So i am not a car buff, i just drive a 95 Bonneville and have had it for 5 years. I love the car, but over the past 5 years I have had to replace alot of things. I have been having this strange bucking motion while driving. I have had it in 3 different garages and no one can figure it out. When I come to a complete stop, the car will buck and then die. This morning the fan for the heat kept going on and off and when that happened the lights dimmed also. Does anyone have any suggestions? I could really use some help. I recently have had to have some line by-passed because I was leaking power steering fluid, then I just had the intake manifold replaced last week becuase I was losing anti-freeze and appartently that'* where it was going. Feel free to send me an email at christianegodwin@yahoo.com

Thanks

I'd suggest a cleaning of the ground block under the carpet between the drivers seat and drivers door. Seams alot of people have had a bit of problems stemming from that ground block getting corroded and causes electrical problems, some very similar to yours.
Good luck.

ok, so i am gonna sound real stupid here...what exactly am i looking to clean? are we talking soap and water? wire brush? I must sound like an idiot, but i really don't know what i am doing when it comes to cars

EDIT: I might note -vacuum the dirt from around the screws on the plastic door sill plate for easier access with the screw driver. Then put a drop or two of oil (or a short burst of spray of WD-40) on each screw a few hours prior to removal. This will soak down along the screw threads and allow for an easier removal with no corrosion to make the task somewhat of a pain or risk stripping the screw head.


Before you start the following go to a hardware or Auto parts store and get a small amount of Di-electric grease.
1. Disconnect battery.
2. You will need a phillips screw driver to remove the plastic door sill plate.
3. Lift the carpet up towardss drivers seat (may need to remove drivers seat) and see the ground block (strip of metal with a bunch of wires attached.
I forget if they are attached on studs or just standard clip connections, but most likely you will need a ratchet and socket as that is typical of main grounding points.
4. With the connection disconnected use a wire brush on all bare metal, both on the ground block plate and the connector at the end of each ground wire.
Try to mark or bunch wires from each connection so you know where to attach each wire when reassembling (tie-wrap or taping each group will make it easier).
Once all wires and the ground block have no corrosion visible reattach all the wires.
With all the wires reattached use a heavy dose of the di-electric grease to cover the ground plate and the wire connections to prevent future corrosion.

I have never done this job before, but have seen it done here on BC (not in person). It is a fairly simple process. As for time you should alot for this job, I'd say about 2 hrs based on very limited mechanical aptitude, although if you have a good friend who likes to turn wrenches it could be a 30 minute job or less. Could be paid with a 12 pack of their favorite beverage or doing something for them that you are more skilled at than they are. If that'* not possible an automotive repair shop should be able to this for under $40. Heck you might even find a good back-yard mechanic to do it for $20.

oh my gosh, you are the best...thank you for all your help, i will let you know how it goes

No problem - I added a helper note at the beginning of my last message. Might want to check that out.

do you work for a winery? where? I am the Tour Operations Coordinator at a winery in New York

Yes, I work there. I am currently the Assistant Director of Operation (Yuppy name for my position, but that'* what they call me, but my work covers everything from maintaining the apple orchards and vineyards, giving tours, ordering trinkets and whatever else needs to be stocked, running the Starbucks booth, helping with the wine making, bottling, and managing on Thursday'* and Sundays as well as days when all the higher-ups (the owners and the Director of Operations) are out. Currently the winery is for sale so I have no clue where the road may lead for me when new owners take over. :?
Also, currently we are the largest winery in Minnesota, covering over 200 acres, selling over 70,000 750ml bottles per year, right at 8,000 apple trees (12 different types) and 30+ acres of vineyards (20-24 different varieties).

Most interesting place I have heard of our wine being sold at is a bar in the Las Vegas Airport. We wholesale mainly right here in MN to liquor stores and restaurants -most heavily in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, but we're getting more and more vendors every week since I convinced the owner to allow further wholesales. Heck the first week after I got the ok I signed up 8 new accounts just by visiting them in person on my nights out. Really made me feel good knowing I am getting a good return for my efforts.

So enough of my jabbering. Which winery do you work for and for how long? I am betting if you enjoy your job as much as I do mine you have a blast almost everyday.
I really have to admit the tours are a really good way to induce wine-making knowledge to tourists.
I like to use the story of 'The Ugly Duckling" to compare with wine-making ..
I.E.: ugly little duck & fermenting grapes, maturing duckling developing it'* swan looks -grapes/wine aging in the barrels working on their 'air' and flavors as well as their smoothness.

I work for Constellations Brands at Widmer Winery in Naples, NY. We have been in business since 1888 and we currently produce about 3.5 million cases a year. We bottle everything from 187 mL to 5L. It'* a great company to work for, and yes I enjoy my job very much. Constellation is based right here in New York but we have wineries and distillaries all over the world. I am hoping to be sent out west sometime this year to network with people out there who do what I do here. Such a fun business!