BACKFIRE!!! Help! Car won't start...
 

The '92 SSE has exhibited a backfire on starting for a couple of weeks.
Today, it would NOT start at all, backfiring from both ends until the battery started to run low...

What's wrong?

I need a quick answer as I may have to have the car towed ASAP in the morning before it snows!

Thanks.

Whatever it is, I'm hoping it's covered under the 'extended warranty'.
I'm pissed.

I miss my '64 Tempest with the inline 6-cyl.
It ALWAYS worked.
OR, if it had a problem, it was cheap and easy to fix.

Fukkin' new cars, anyway! :twisted:
They deserve to be on the ass-end of a towtruck...

Any other ideas out there?

Have you pulled codes yet?

Sorry for the delay, guys.
I was over at Sniper's Paradise registering and posting... :D I needed a diversion!

The tow truck is on the way and I'll try to get the codes from the dealer when they work on the car tomorrow.
I may be having the trans flushed and the oil changed while it's there.
Couple of other little things like a taillight socket and a trans line replaced.
I found the original trans line to be 'cut' from someone before we put in the extra cooler. I'll have the replacement line (made in Mexico... :shock: ) put in if they do the trans flush.
I bought a total set of taillight housings of an SE and cut the wires/sockets to go with them. Didn't have all the tools to correctly remove the panel to get to the clips...
Anyway, I'll be taping and painting those this Spring to get a new 'look' to the back end of the SSE. The stock taillight housings apparently have an extra 'skin' to them, causing what I've posted about before in the way of a leak and separation of the two skins, making it look funky.

Then, the windshield took a hit and the 'star' turned into a full-blown CRACK all the way across the glass! I saw it happen the other day on the way to work in the COLD, COLD weather. I could actually hear it when it happened. Weird.

The SSE is getting some work done and will be looking and running good.
Still only has 58180 original miles and the exhaust sounds great! :wink:

I'll keep you posted.

Bus

Car's still in the shop.
They don't know what's wrong yet.
I instructed them to pass the codes on to me for the Forum to see when they figure it out.
I'm thinkin' it's not a good sign...

More later, as I've gotta hit the sack and get up early to possibly drive a Bus in the snow!
Yay. :roll:

Bus, you should have pulled those codes before you had it towed! It's a 92!

And the trans lines made in Mexico are the preferred improved lines. The crimps are higher quality.

Save yourself some time...
 

Not saying for sure, but it sounds like the notorious upper intake issue to me...just got mine out of the shop, was doing the same thing...replaced the upper intake and fuel pressure regulator and it runs like new now...$459.60 total :shock:

:oops:
Sorry it took so LONG to get back. I've been monitoring another situation that needed constant attention. It's almost resolved to a satisfactory conclusion...

NOW, the Bonneville SSE story.
It was the COIL PACK.

The Code shown of the shop sheet says:
301 ELECTRICAL ENGINE
35 CNAT 137.28 LABOR
1 12353801 W-COIL KIT 121.38 PARTS
1 25526450 GASKET 6.84 PARTS
__________________________________________________ __
TOTAL $265.50

ENGINE HAS ERRATIC SPARK, FOUND COIL IS OPEN.
INSTALLED NEW COIL AND GASKET, ENGINE STARTS NOMALLY NOW.
ROAD TESTED, ENGINE RUNS GOOD.
SCAN CHECK, NO CODES STORED.



The tranny flush was EXPENSIVE at $230.15 with the lined installed, too.

SERVICED AND FLUSHED TRANSMISSION REPLACED LOWER COOLER LINE PIPE (RADIATOR SIDE) CUSTOMERS PART.
16 QTS ATF COMPLETED.


I had the lights checked, too.

CHECKED ALL BULBS, 3RD BRAKE LIGHT IS INOP, SOCKET IS MELTED.
INTALLED NEW SOCKET AND BULB, ALL LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY NOW.
ROAD TESTED, NO DIC MESSAGES APPEARED.



One of the Service guys made a 'cute' comment about the NASCAR stuff on the SSE (tires, decals).
I'll have to take the car back, anyway, because before I got home, the dash monitor indicated there is a taillight out...again.
We looked and checked the car out when I got home and can't see any lights out, yet the dash monitor shows something isn't working.
I guess their repair wasn't 'NASCAR TOUGH'. :twisted:

If it says "Tail Lamp," then you need to check the eight tail lamp bulbs in the red area, and also the two license plate lamps.