96 Pontiac Bonneville still having electrical problems

Tiny
MYBONNIE_NY
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
96 Bonneville, 3.8 179k miles - when I last wrote the car was in th shop and they were finally able to find that there was definitely an electrical draw killing the battery. They pinpointed it to the fuse that controls the power locks. When you remove this fuse the battery doesn't drain but we still haven't been able to figure out what is causing the short. Even before this was found we were unable to use the windows, power antennae and power seat. When operating the drivers' seat the fog lights come on and when you apply the brakes the fog lights come on. Before they diagnosed the electrical problem, the shop replaced the ignition module, the intake manifold, the battery negative cable the battery itself.

Well today the car died on the side of the road - and we know the battery has juice. The engine clicks so we think it may be the starter now. My question is - if the starter was shorting out (and they didn't replace the starter) would that cause other things not to work (windows, power seat, etc.) My concern is even if we replace the starter and it works initially, there is something that is causing this car's electrical system to malfunction.

We have tested the wires and the grounds and all seem to be okay. I hate to put any more money into this car but I am not ready to give up on 'My Bonnie' yet.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 AT 7:00 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Power windows are on their own circuit breakered by a 30 amp circuit breaker in the instrument panel fuse box. The power seats by a 25 amp circuit breaker in the same i/p box. So there should not be a relationship to the no crank situation and the seats or windows.

Having said that I would be very curious to the condition of that instrument panel fuse box. There is a fuse in that same box (10 amp) that is on the starting circuit. See if you can't get a look at the back side of it for corrosion or similiar.
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Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 AT 7:38 PM

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