Can someone give me a step by step fix it explaination? I have some mechanical knowledge... Basically if I can fix it its mine for free so I have nothing to lose! A friend of mine had the car and brought it in and they said it was the head gasket. So he bought a new car instead of fixing the bonne. I dont feel like buying a chilton manual so this is my way of saving 30 bucks

ill bet you $50 it isnt a head gasket

what model bonne is this? SE SLE or SSEi

it is probably the upper intake manifold failure

read this
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=38

I agree with Haro. Head gaskets failing is virtually unheard of on these engines!

And, either check out Chilton'* 28200 from a local lending library or spend the $20 to buy it. You will not spend $20 more wisely on your car.

I agree, I buy the manual for EVERY car that I buy, absolutely worth the $20.

Absolutely. If you are to do any serious work on your car, at least a Chilton'* is needed.

its an SE and I just picked up the chilton 28200 manual... So how would I find out if its the UIM or head gasket? My friend said his car was overheating and brought it in and they determined head gasket (its a small local two-man shop) and now it wont start. so its in my garage now. I drained the oil and coolant. what next?

The car was overheating. Was the coolant low? Did the shop use a hydrocarbon sniffer in the radiator or coolant tank to determine that a head gasket had failed? Not impossible, but head gaskets hardly ever fail on the 3800s.

Good that you got the Chilton'*. Now read Techinfo 38 and also read the links on UIM/LIM gasket replacement at the end of the Techinfo 38 article linked for you above. Remove the UIM and examine the EGR bore area for softness and warpage on the sealing surfaces. Remove the LIM and change out the gaskets for the GM aluminum ones. There are many, many articles here on BC that you can find using the search feature that will let you know what to expect. Changing out the UIM, LIM gaskets, and coolant elbow will cost you about $200. If the car still has a coolant leak and overheats, and you have to go back in to change the head gaskets, you will be able to re-use all the new parts you installed on the top end. On the very small chance that you will need to go back in, go sparingly on the rtv in the corners only of the LIM gaskets and side rail pieces. That way, you can remove the LIM from the block and heads more easily without damaging them.

alright I talked to my friend again he said he had just installed a new water pump. and that didnt fix the coolant leak and overheating problem. So I'm assuming after reading the tech38 that its the UIM LIM. Am I going to need any special tools other than the basics? Or any tool that would make my life easier going into this? Note I'm limited to brakes, water pumps, alternators, and things that you cant screw up on cars....