only has a few months on it only running it maybe 3 times a week.
1994 Bonneville SSEi

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight
-
Ultra Boost
- SLE Member

- Posts: 50
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 1994 Buick Park Avenue Ultra
- Location: Kenosha, WI
Re: now what?
A whirring noise? It could be that the starter was not engaging the flywheel and now is not working at all. If you have power to the small (purple?) wire to the starter solenoid when the key is in the "crank" position, I would say it needs a starter.
Needs more blower whine!
- velvetdreams21
- Posts like an LN3

- Posts: 557
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 9:52 pm
- Year and Trim: 1994 SSEi
- Location: Mason City, Iowa
- Contact:
Re: now what?
Ultra Boost wrote:A whirring noise? It could be that the starter was not engaging the flywheel and now is not working at all. If you have power to the small (purple?) wire to the starter solenoid when the key is in the "crank" position, I would say it needs a starter.
Thats what I was thinking and was hoping it wasnt true. Starters are around $200 arent they?
1994 Bonneville SSEi

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight
- harofreak00
- Administrator

- Posts: 26022
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
- Location: Browerville, MN
- Contact:
Re: now what?
Do you know how to jump the connection to manual run the starter?
You should be able to find a used starter for $40-50
Looks like they are $65-75 at Autozone
You should be able to find a used starter for $40-50
Looks like they are $65-75 at Autozone
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
-
Ultra Boost
- SLE Member

- Posts: 50
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:39 am
- Year and Trim: 1994 Buick Park Avenue Ultra
- Location: Kenosha, WI
Re: now what?
Could just take it out and have it tested before buying a new one.
Needs more blower whine!
- velvetdreams21
- Posts like an LN3

- Posts: 557
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 9:52 pm
- Year and Trim: 1994 SSEi
- Location: Mason City, Iowa
- Contact:
Re: now what?
harofreak00 wrote:Do you know how to jump the connection to manual run the starter?
You should be able to find a used starter for $40-50
Looks like they are $65-75 at Autozone
I wish I did, Im not even sure where the starter is either :-/. *dang* it Haro, why cant you live around here lol?
I called Oreilly and they have one for $75.
1994 Bonneville SSEi

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight
- harofreak00
- Administrator

- Posts: 26022
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
- Location: Browerville, MN
- Contact:
Re: now what?
Here is the starter.

its a pretty easy job, only 2 bolts and the wiring hold it on.
You can bypass the starter solenoid by using a large screwdriver. Connect the 2 large terminals on the solenoid to see if the starter engages.

its a pretty easy job, only 2 bolts and the wiring hold it on.
You can bypass the starter solenoid by using a large screwdriver. Connect the 2 large terminals on the solenoid to see if the starter engages.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
- velvetdreams21
- Posts like an LN3

- Posts: 557
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 9:52 pm
- Year and Trim: 1994 SSEi
- Location: Mason City, Iowa
- Contact:
Re: now what?
OIC so its an under the car type job, given the amount of room I will have Ill see what I can do. The parking lot is right on top of a steep hill and I tend to park as far forward as I can get so I may not have the room to do it but I will try tomorow when I have light againharofreak00 wrote: You can bypass the starter solenoid by using a large screwdriver. Connect the 2 large terminals on the solenoid to see if the starter engages.
1994 Bonneville SSEi

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight

Stereo: Jensen Cd Deck, two 12" 600 watt Visonik subs, 6X9 Kicker "KS SERIES" 3-Way 300 Watts (for now)
Mods: 180* T-stat, Red wire loom, and Red painted strut bar.
Interior: Blue CD Neon, Chrome racing pedals, Custom painted dash
Exterior: Tinted Taillight
- harofreak00
- Administrator

- Posts: 26022
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
- Location: Browerville, MN
- Contact:
Re: now what?
Put it in neutral and back it up from the curb.
Use a jack and jackstand to lift the front of the car. You won't be able to work on it without.
Use a jack and jackstand to lift the front of the car. You won't be able to work on it without.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
- radomirthegreat
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 3343
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 8:52 pm
- Year and Trim: 1994 SSEi 1999 SLE
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Contact:
Re: now what?
I got another starter for my 94 SSEi for $20 from a junkyard. One of the bolts was securely stuck. I bought a 3/8" drive breaker bar with no ratcheting but rather a 180º rotating head. That was useful to get a good angle with an extension and what I think was a 15mm socket. One of the bolts came out really easily, but the other one was fought with all my body strength. Also, I had to take out one radiator fan to get my starter out. Your experience may vary, and I wish you the best of luck. Just letting you know of some slight hassles you may run into, like a chassis part getting in the way and some weird angles to turn the starter to get it out. Good luck! 
94 SSEi - Project car
99 SLE - Tuned with different parts and such
85 Porsche 944 - Daily driver
68 Chevy C-10 - Free truck! Needs parts.
99 SLE - Tuned with different parts and such
85 Porsche 944 - Daily driver
68 Chevy C-10 - Free truck! Needs parts.
-
Boss455
- GXP Member

- Posts: 242
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 9:40 pm
- Year and Trim: 1999 Buick Regal GS
- Location: Boise, Idaho
Re: now what?
I just did the starter on my car last week, not fun, somewhat easy, but not fun. Yes, only 2 bolts holding it in, 15mm. I'd undo the negative battery cable so you can wrench off the starter wires, I think it's 8mm for the small and 15mm for the bigger one on the solenoid. One thing not mentioned was the starter splash shield held on by a 10mm screw by the hydraulic tranny mount (looks like a mini shock absorber). Shield was hard to get out, I broke mine cause it was greasy and brittle. You have to wiggle it out. Did I mention how greasy and crud filled it was? With all the things in the way, you should pull the starter out from the top and remove the passenger side fan like Radomir said. Gives you just enough clearance. I got my starter from the yard, although I should of sprung for a new one at Autozone, $100 in my area!
1999 Buick Regal GS
1992 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1 (the Backup)
2001 Chevy Venture (aka Rosie) Wife's Ride
1994 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi "Black Betty" NOW PACKIN' 2.5" OF FUN! (retired to the junkyard up above)
1992 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1 (the Backup)
2001 Chevy Venture (aka Rosie) Wife's Ride
1994 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi "Black Betty" NOW PACKIN' 2.5" OF FUN! (retired to the junkyard up above)

