I have a problem I am trying to diagnose on my 92 Bonneville. I started getting into this awhile ago, this has been an ongoing process. I have the procedure to do the paperclip trick in the ASDL OBDI connector, but I am missing something. I keep reading online to check for CEL light flashes with the key in the ON position and the A&B pinouts of the connector jumpered. I am not getting CEL light flashes, but there is a series of dings from the ignition warning system. I was told by Autozone to count the dings, but when I do they do not match the code list that I have. Do I count the dings and also, does anyone know where to get a 100% correct list of codes? I am trying to diagnose an intermittent issue and it is a good one. It involves the car stalling, cooling down and then running again. Never can tell how far it will go before it stalls. Thank you.

EDIT: The dings I am hearing happen without the jumper even being installed, so that isn't it either. And, I know my CEL works. Not sure how to get codes out of this car after all. Any clues?

Bad crank sensor.

Try my crank senor idea? My car had the same problem and once I got the new Crank sensor in my problem went away.

I am leaning towards the crank sensor as well. Fuel pump and all associated with that is fine. And, thank you for the way to read these codes, I am going at this again. Thanks guys.

Good luck. Let us know what you find and I hope that is your solution to your problem.

Well, things just got a little weirder. I tried counting dings, I don't get anything other than 4 dings followed by 8 dings, sometimes 12 dings, sometimes 4 dings x 4 dings, then 8 dings, eventually I get all 8 dings over and over. Nothing that makes any sense. It seems random. Also, I just tried to actually start the car and all heck broke loose. All of my interior lights were flashing and I hear what sounds like a frying wire and it will not start. I thought I was in a Sci-fi movie for a minute. Awhile back I killed the battery trying to start it but I took it to Autozone and it check out ok. Also, I checked my ground busses at the door sills, they are ok, battery terminals ok, 14.3 volts coming from alternator. I have no clue what is going on. Reading codes is not getting me anywhere. I am not sure what this new lights flashing sizzling wire under the hood/dash thing is, but it cannot be good.

I would say check your fuses.

1992 Pontiac Bonneville 3800. The best you to do is get the codes from the ECM. You can do this yourself by jumpering the underdash diagnostic connector and counting the flashes of the check engine light to retreive the codes.





* 1. Locate the diagnostic connector under the drivers side of the dash.

2. Using a paperclip, jump the A & B terminals of the connector.

graphic




* 3. Turn the ignition key on, but do not start the car.
* 4. Count the flashes of the check engine light. The sequence will start with a 12, one flash short pause flash flash long pause. This may repeat two or three times before the codes will begin.
* 5. Record the codes, all double digit numbers, digits seperated by short pause, codes seperated by a longer pause. For Example, Code 23 would be displayed as [flash flash] [short pause] [flash flash flash] [long pause].
* 6. Turn the ignition key off & remove the jumper from the diagnostic connector.

92-93 3.8L & 3.8L Supercharged

13


Oxygen Sensor Circuit

14


Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit

15


Coolant Sensor Circuit

16


System Voltage High/Low

17


Spark Reference Circuit

18


Cam/Crank Error

21


Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Signal Voltage High

22


Throttle Position Sensor Circuit (Signal Voltage Low)

23


Intake Air Temp (IAT) Sensor (Low Temp Indicated)

24


Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) Circuit

25


Intake Air Temp (IAT) Sensor (High Temp Indicated)

26


Quad Driver (QDM) "A" Fault

31


PRNDL Switch Circuit

34


Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) Circuit

36


Transaxle Shift Control Problem

38


TCC Brake Input Circuit

39


Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) Circuit

41


Cam Sensor Circuit

42


Electronic Spark Timing (EST) Circuit

43


Electronic Spark Control (ESC) Circuit

44


Oxygen Sensor (O2S) Circuit (Lean Indication)

45


Oxygen Sensor (O2S) Circuit (Rich Indication)

51


Mem-Cal Error (Faulty or Incorrect Mem-Cal)
53 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Fault

54


Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Fault
55 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Fault

56


Quad-Driver "B" (QDM) Fault

57


Boost Control Problem

58


Security System (Fuel Enable Circuit)

61


Cruise Vent Solenoid Circuit

62


Cruise Vacuum Solenoid Circuit

63


Cruise System Problem (SPS Indicated Low)

65


Cruise Servo Position Sensor

66


Low A/C Refrigerant Charge

67


Cruise Switches Circuit

68


Cruise System Problem

69


A/C Head Pressure Switch Circuit
99 Power Management



The code(*) may indentify the source of the problem and avoid unecessary diagnostics or unneeded repairs and should always be retreived prior to replacing parts

Thanks for that, but like I said, there are no flashes. Just a bunch of dings from the key switch. And yeah, the check engine light works. Ah well, back to the proverbial drawing board. I just looked up on Autozone how difficult it is to change the crank sensor on the 92. Looks like fun, but it can be done. I will post any new info in the days to come. One way or the other, the problem has to be resolved.

I wish you the best of luck.