QuestionQUESTION: hi, my 97 bonneville doesnt start, at first we thought it was the starter and we replaced that and it still doesnt start. We also thought it might be the battery so we tried charging it with another car and no luck either, the electronics work just fine so im sure its not the battery. When i try and turn it on it just clicks, the lights dim, and there is a little beeping sound. Were not sure what it is because it just stopped working out of the blue. I came back from school, parked it and then i tried to move it and it just didnt start.
ANSWER: Hi Anthony:
did you try to turn the engine over by hand. use a open end wrench or a socket on the nut for the balancer on the front of the engine and see if it turns colck wide while you standing in front of it. if it will not turn the engine is locked up and that is why the starter will not tunr the engine over... remove the spark plugs and try again. Chances are the engine is hydrolocked up coolant leked into the cylinders and will not allow it to turn... If this is the case the upper intake manifold need to be replaced it's warped and it leaked coolant into the combustion chambers in the engone... If the engine does turn over then you need to check you battery cables for high resiantance or a loose connection... My guess is the first otion is what happend here.
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QUESTION: thank you so much that is exactly what the problem is because the engine does not turn. So how much do you estimate the part is? i know it may differ but around how much do you think it'll cost, less than 100, more than 100? thanks
ANSWER: Way more the $100.00. The upper intake is around $200.00 just for the part alone plus the gasket kit and a set of spark plugs plus change the engine oil. to have it done I would say $600.00 part amd labor.. It depends on the shop labor rate as to how much it cost to have it done.
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QUESTION: hi, its me again, i replaced the manifold, changed the engine oil, put a new set of spark plugs as well, and it still does not start. It showed a little chance of revival because when i turned the key, it started spinning but then it got stuck again like it did the first time when the lights dim.
Answeryou probalby have/had residual coolant in the lower intake and when the engine started to crank it sucked coolant into cylinders again. remove the spark plugs and turn the engien over by hand if it trurn over 2 complet revolutions okay then crank it over with the starter and the spark plugs removed this will blow out any coolant that may be left in the engine. It may seem barbaric but it's effective and it works.. You may have to clean the coolant of the spark plugs a few times before it starts and runs...
