Hey guys, I'm having a tough time with my car. It'* a 96 Bonneville SsE with a v6 the 3.8l I think? It has about 150k miles on it.

My problem is that after the car heats up, it stalls out when it idles. After a while the engine starts squealing, and my battery gauge and oil pressure gauge start jumping. Then the battery gauge will drop into the red, and the car cuts off and starts dinging. Giving me a message on my systems manger that says "Check Gauges".

About 2-3 months ago I put a new belt, and idler pulley on the car. The old idler pulley locked up, and the belt jumped off.

I'm thinking it might be the altenator, or something. I'm not sure because I'm pretty clueless when it comes to cars.

This could be an alternator, or battery cable connections. It could also be other things.

Any chance to get the car scanned for any codes?

Worked on a '93 Bonneville where all the gauges would start fluctuating, and setting off the warning "dings". It was a bad alternator - but, like Bill said, it could be other things, too. Can you tell where the squealing is coming from? Any other work done on it recently?

My brother recently hooked his computer up to it about a month ago, because it was sputtering really bad. Turns out it was a miss-fire on Cylinder 3. The cable had dry-rotted out, and wasn't connecting.

It sounds like the squealing is coming from the altenator. Thats what I think is wrong, but a friend of mine told me that wouldn't make the car shut off.

But as far as other work, about......4-5 months ago I replaced both 02 sensors, the throttle position sensor, and one other sensor. They had all gone bad.

The alternator could shut the car off. Especially if the battery is low and the alternator is no longer charging it.

I'd suggest pulling it off and having Advance auto or Autozone test it for free.

Pull off the battery? Sorry I'm extremely dense when it comes to cars.


Also if it helps, this problem didn't start until after I replaced the pulley. I mean ever since I started driving the car [ about a year now ], it has always cut off occasionally. But once I put that new belt and pulley on, it started doing the squealing thing.

You know that friend of yours that'* pretty good with cars. Ask them to help you remove the alternator from your car. Then head to autozone or advance auto to have it tested.

It'* easy once you see it done..or have a helping hand from a friend.

Don't worry about not having done much car stuff before...there'* many here that have started the same way you are... the desire you have to fix it at a better cost is how it all begins.

Exactly as Boosty said. Everyone started off as a noob with cars at some point. We're here to help you out in any way that we can. Before long, you'll have enough experience at things to be able to help others. That'* why this forum works so well...people helping people.

Also, as he said - have the alternator tested. Besides being weak, it could be that the bearings are started to go on it which is causing the squeal. Let us know what you find.

Additional thought...

Mention where you are located and add it to your profile.

That way..if you are near another member.. we probably have someone local that can run over and help out.

All good advice above,,yea put your year and trim level(SE,SSE,SSEI)in your
sig. that will help us help you