Im having troubles with my Bonneville. A Couple weeks ago it started rough but once I got it out on the hi way in ran fine, even the next day it ran fine from home to work and back. But then the next morning it wouldnt start, it wanted to but it back fired and cranked until the battery went dead. Could this be the Crank shaft sensor. I smelled gas once I got out so the car is getting gas, I have purchased 3 new coild packs for the car but it appears not to be acting like a coil pack because it should start but run rough correct?? I havent installed then yet but I will over the holiday. I could really need some help, I hooked up a reader to the car and it read a misfire but that doesnt really help me out much that could be a wire,coil, spark plug, Im thinking a possible crankshaft sensor but I would appriciate some help and be in your debt if you can point me in the right direction. It wont start and its a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville SSE with a series II 3800 motor with no supercharger. PLease help. Thank you so Much

misfires can also be fuel related and the fact that you smell fuel it seems like a leak or at least something wrong with the fuel side of things. could be a leak in the fuel lines were they connect to the fuel rail or underneath. could be a fuel injector o-ring. if you dont find something there i would check fuel pressure and sniff the fuel pressure regulator vacuum line for fuel (shouldnt be). if the pressure doesnt come up and stay there for a while when you turn on the key there is something wrong with the pump/fpr/ or leak.

crank sensor/icm/ and coils fail in a different way and almost always start when cold and fail hot

I havent noticed any leaks and its doesnt smell under the hood its smells when I get out of the car? Its really throwing me off. Is the fuel pressure regulator easy and cheap to replace on this engine. I changed one on my 1995 Blazer and it wasnt to bad.

Thank you so much for the reply

if you smell it when you get out the leak could be in the line under the car. any leak will cause the pressure to go down and the engine needs high pressure to run

JW'* right. I would hook up a fuel pressure test gauge to the rail to see what you're getting for pressure.
How long since the fuel filter has been changed?

I would get it up on ramps if possible, and take a look underneath. These cars just weren't meant for the ethanol in the gas you get these days. I had to end up replacing the entire set of lines, and the filter, and the regulator in my 04 LeSabre. The lines were all rotting through at the bends back toward the fuel tank.

If you smell it outside, and not in the engine bay, I would start underneath and look for leaks. Definitely see if you can get a pressure reading from the rail.

Thank for the reply, Im wondering why it started and ran like until I got it out on the high way and punched it had all the power it needs. I got home and shut it down and started it up again and it ran . I put Fuel injector cleaner in it and letting it sit for awhile and try to jump it. i dont have fuel pressure gauge Ill do some checking is anyone I know has one. Thanks again and take care you guys are great, Happy Thanksgiving

Is that Regal an Actual Grand National painted a different color or is it a Reagle with the grannational ehinine?

I would like to know the outcome with Zigger21'* issue. I have the same Bonnie with the same issue and need some help with mine. PLEASE

Start a new thread and post your issues. You will get a lot more responses.