Car-and-Safety.com
Pontiac Bonneville Fuel System, Gasoline Safety Report | Dec 28, 2009
Reported on Dec 28, 2009
| IN EARLY NOVEMBER MY CAR (97 BONNEVILLE SSE) BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING. IT RARELY STARTED RIGHT UP BUT REQUIRED SEVERAL TRIES TO START. OCCASIONALLY I COULD SMELL GAS AFTER IT WAS STARTED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED BUT THAT CHANGED NOTHING. AFTER SEVERAL MORE WEEKS OF THE ISSUE GETTING WORSE I SCHEDULED IT FOR SERVICE ON DEC 22. THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF DEC 18; THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE DEC 21. ON DEC 22 THE CAR WAS FIXED . WITHIN 24 HRS I KNEW THE STARTING ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED. I HAD TO START IT MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY TIME & COULD OFTEN SMELL GAS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE GARAGE PAID ATTENTION TO THE REASON THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE & INSTEAD FIXED THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE GARAGE DEC 26 BUT HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH THE GAS ATTENDANT AS THE SERVICE DEPT WAS CLOSED. ON MON DEC 28 I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR FOR WORK. THE ENGINE CRANKED 1-2 TIMES THEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALMOST INSTANTLY. THE SMOKE RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED AND CHANGED COLOR. FIRE COULD THEN BE SEEN BENEATH THE ENGINE & ENGULFED A MAJOR PART OF IT WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES. ALTHOUGH THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED LESS THAN 4 MIN AFTER THE FIRE STARTED, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. *TR | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Bonneville |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Year: | 1997 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | |
| Was a death reported? | |
| Was a fire reported? | Y |
| Location: | WOONSOCKET RI |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1G2HZ52K3VH |
| Mileage: | 64303 miles. |
| Speed: | 0 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | |
| Vehicle type: | |
| Vehicle fuel: | |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
| Previous Report:Fuel System, Gasoline | Next Report:Exterior Lighting Brake Lights |