Bonneville won't start

[bgolpns]

I have a '99 Bonneville that will not start. Initially, it acted as though the battery was dead. However, I can't boost it or charge the battery. Also, there seems to be no real power pull down when I try to start it. I think maybe it's the starter, but can't really seem to get to it to bang it with something. Any ideas.

 

[92bonneowner]

if it is the starter, a way u can check it is give it a couple good taps with a hammer, wrench etc. and if it does start then u definitely need a new starter cause u can only bang on it so much before its totally gone(personal expierence). but it worked on my car for about a week before it went and i replaced it and that was the resolution for me. thats all i can suggest.

 

[Unregistered]

probably going to be a security system issue. i'm having the same problem in my car right now. all the interior lights come on when you turn the key but when you try to crank, nothing happens. and no current draw on battery when you try to crank.

is your security light flashing?

 

[427HEMIPONTIAC]

With the SD250 starters (basically a rehashed 5MT starter) that the 3800's and 4.9L Cadillacs run, if the commutator contacts get corroded (common problem) or open in any way, you will get this same situation. I had this on my my 4.9L Cad V8 do it.

As 92Bonneowner said, get a hammer, or as I did, long breaker bar in through the exhaust manifold and have someone crank it and you rap like crazy on the starter, if it starts, get the car up and on ramps to replace it ASAP. It won't last long like that. Basically if the contact is bad, turning over the starter is what helps. The solenoid gets grounded through the starter low resistance windings, so if the starter opens, the solenoid will seem bad.

A symptom of this is when warm, slower cranking, and eventually no start when hot, but restart when cold. Again, it doesn't last long at all like this. If you are over 200K, you NEED brushes! Mine at 180K were good, but my old 3800 91 Bonneville at 250K were shot and wasted the holders too, which are hard to come by.

I am a big proponet of fixing starters over replacing them with parts store rebuilts. You don't know how those were abused, so they may be under warranty, they still may be ticking time bombs to fail again. My OEM starter on mine went 180K miles and a $25 commutator replacement and $4 worth of brushes has it like new for another 180K. Beats $75 on an Autozone replacement with a 1-2 year warranty, or even a lifetime if you ask me.

You'll need to find a starter shop to get parts, no one carries them anymore. I found one, Olsen's starter in Pell Lake, WI for $25. He charges $100 to rebuild it himself. I did for $29.