98 Bonneville No Start
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 271
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From: Brockport, New York

Title says everything. I go to start the Bonnie, turn the key to run...
-battery is full
-radio, windows, lights, blower fan, etc all have power
-fuel pump primes normally
Turn the key to start...
-no noise from starter.
-securtiy light comes on SOLID.
Turn key to off, leaving it in the ignition. Wait ~2 or 3 minutes, security light turns off, and the car starts normally.
The starter was just replaced ~3 weeks ago, so that'* not it. Any ideas? I think it may be a VATS issue.
-battery is full
-radio, windows, lights, blower fan, etc all have power
-fuel pump primes normally
Turn the key to start...
-no noise from starter.
-securtiy light comes on SOLID.
Turn key to off, leaving it in the ignition. Wait ~2 or 3 minutes, security light turns off, and the car starts normally.
The starter was just replaced ~3 weeks ago, so that'* not it. Any ideas? I think it may be a VATS issue.
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True Car Nut
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 245
From: Windsor, Ontario / Detroit, Michigan









96-99 VATS allowed the fuel pump to prime, then allowed cranking. The motor starts and stalls immediately because the fuel injectors don't pulse after the prime.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Brockport, New York

Yes, the lights dim and radio turns off when I try to start. The ground busses inside are clean and connections at the battery are clean and tight as well. Can anyone tell me exactly where the other grounds are located in the engine bay? Hopefully I'll get this fixed up in the morning.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29,661
Likes: 43
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin






The places to look are right at the battery, the connection at the starter, the block ground which is near the starter. Also pull back the covers on the end of the battery cable and look for corrosion there. You may need to replace the cable if it'* to bad.
New parts go bad as well. Never rule out a new part. Any good mechanic first looks over a car for recent work when trying to diagnose a problem.
Loose connection at the starter shouldn't be overlooked simply because it'* new etc. Almost all starters we are putting on our cars these days are rebuilt. What if someone did a poor job rebuilding it?
Loose connection at the starter shouldn't be overlooked simply because it'* new etc. Almost all starters we are putting on our cars these days are rebuilt. What if someone did a poor job rebuilding it?



