I purchased my 2001 Bonneville a few months ago. I got a good deal on it because it had all the usual issue that needed to be fixed. I must admit I really like driving the car and may keep it instead of flipping it.
With that said here is some questions I need help with.
1. Where can I get a cat convert? It is just a rattle noise at this point and very annoying. I have searched the internet and can't find one that is for a vin "1". I have even called a supplier I know and they can't get one. Does the cat for a vin "K" fit and do the job? I surely don't want to have to buy the whole exhaust from the dealer. Any help on this one would be great.
2. The intake gaskets was leaking coolant. I knew that it was leaking oil when bought it. Well on Saturday one lifter started to make noise and now all the lifters sound like have collapsed. Luckily I was close to home when this happened and drove it very little with the noise I can't isolate the noise to just one, they all sound the same. I am assuming I got a bit of coolant in the oil. I knew the oil needed to be changed but, when I drained it it didn't look like the normal intermix that I have seen in the past. I have the front v/c off and can see a bit of "gunk" on the backside. I drained the oil and put 10w-30 with a new filter to see if they would pump back up before I took it apart. They didn't Has anyone removed them and either taken them apart to clean them or soaked them in diesel and gasoline to disolve and "gunk" trapped in them. I know it sounds cheap but if they can be cleaned why wouldn't I?
Finally I was reading a post about code c1288 for a steering wheel position sensor failure. Per TSB 04-05-25-001
There is an update for the EBTCM for this. Basically its a phantom code due to elec noise produced by the steer wheel pos sensor.
I hope that I can help out here, I do have actual hands on exp working at a delaer and I still do plenty of work on the side.
Regards Jason

If the cat is ratteling, just go under and remove the heat shield. That should fix it. If you really want it replaced, I got mine from ZZP, ZZ Performance

You can try doing a seafoam on the engine and see if that clears up the lifter. Suck some in a vac line, pour soem in the oil. Just follow the directions on the can.

I was already under there and the heat sheild is already gone Its definatly an internal issue. I pulled the intake last night. I think I am gong to just replace all on them. My Carquest has them for about 10.50 each. Oh well it'* only money.
Thanks for the link to the car. Now if I could just weld

I guess I'm not clear as to what intake your talking about? What are you getting for $10.50?

I took the intake off last night. I decided against running the car any more. I didn't want to do anymore damage. I didn't try and run and type of engine flush. I called my Carquest and they have lifters for like 10.50 each. I may just buy 16 of them and be done with it. Do you think soaking the lifters in SeaFoam would clean them? I will make sure that the rockers are push rods are cleaned up before I put it back together.

I never thought about soaking something in seafoam. I guess it would work. I just did a top clean on my engine today and pored some in my gas tank. Does a great job. Lots of smoke.

Well I finally got the car back together. Don't ask it has been a crazy month. Anyway, I didn't replace the lifters, I cleaned them out. It actually worked. To my suprise. I took them apart cleaned them is gas, and pumped them back up before I reinstalled them. They clanked on start up for a few minutes but so far so good.