was driving my mother in laws 90 bonneville sse to my dads to replace the tensioner etc. Anyways im almost there on the highway (doing 65) and i hear a clunking sound, so i pull over and pop the hood and see the belt completely shredded. anyways i go and get a few tools and put a new belt on and remove the belt cords that had wrapped themselves around the crank pully (i believe thats what its called, the big one at the bottom) and after all this the car will turn over but not start. Come to found out the battery is just about dead and we replace it free under warrenty, tow it back to her moms and the car still trys to turn over but wont start. Starter is brand new btw. Any ideas? i didnt think if the belt snapped that it could cause any damage? i pulled over immediatly so i know it didnt overheat etc.

Flying belt can do a number on exposed wiring, or even get wrapped behind the crank pulley and take out the crank position sensor. I suggest looking real close at the area with a flashlight.

how much work is involved in replacing it? i can get it for next to nothing with my discount at work

and are any special pullers or tools needed?

I have seen a number of those shred the belts and wipe out the crank sensor like J Wikoff said. You have to pull off the harmonic balance to remove the sensor. You will need a puller to get it off and it has to be TIGHT when it goes back on. Either a big torque wrench or an impact gun to tighten it back down.

Actually, I don't think you need a puller for a pre-92 3800. But the bolt on the crank will be the hardest part. Remove the flywheel cover on the other end of the engine on the bottom and find a way to jam the flywheel from turning so you can get the crank pulley bolt loose, and then tight afterwards.

Have you looked around at the wiring yet?

No puller is necessary for his car.

I agree with carefully inspecting all the wiring, and make sure the interrupter rings on the back of the harmonic balancer are not bent. If the rings were bent, they would wipe out the sensor, but the belt can cause major carnage on wiring.

what specifically should i look for wiring wise? i mean what wires, i know to look for shredded etc wiring. what all sensors and wiring run by that area?

The harness starts above your power steering pump at a connector. That branch of the harness routes down to the cam sensor (just above the water pump) the crank sensor (just behind the harmonic balancer) and the ICM below the coil packs. You need to inspect that entire harness for damage. A mirror and flashlight will be invaluable, and it'* best to do it in low ambient light or darkness (at dusk/night or in the garage).

You should be able to tell once you get in there if something got munched by the shredding belt.
No puller necessary on a 1990 crank pulley. If you use an impact wrench, you won't need to hold the flywheel. Make sure that is the problem before you start replacing things.

Had this identical thing happen on my SSE and I got stuck on the side of the road. The crank sensor was severed.
The belt came off cause my water pump bearing went out and was loose.
Later years have a plastic shroud around the sensor to protect it.
This post will give an idea what is involved.
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=87911