Strange problem
- glorkar
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Strange problem
The past couple of days, when I'm driving home from work, my car shuts off. It seems to happen out of nowhere. Both times I'd say I was going 10-15mph. When I pop her in neutral and start it back up, the airbag light flashes. Any insight?

'96 Bonneville SLE "Twilight" ( sold :( )
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bonnevillain
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Re: Strange problem
i would check the fuel pressure regulator. i doubt the light actually has anything to do wtih it.
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CincyGXP
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98 SE
Olds Aurora Final 500 - Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Re: Strange problem
Crankshaft position sensor? Does it start right back up?
- Mechanical Mike
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Re: Strange problem
Start by checking the battery cable ends for corrosion.
Do you have a scanner?
Do you have a scanner?
2006 Chevy Monte Carlo SS
- glorkar
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Re: Strange problem
It starts right back up. It happened again last night. It seems to happen when I am slowing down. This time it was like it was loosing power. It faded, got strong, faded and died. Into neutral and she started right back up. No I do not have a scanner. I could check the cables.

'96 Bonneville SLE "Twilight" ( sold :( )
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dirtracr95
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Re: Strange problem
so its surging before it dies?
- Mechanical Mike
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Re: Strange problem
Battery cables, driver's side ground bus, vacuum leak & maf sensor are all suspects.
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- J Wikoff
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Re: Strange problem
I'd say fuel pressure could be a problem too... stalling when slowing down like that.

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- 2000Silverbullet
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Re: Strange problem
The 94 was doing that when the EGR was malfunctioning.

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Re: Strange problem
my 95 sse did that before the fuel pump died, put a fuel pressure guage on it to see if you are losing pressure when this happens.
Last edited by Guest on Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:43 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Strange problem
So did you figure this out?
I just had the same experience, it starts right back up. Cruising along fine, the engine quits, I pull over and it starts right back up, about 1/4 mile down the road it does the same thing. I pull over, it starts back up. I sit there with the engine running about 2 minutes and it quits again. None of the guages are indicating any trouble. I start back up, to try and get home, I get about 3 minutes down the road and it dies again. Then I pop it in neutral and it start it again, this time I make it home with no problem, about 7 minutes from the last time it dies.
Any info out there?
Regards,
James 96 SE
I just had the same experience, it starts right back up. Cruising along fine, the engine quits, I pull over and it starts right back up, about 1/4 mile down the road it does the same thing. I pull over, it starts back up. I sit there with the engine running about 2 minutes and it quits again. None of the guages are indicating any trouble. I start back up, to try and get home, I get about 3 minutes down the road and it dies again. Then I pop it in neutral and it start it again, this time I make it home with no problem, about 7 minutes from the last time it dies.
Any info out there?
Regards,
James 96 SE
glorkar wrote:The past couple of days, when I'm driving home from work, my car shuts off. It seems to happen out of nowhere. Both times I'd say I was going 10-15mph. When I pop her in neutral and start it back up, the airbag light flashes. Any insight?
Last edited by Pilgar on Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- bad.moshi
- SSEi Member

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Re: Strange problem
Seems like something similar to mine, really. It rarely happens to me but the first time it did, I was sitting stopped at a light. without warning, it died and bonked at me to check "gages," haha. Second time was just down the road as I was pulling into a parking spot (wheels cranked, slow driving, I considered the fuel or steering pump malfunctioning?). It didn't do it after that at all for a month or two, then it did it once in the drive through at a restaurant. Slow speed, wheels cranked. And again later on about a month after that. Slowish (15 mph maybe) speed, wheels not cranked. But that time it HAD only been on for a couple minutes and it was blistering cold outside. Not sure... not enough that seems consistent to me
Here's a link to my post about it a while ago. Maybe some of their advice should be considered as well:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... &sk=t&sd=a
Here's a link to my post about it a while ago. Maybe some of their advice should be considered as well:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... &sk=t&sd=a
Last edited by bad.moshi on Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

Bonneville SE -- Cruising the mountains, surfing the lowlands, and passing broken down competition since 1993!
Re: Strange problem
Moshi, Thanks for the info, the difference is my car was full of gas, I drove it this morning the same route and it worked fine.
Weird, no codes, I took it to Autozone to read them but none triggered.
Regards,
James
Weird, no codes, I took it to Autozone to read them but none triggered.
Regards,
James
- glorkar
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Re: Strange problem
Not really sure on mine. It hasn't done it since the last time. I'd like to say the car is just moody, but that really doesn't solve anything now does it?

'96 Bonneville SLE "Twilight" ( sold :( )
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- willwren
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Re: Strange problem
Disconnect both battery cables at the battery and pull the boots off. You MUST pull the boots. Warm them up to make it easier (blow dryer on high works great).
This is a common problem, especially in winter. You will find corrosion you cannot see from the 'outside' after removing the boots. I'll put 90% odds on this. We have had in the past about a dozen cars per month through fall/winter with this problem. It's very common, and your symptoms are pointing in that direction.
This is a common problem, especially in winter. You will find corrosion you cannot see from the 'outside' after removing the boots. I'll put 90% odds on this. We have had in the past about a dozen cars per month through fall/winter with this problem. It's very common, and your symptoms are pointing in that direction.

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- John Deere Boy
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Re: Strange problem
How much gas in the tank? My car did that when the fuel strainer fell off of the pump when under 1/3 tank.
- Mike Sessei
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Re: Strange problem
I've gotta side with Mech Mike & WillWren; check both terminals, pull back the boots, wire brush away until you can see your face in them!
1996 Bonneville SSEi
- Stock Is A Bad Word -
3.6, FWI, 1 Range Cooler, and Energy Endlinks couldn't prevent a spun bearing.
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3.6, FWI, 1 Range Cooler, and Energy Endlinks couldn't prevent a spun bearing.




