I first noticed something was wrong with my 88 Bonneville LE a few weeks ago when it started to not want to crank up every now and then. It seemed to happen when it was hot. Id run into a convenience store and come back out and it would just turn over and over. Id sit there for a second and then try it again it would crank right up. Well, the other day it didn't crank back up.

I thought my fuel pump went out at first. I dropped the tank, and then (like a dope) decided to turn the key on to see if it was working and sure enough, gas spewed out with a what seems to me like a good deal of pressure, so Im thinking the pump is ok.

Well after that, a buddy of mine said "it had to be the coil pack" so I went and bought a coil pack, put it on and it still wont start so I took the new coil back and replaced my old one to save the 50 bucks.

By now, I think I should ask someone with a little more experience with these cars than mine and my buddy'* hunches.

We did pull a spark plug and grounded it off to see if I had fire, and I don't...so I know im not getting fire. Someone told me it might be the crankshaft position sensor, but I thought id see what you guys think.

Also, I am mechanically inclined and have the basic mechanics tools, but do not have testers other than a voltmeter. I also am tired of "fixing" this problem, so if someone has some ways I can find out whats wrong without having a diagnostics machine or whatever, Id much appreciate it.

Crank sensors go bad when they get hot. Next time its hot and won't start pour cold water on it. If it starts you sensor is bad.
Wouldn't change it yourself unless you have the feeler gages and breaker bars to get the balancer off.

It wont start at all now, cold or hot.

jr's3800: I just tried one of the plugs. I put a new coil pack on and that didnt fix the problem, so I took it back and put my old one back on.

Not sure if this caused anything, but my alternator went out and I charged my battery every night for about two weeks to get me to work and back, which is just around the corner. The starting problem seemed to happen during this time. I replaced the alternator with a new one and it ran for about two days before it decided to not start up at all. Im thinking this was a coincedence that it happened at the same time.

Isnt there a way for the onbard diagnostics to tell me what the problem is? Like using a jumper wire on the prt and watch how many times the service engine light blinks? The service engine light never came on while it was running but of course it comes on when the key is turned on and wont start.

If its the crankshaft sensor, i will take it to a mechanic to have it done now that you advised aganst me doing it. i thought it might be something i didnt want to venture into. I just hate to take it to the shop and have them charge me 65 dollars for a diagnostic to have them tell me it is a fuel pump, or regulator or something i can change myself.

thanks for the replies and any further help you can provide.

Do the crankshaft position sensors go out completely like this, or do they just not work at all when they are hot and then start work when they cool down? When I fist started having the problems, it didnt seem like it waited to cool down to start back up. It usually would start up on the second or third attempt.

I think Im going to haul it down to the mechanic and let them sort it out, as much as Im against that sort of thing. >:o

Thanks for the help. Ill post an update when its fixed.

Where is the ICM? Is that the plate the coil pack bolts to?

Financial problems has kept me from getting my 88 bonneville looked at until the other day. A buddy of mine brought over a diagnostics machine, and since there was no RPM reading while cranking, it asssumed it was the cracnkshaft position sensor and naturally after I paid the 30 bucks for the part, it wasnt the problem.

As we were cranking it though, he noticed my coil packs were hot., so after a brief inspection we noticed that glue under the coil packs in the ICM was all melted, so i finally know what the prob is now. A bad ICM.
I called auto zone and they want either 130 or 180 dollars for it new. As my luck usually goes, it will be the 180 dollar no doubt.

Anybody know where I can get a used ICM and magnovox coils online here? I can pay pal the money immediately if someone has one handy.

Sorry for the overdue update, but money hs been tight as of late. :(

hah, YES you can get away from Magnivox coils altogether! Upgrade to the Series I Delco Packs. You can either get them at your nearest salvage yard off any Series I 3800 or PM BillBoost37 and see if he has any spares sitting around, it will certainly be alot less than 130!!!

OTHERWISE!!!! I have my Magnivox coils still after I upgraded to Delco packs, and I can send em to you. I will be sending a PM shortly. I don't really need them, they work perfectly and are just sittin in my garage.