Charge problems?
 

New to the site...I have spent the last couple of days going through the postings and I think this is going to be a place that I spend most of my computer time! Wonderful.

This is my second Bonneville, and I cant get enough of them. However, I had a problem with my most recent purchase that I would like to throw out there to see if anyone else has the same problems.

I was retruning from a long drive and my volt meter went way up into the red...the light bulbs outside and inside the car began popping. I drove right back to the dealer and dropped the car off. $2700.00 later (under warranty) I have the car back. The dash cluster needed to be replaced in order to have some of the dash lights working again, the radio had to be replaced (same reason...to get one of the lights on), seat heater switch, ass't computer modules, etc.

Thank goodness for warranty!

I am just wondering if the alternators in these cars are a problem...or is this a rare thing? I have read in here about other problem areas that I will watch for, but I dont see anything on electrical.

Let me know! :shock:

I know that due to engine heat, the bearings on the alternator have a tendency to go bad (not on mine yet, knock on wood). This is the first, tho, I've heard of a spike like that!!

One of the guru's should be on shortly. Somebody will be able to fill in on this.

And welcome to the nuthouse!! :wave:

The service manager at the dealer told me that there are other things they are going to check for when the car comes back in next week (there are still a few parts that need to be replaced). He is telling me that a spike like that can casue problems with things like fuel pumps, ABS computer, CD players, etc., etc.

My concern is more about what electrical items may now be weak. I hope I discover them all before the warranty runs out.

Amazing that a regulator or altinator (all one thing in this car) can cause this much damage!

Cant wait to see what others have to say!

Nut house... :lol: yea! I KNOW I will fit right in!

Hey Dad, that's a first for me. Never heard of a runaway alternator before. I bet your car is white though :lol:

Seriously, if you want a good alternator engineered for our cars, with all the normal problems fixed, go to www.domesticperformance.com . The owner is Speedguy here.

I had a friend who owned a foreign do-dad that had blown a regulator, he said all kinds of bells and whistles went off then he lost all lights(this was at night) then he said he could suddenly see a light or something on the road, but when he pull off to the side and shut off his car the light didnt go away...he poped the hood and he then found where the light was coming from, his alternator, PCM, and many wires running around the hood were on fire :shock: The dealer said an unregulated alternator at interstate speeds can put out hundreds of volts which caught his PCM on fire and the high amp draw at such high vooltage caused the alternator to heat up enough to basically melt down...


...he totaled his car... :flames:

Glad I was able to get to the dealer before that happened. They did tell me that they had to replace quite a bit of wire though.

I had the car back this week for those parts I mentioned earlier... They ended up spending another grand on bits and pieces! The dash cluseter had to be replaced for the second time becuse the crap mechanic that put it in broke several of the plastic clips that held it in place! Although it didnt move, I did not like the plastic pieces on the floor!
All seems OK now (only drove it to and from the airport yesterday, but all seems OK). :x

All seems OK now (only drove it to and from the airport yesterday, but all seems OK). :x[/quote]
Toranto Pearson airport I presume. Still waiting on some pics. :)