1995 Pontiac Bonneville: engine overheating

Filed Sep 27, 2006 · Lights · 122,000 miles · NY

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH at dawn on normal road conditions, the head lights switch was turned off, but the headlights remained illuminated. There was no warning signal to indicate a defect. When driven back to the contact's residence at night, the head lights failed to turn off again. The lighting control module overheated so the contact disconnected the battery, but before doing so the lights turned off twenty minutes after the vehicle was turned off. The manufacturer was contacted, and indicated that the VIN # was not affected in the recall # 94v190000 and instructed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealership for a diagnosis.

Filed Aug 12, 2004 · Engine · 143,605 miles · NC

While driving at any speed the engine produced smoke and it overheated. Please provide additional information.

Filed Jun 2, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 71,000 miles · CA

I purchased this car used from a dealer in 2001 in michigan. (I don't think the air conditioning ever worked ). Within a few months the traction control went out. It would be on, when the car started, but within driving 300ft. Would go out and could not be turned back on from the button. A few months after that all of the dash lights went out when ever you turned on the head lights. This was due to a bad switch & a short. Then the cruse control went out. A few months after that we had to replace the head gaskets due to the engine over heating by an unknown cause. 1 month after that we had to replace the engine after throwing a rod and cracking the engine block, due to the fact that there was still fluind in the engine from melted manafold.( this all took place between nov. 2001 & jan. 2002) after that the ignition had to be replaced because one of the wires was severed due to the wheel tilt. (we would tilt the wheel & could not start the car). In nov. 2002 the transmission started to slip, we had it replaced. Then all at one time (2003) the battery went dead, the timing chain had jumped a tooth, the cam sensor, and the spark plugs which had been changed a few weeks before. A few weeks after that the engine overheated again due to a leak in the coolant resovoir bottel, this caused the head gaskets to blow again. It is now 2004 we have an ongoing electrical problem. Since mid 2003 we have gone through 3 PCM & 3 proms due to the fact the they kept frying ( a result of a bad ground that still can not be found), an altanator due to the fact that it had spikes. The check enging light would constantly come on & when the codes were pulled the egr vlave was listed, we replaced it and still the check engine light came on due to a still bad PCM. Now whenever we turn on the blinker the voltage gage moves in time with it due to a short. The RPM's surge at times while car is in motion or at idle, causing the car to satll or backfire. The cause is still unknown.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 109,644 miles · AZ

Gm technical service bulletin 01-06-01-007a identifies an inherent design flaw on the 3.8 l engine (VIN k - rpo l36) available in the following vehicles: 1995-1997 buick riviera 1995-1998 buick lesabre, park avenue 1996-1998 buick regal 1998 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo 1995-1996 oldsmobile ninety-eight 1995-1998 oldsmobile eighty-eight 1998 oldsmobile intrigue 1995-1998 pontiac bonneville 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix gm minimizes the impact of the problem by identifying one of the symptoms as owner complaining of a small coolant leak. The fact is that in most cases the leak is not visible. The coolant typically leaks internally by the egr stove pipe into the engine's intake manifold where it builds up. Eventually the coolant level in the intake manifold rises to the point where the coolant will get sucked into one of the cylinders. In less severe cases, when it happens at idle or low RPM, this causes the engine to seize and stall. In the most severe cases, when it happens at high RPM, the hammering effect of the engine trying to compress a liquid, causes the affected piston to shatter (my case). This is a catastrophic engine failure caused by a design flaw. When this happens on a highway at 75 MPH (my case) there is great potential for an accident and injury to passengers. I was lucky, but I still had to replace my engine with a remanufactured one at my expense. I could not afford what gm charged for a new engine. Gm is fully aware of the problem. Gm repair centers are attributing the failure to normal wear and tear and are charging owners to replace the flawed parts with the new design. I spoke with a service manager at a local dealership and he stated that he has seen a lot of vehicles coming in with the same failure, the less severe case being the most common.. I believe this problem calls for a recall of the affected vehicle to replace the flawed parts. I also believe that gm should partially reimburse me for my expenses related to the engine replacement.

Filed Jul 12, 2003 · Engine · 109,644 miles · AZ

Gm technical service bulletin 01-06-01-007a identifies an inherent design flaw on the 3.8 l engine (VIN k - rpo l36) available in the following vehicles:995-1997 buick riviera995-1998 buick lesabre, park avenue. *ak 1996-1998 buick regal 1998 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo 1995-1996 oldsmobile ninety-eight 1995-1998 oldsmobile eighty-eight 1998 oldsmobile intrigue 1995-1998 pontiac bonneville 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix gm minimizes the impact of the problem by identifying one of the symptoms as owner complaining of a small coolant leak. The fact is that in most cases the leak is not visible. The coolant typically leaks internally by the egr stove pipe into the engine's intake manifold where it builds up. Eventually the coolant level in the intake manifold rises to the point where the coolant will get sucked into one of the cylinders. In less severe cases, when it happens at idle or low RPM, this causes the engine to seize and stall. In the most severe cases, when it happens at high RPM, the hammering effect of the engine trying to compress a liquid, causes the affected piston to shatter (my case). This is a catastrophic engine failure caused by a design flaw. When this happens on a highway at 75 MPH (my case) there is great potential for an accident and injury to passengers. I was lucky, but I still had to replace my engine with a remanufactured one at my expense. Gm is fully aware of the problem. Gm repair centers are attributing the failure to normal wear and tear and are charging owners to replace the flawed parts with the new design. I spoke with a service manager at a local dealership and he stated that he has seen a lot of vehicles coming in with the same failure, the less severe case being the most common. They commonly just drain the affected cylinders and replace the flawed parts with the new design. I asked him how did he know if the affected piston had been damaged causing a catastrophic failure later on. He did not have an answer.

Filed Jun 25, 2002 · Fuel system · CA

Upper and lower intake manifold warped due to unknow cause, oil and coolant leaked ruining the crank sensor and ignition module, could have caused head to blow. Repair cost @1600.00.

Filed Oct 4, 2000 · Engine · MD

I was told by koons that the head was cracked be either a failed thermostat, gasket or a water pump (all replaced by koons in april 2000). Once they found out the replaced all these items - their story changed to a thousand other excuses. I find it hard to believe that a 5 year old car with the proper maintenance being done to it can blow an engine that easily. Something failed to make the car overheat and crack the head.