Hi,

My 89 Bonneville SSE has run about 140´000 miles, and i wonder wich service is closest to that mileage? When do you need to change the timeingbelts / (or is it chain) on this car. I have searched for a service schedule och something like that and havn´t found anything.

What type of oil do you guys overthere run your babies on?
I also wonder if someone has got a link to where i can download a manual for my 89.

Thanks a bunch,

Henrik,
Sweden

A full tune up may be in order. Coolant flush would be good too. Transmission fluid flush, or drain [big argument here, read some of the current transmission threads in the '87-91' forum]. A good brake flush may be in order also.

The timing chain is probably still okay. If you have the money laying around, I would replace it with a good metal unit [part, if not most of the assembly is plastic].

You cannot "Download" the Factory Service Manual. However, you purchase one. I don't know what is available in Sweeden, or if English is your native language [ignorant USA kid here], however a Haynes, or Chilton'* Manual should suffice if you aren't doing anything major on the car, or electrical. If you can get your hands on a Factory Service Manual, that'* great. Mine has paid for itself countless times, and I wouldn't be able to do half of what I have done to my car without it. But, if you have read the 'top end rebuild' thread, you can see, I am not doing just basic maintenance here.


-justin

For that manual, you might look on Ebay.

For oil, I personally use 10w-30 Valvoline. Nothing special. However, if I had unlimited funds, I would go with a full synthetic like Mobil 1.

I've never heard of the timing chains being a problem on our cars, and I don't believe that they are usually replaced at all, unless something goes wrong. I say if it'* not broken, don't fix it.

i would reccomend a timing chain (it depends on how much slop is in the chain)
most factory timing gear contain Teflon to extend the life of the gears

http://www.chiltondiy.com/index.aspx

and alldata is a site is the closest thing to a online FSM

http://www.alldatapro.com/includes/main.jsp

i think OSG cover alot

Thank you soo much!
I have looked over some things with my local GM dealer here in stockholm, and found out that they can order a maual for me, for about 500 sek (79 USD). Also called my local parts dealer and tried to order a Haynes manual, no luck there. Will try to call haynes main office in sweden and make a reservation of a copy there.

As far as the engine, im just going to do a regular service, change oil in engine+filter, change oil in tranny, tap out the coolant and flush and refill. Lubricate the belts and chains with teflon spray, and change intake air filter.

I bought oil today, found 4 litres of Mobil 1 syntetic for 28 USD, really good price i thought! So i bought 12 litres and one oilfilter, then some GM branded tranny fluid.

Hope everything will work as planned now!

/ Henrik

That all sounds well and good except perhaps for lubricating the belts. I've never heard of that being done before, and maybe there is some benefit that I'm not thinking of, but it would seem that you would not want to make your belt slippery. It relies on friction to turn your accesories.

That said, you might put a new belt on it, depending on how yours looks...

Yes, thought of that myself and decided not to. Thaks anyway!

Right before the belt is about to go, some "Belt Dressing" helps keep the belt from squeaking, so you have about 4 weeks to replace it [usually a good spray or two once a week keeps it quiet]. This is what I did before my belt needed replacement. Eventually it will never shut up, and that'* when you need to replace it. Or should have replaced it before then.


-justin

I havn´t gotten my haynes manual yet, so if someon could tell me how much oil i shuld put in the engine and tranny it would be great!

Does the tranny filter need to be changed too, or can I just simply tap the oil out and change? Don´t think that i will flush the tranny now, seem lite a bit to much work for me.

Anythin in perticular I need to think of when changing the engine oil, difficulties replacing the filter, or is it just like any other car?

Thanx,

Henrik

4.5 US quarts in the engine, something like 6 or so in the tranny.

The timing chain is supposed to be replaced at 100,000 Miles in that car, Has it been done yet?