hi guys, i just bought a 95 bonneville SE a week ago and it seems to shut off engine when in idling ( sometimes after 10-15 mins or 1/2 hr later ) and when driving, it would just died totally or kinda off and on again. i would restart it and it runs fine until it shuts off again. it has 'chk gages' light on every time it did dat. i have followed throught dis forum and done most chks : buss connectors very clean
changed new plugs
new alternator
clean batt connectors
new air filters
batt in good cond.
most stuff works fine except no alarm and steering wheel audio controls not working.

is there a post on diz problem? or could any kind soul give me some advice? :(

In my experience that points to a Ignition control module... however it could be a crank sensor.

Did you change the spark plug wires? I had a random shut off probelm as well. Changing the wires took care it. It'* a cheap fix and, if your wires are old, could be the cause of your issue.


Leif W.

I'd be curious to see what you find if you were to pull the insulator covers off the ends of both battery cables.

This is a very common problem, and is actually getting me on one of my cars occasionally. I need t replace both cables. There is no evidence from the outside. You have t pull them apart.

i have just replaced 1 cable when it broke off at plug head connector. yeah they r old and brittle, i 'll change them all i guess.thks!!

I seriously doubt that'* the main contributor. Your car will actually run on 3 or 4 cylinders.

You are looking for a total dropout culprit. The battery cables are a good thing to check. They are very common in causing your symptoms, and are easier to check and cheaper to repair than a crank sensor which I would suggest as #2.

yes it runs good, yes, da speedo drop as well, yes, car restart every time as in right away, cold or hot make no diff, first start in morning no problem EXCEPT that it makes some clicking noise( b 4 i actually start it) from a relay (up front in bonnet) or something which makes da yellow chk engine light( left of panel) flashing in syn with da clicking for a sec or 2 then it stop. even when warmup, sometime it happens too. i did da idle test and yes at times it just shut off after 15min or more, its irregular. it restart immed. and yes it repeats after some time, and sometime it do dat wif dat clicking and flashing 'chk engine' b 4 it died or just for a split sec like kinda misfire. i suspect it was due to a relay problem but i dont have da electrical schematic diagram to pinpoint which relay. just my guess.. wat do u thk?? thks

yup, i have removed both and sand them, applied dielectric spray and installed back.

i agree wif u, its a total dropout culprit.