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1992 Pontiac Bonneville engine dying problems
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Livethelife26
New User
Sep 3, 2010, 2:34 PM
Post #1 of 1
(3752 views)
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1992 Pontiac Bonneville engine dying problems
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1992 Pontiac Bonneville SE 3.8 170k
I typed up this list of the record of problems a few days ago, so I'll just post that so hopefully everyone has all the details they need...
3-5 years ago – car had issues with dying/chugging with low power after using air conditioner or going up hills in heat. RPM dial would wobble and car would chug if it went above 1,000 RPM. It was decided that vapor lock was the problem by our mechanic, and the fuel line was wrapped with aluminum foil on his suggestion (instead of spending the $$$ on fancy wraps). The problem slowly disappeared and hadn't reappeared for quite some time.
Aug. 25 & 26, 2010 – car was going on long road trip between Helena, MT and Portland, OR. Died going up Pass near Coeur d'Alene Idaho. Was a hot day and afternoon time. Hadn't filled with gas since Helena. Car just suddenly died, no chugging, no warning. Had car towed. Mechanic at shop suspected vapor lock. Checked oil pressure and it was fine. Checked fuel pressure and it was below specs (35 psi where recommended is 40-47). Fuel pump, filter, and strainer were replaced next day. When car was started up, ran rough. After driving around town a few minutes it seemed to calm down. Didn't fill up with gas before leaving. About an hour outside of town, car died again, same symptoms. Was afternoon and hot. Car restarted, drove to gas station and filled up. Drove another 30 miles to rest area, let car sit for several hours. Then car made the rest of the trip with no issues, although heater was run for first three hours to help ease heat burden.
Aug. 28 – car was driven to Tacoma, Washington from Portland, OR with no issues, and then driven further into Seattle, WA several hours later with no problems.
Aug. 29 – temperature was only in 60s, cloudy. Car died 2x in traffic only 20 minutes into return drive to Portland. Both times car was put into neutral while coasting, and restarted. All 4x car had died thus far, had just shut off with no warning. After last time it died this day, began chugging and hesitating, somewhat similar to many years ago. RPM gauge oscillated between 1,000 and 2,000 RPM. Pulled over and let car sit for an hour. Drove to gas station and filled up (only 6 gallons on a 16 gallon tank). Drove car to rest area 45 minutes away, let sit ½ hour. Drove to next rest area, no problems, let sit 10 minutes, began drive to next rest area, car died (night time now, no higher than 65 degrees out). Would not restart in neutral. Pulled over, tried to restart and wouldn't. Let sit 15 minutes, and it started. Drove to gas station, got gas (3 gallons). Started to move into parking space, car died right away. Started again, pulled aside, and let car sit for 1.5 hours. Car started and drove rest of the way home (70 miles) with no problems, although it ran somewhat rough.
Recent parts replaced: lever arm; coil pack (replaced just days before trip); spark plugs; air filter; battery (and with repairs on trip: fuel pump, filter, strainer)
Of note: part of aluminum foil wrapping fuel line had come off. Had not yet rewrapped.
Help? I don't know any mechanics out here, and the man of the house is currently deployed in Afghanistan...
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