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1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

fire · 499902 · 2004-10-05

Vehicle

Make
PONTIAC
Model
BONNEVILLE
Year
1999
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Miles at failure
102,000

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

MY 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE EXPLODED WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION & FIRE SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, THE FIRE STOPPED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE A FUEL INJECTER & UPPER INTAKE PLENUM (WHICH WAS IN PIECES FROM THE EXPLOSION). MY BILL WAS $430.63. IN JUNE 2004, I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM GM CORPORATION SAYING THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR DIAPHRAGMS LEAKING. THE LETTER DESCRIBED THE FOLLOWING: "A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IN LOW BATTERY CONDITIONS, IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACK FIRE. THE BACK FIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING A LOUD BANG. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. IF THERE IS AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE CAN RESULT." THIS LETTER DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED . THE LIGHTS HAD BEEN LEFT ON IN MY PONTIAC WHICH CAUSED A DEAD BATTERY. A BATTERY CHARGER WAS CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE WHEN THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED. WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, THE FIRE STARTED AGAIN WHERE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LOCATED. I MADE A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO GM. MY FILE # IS 1-260698900. I WAS ASKED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER IN SALISBURY FOR AN INSPECTION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN ON SEPT. 29, 2004, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. ACC

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10093614
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown