Finally got a Bonne...steering ?
02-17-2005, 07:33 PM
#1
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: St. Michael, MN
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Finally got a Bonne...steering ?
FINALLY after months of looking for a Bonne, I bought an '02 SE on Tuesday. It'* the light bronzemist color...my favorite. No TC, no leather, no sunroof or controls on the steering wheel, but those are things I can live without...this car is sooooo much nicer than that damn Plymouth Voyager.....never ever again will I buy Chrysler.....
I thought I'd miss my van...I liked being high up...but I doubt I'll ever trade my Bonne for a van now. After two days and 200+ miles, I'm soooo glad I got it. Anyway, I don't get excited about much, but short of a few minor "issues", I LOVE MY CAR!!!!
Ok, the issues....first, the steering wheel/column has some kind of "clunk" thing going on when you turn (sometimes)...I don't know how to explain it really....it'* just weird...anyone know what I'm trying to say????? :?
Next, there is the "spongy" gas pedal...ok, I'll probably get used to that....Pontiac could have put a bit more cushioning in the seats....ok, so if I don't get used to the hard seat, I can invest in some kind of uphostery upgrade something or another...of course by the time I can afford to do that, the car will have 200k on it!
The main thing that just makes me irritated isn't the car'* fault...the dealer only had ONE key...no remote, no valet key...GRRR! So I have to call a Pontiac dealer and find out how to obtain a spare key... and I HAVE to have the remote thingy! I suspect these Pass Keys are spendy little things....not to mention the remote thing....damn....
I got an extended warranty to 100k. It has about 35,500 now. It was a hard decision but after all the money I put into that damn van I decided I'd rather pay more $ each month to have something fixed cos it seems like car repairs are the latest and greatest money maker...or maybe they just see me coming....I used to be able to work on my cars....remember back when there was an air filter around the carb right up on top .... I dont even know WHERE the air filter is on this bonne...yet....I need to go get a Chilton'* book on it...who knows what I'd break if I just started taking things apart......LOL
I'm already thinking about things I wanna get done on it....Tinted windows....maybe convert the exhaust to dual.....I need to stop looking at everyone'* pics of their rides....I get way too many "ideas."
I'm sure I'll post more as time goes on....
Deb
I thought I'd miss my van...I liked being high up...but I doubt I'll ever trade my Bonne for a van now. After two days and 200+ miles, I'm soooo glad I got it. Anyway, I don't get excited about much, but short of a few minor "issues", I LOVE MY CAR!!!!
Ok, the issues....first, the steering wheel/column has some kind of "clunk" thing going on when you turn (sometimes)...I don't know how to explain it really....it'* just weird...anyone know what I'm trying to say????? :?
Next, there is the "spongy" gas pedal...ok, I'll probably get used to that....Pontiac could have put a bit more cushioning in the seats....ok, so if I don't get used to the hard seat, I can invest in some kind of uphostery upgrade something or another...of course by the time I can afford to do that, the car will have 200k on it!
The main thing that just makes me irritated isn't the car'* fault...the dealer only had ONE key...no remote, no valet key...GRRR! So I have to call a Pontiac dealer and find out how to obtain a spare key... and I HAVE to have the remote thingy! I suspect these Pass Keys are spendy little things....not to mention the remote thing....damn....
I got an extended warranty to 100k. It has about 35,500 now. It was a hard decision but after all the money I put into that damn van I decided I'd rather pay more $ each month to have something fixed cos it seems like car repairs are the latest and greatest money maker...or maybe they just see me coming....I used to be able to work on my cars....remember back when there was an air filter around the carb right up on top .... I dont even know WHERE the air filter is on this bonne...yet....I need to go get a Chilton'* book on it...who knows what I'd break if I just started taking things apart......LOL
I'm already thinking about things I wanna get done on it....Tinted windows....maybe convert the exhaust to dual.....I need to stop looking at everyone'* pics of their rides....I get way too many "ideas."
I'm sure I'll post more as time goes on....
Deb
02-17-2005, 07:57 PM
#3
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Waterloo, NY
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Congradulations on the new purchase. I made the transition from a '94 Dodge Intrepid ES to my '01 Bonneville SSEi. Although my ES treated me great, there is no comparison between the two cars. The Bonneville is on a whole other plane way above my old Intrepid in power, comfort, build quality, and (the big one) reliability.
The clunking you are experiencing is typical for these cars. It is the intermediate steering shaft. The current fix for this is a lubrication fix that really doesn't last. They (GM) has supposedly redesigned the shaft, but due to the sheer number of vehicles that are having this issue, they are limited availability.
I'm not sure what you mean by a "spungy" gas pedal, it could be that your last vehicle just had a hard pedal or this one is just a bit softer. Between my SSEi, my old Intrepid, my '97 RAM, and my wife'* '01 Alero, all of the gas pedals felt practically identical.
I'm sure that if you keep your eyes open on eBay Motors that you may see a set of leather seats go through sometime for a decent price. Also, if you have some pick-n-pull yards near you, you could keep your eye out for a wrecked SLE or SSEi to pull parts from cheap.
Again, Welcome to the club and enjoy that Bonneville!
The clunking you are experiencing is typical for these cars. It is the intermediate steering shaft. The current fix for this is a lubrication fix that really doesn't last. They (GM) has supposedly redesigned the shaft, but due to the sheer number of vehicles that are having this issue, they are limited availability.
I'm not sure what you mean by a "spungy" gas pedal, it could be that your last vehicle just had a hard pedal or this one is just a bit softer. Between my SSEi, my old Intrepid, my '97 RAM, and my wife'* '01 Alero, all of the gas pedals felt practically identical.
I'm sure that if you keep your eyes open on eBay Motors that you may see a set of leather seats go through sometime for a decent price. Also, if you have some pick-n-pull yards near you, you could keep your eye out for a wrecked SLE or SSEi to pull parts from cheap.
Again, Welcome to the club and enjoy that Bonneville!
02-17-2005, 10:55 PM
#5
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ditto on the Chrysler statement. I went from a 2000 Dodge Intrepid to my 02 Bonneville SE. Definitely some upgrades in fit and finish, but my beef was with the horrible service from our local Dodge dealer. They did more "Dodge"ing than fixing. For as common as the intermediate shaft problem is, I would think that you should just be able to complain to your dealer and they would take care of it beings you have the extended warranty. I will also say that the seats will grow on you. Congrats and happy driving.
2002 Bonneville SE-Just turned 101,000-Only nonconsumable repair to date is the EGR valve.
2002 Bonneville SE-Just turned 101,000-Only nonconsumable repair to date is the EGR valve.
02-18-2005, 07:52 AM
#6
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by itsnitro
ok, heres what i did, i only got one remote with my car, went online got another 1 for a good deal, well what i did was i took both the orgin. and new one to the dealership and told them that i try to replace the battery in the one and after puttin it in, the remote didnt work, then told them i went to get 'my 2nd one' (the new one unporgrammed) to try that and it didnt work. then said "well you deprogrammed it when replacing the battery, not a problem give us 15mins." the reporgram BOTH remotes for free!!! i love cheating those overpricing bastards!! 
hope that works for ya!!
hope that works for ya!!
02-18-2005, 07:57 AM
#7
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by itsnitro
ok, heres what i did, i only got one remote with my car, went online got another 1 for a good deal, well what i did was i took both the orgin. and new one to the dealership and told them that i try to replace the battery in the one and after puttin it in, the remote didnt work, then told them i went to get 'my 2nd one' (the new one unporgrammed) to try that and it didnt work. then said "well you deprogrammed it when replacing the battery, not a problem give us 15mins." the reporgram BOTH remotes for free!!! i love cheating those overpricing bastards!! hope that works for ya!!
hope that works for ya!!i myself also have a 02 SE bronzemist. love it! but i have all those added features..leather steering wrap, leather seats, TC, real rims, not hubbies, um no moonroof, dual cilmate control(which i dont think ever worked), steering controls for radio. mine was like a workers friends car with SLE stuff in it. but i wish i'd got the extended warranty but theres nothing hard to fix! there is a lot we can do to our cars!
here, 2 remotes 20bucks + shipping
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33723
02-18-2005, 02:35 PM
#8
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: St. Michael, MN
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LMAO!!! I'm going to order the remotes from ebay and go to a dealer like Itsnitro did....but it will be soooo much easier for me cos all I'll have to say is, uh, they don't work anymore.....they'll see my blonde hair and roll their eyes and program them for me. LOL Acting reallllllyyyyy dumb worked at the Dodge dealer more than once.......so did having a bitch fit...but I'll start with the dumb blonde act at Pontiac.
Anyone have any idea where I can get a decent book on this car or is Chilton'* about the only thing out there? I refuse to pay someplace to change the airfilter, and sh#t like that....um, where is the damn filter anyway...
Thanks all for the congrads.....this is MY first "really nice" car.....it'* all MINE (and the bank...lol) and it'* about darn time!
Off to spend money at ebay!
Deb
Anyone have any idea where I can get a decent book on this car or is Chilton'* about the only thing out there? I refuse to pay someplace to change the airfilter, and sh#t like that....um, where is the damn filter anyway...
Thanks all for the congrads.....this is MY first "really nice" car.....it'* all MINE (and the bank...lol) and it'* about darn time!
Off to spend money at ebay!
Deb
02-18-2005, 04:28 PM
#9
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hehe you go girl!!! 
if u didnt get a book, thats kewl, go on ebay, i saw one on there today! um there is another company for books, cant think of the name.. ill get it to ya! i get them from discountauto/advance auto good luck! congrads!
if u didnt get a book, thats kewl, go on ebay, i saw one on there today! um there is another company for books, cant think of the name.. ill get it to ya! i get them from discountauto/advance auto good luck! congrads!
02-18-2005, 05:11 PM
#10
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Texarkana, Texas
Posts: 6,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Chiltons are okay, But www.helminc.com has the Factory Service Manual, That'* the book the dealership uses to fix your car