1991 Buick Park Avenue, 130000~ miles

The car has an odd starting problem. When cold, or not having been started for a few days, the car sputters to start, but it's always tiuned over once I gas the pedal a bit(I know, thats a nono with fuel injection, but it wont start if I dont.) Now it's gotten more difficult to start, my grandma, bless her heart swears it's the alternator, I disagree. Once the car does start, the battery gage shows the alternator charging up the battery, and the car runs like a champ. I'm inclined towards the fuel delivery system, as it starts if I give it a little gas. I'm now debating between the injectors, or a mucky fuel filter.

Any ideas?

Spoke with my favorite mechanic, Morris, and he now says it's the crank sensor, So I'll have to read the threads I've ignored about this subject now!

1991 Buick Park Avenue, 130000~ miles

The car has an odd starting problem. When cold, or not having been started for a few days, the car sputters to start, but it's always tiuned over once I gas the pedal a bit(I know, thats a nono with fuel injection, but it wont start if I dont.) Now it's gotten more difficult to start, my grandma, bless her heart swears it's the alternator, I disagree. Once the car does start, the battery gage shows the alternator charging up the battery, and the car runs like a champ. I'm inclined towards the fuel delivery system, as it starts if I give it a little gas. I'm now debating between the injectors, or a mucky fuel filter.

Any ideas? It's the crankshaft sensor like the last reply. i just changed mine because of the same problem and that resolved the problem. its over the crank cover near the water pump. one screw and one plug.

I had an 89 that did the same and I had to cycle the key on/off 2 or 3 times before even attempting to start her. I even used carb cleaner at times when the temp was below 10 degrees. I changed the fuel pump but no better. I found there was a updated PROM for cold start problem. Replaced it and instant success. Cost less than $50 - dealer item only. Check your PROM ID # and ask the dealer to look it up.

i totally disagree, the problem is fuel delivery and if you haven't changed your fuel filter then do so, and also the fuel pressure regulators are known to get stuck open and flood the motor. thats why when you pump the gas, ity starts cause your matching the fuel with the air it needs.. The cadilliac northstar motor are notorious for that and others. They use the same regulator design. If it was the crack sensor it would run like crap regardless. Definetly fuel related.. if you take off your vacuum hose to the fuel pressure regulator and you smell fuel, its bad and your acually taking in additional fuel from that as well.

Not enough fuel or no enough air flow can cause your problems. I would start with an induction service cleaning the IAC and its bore, cleaning the throttle body first.It would be better if you could scan your engine and see what the collant temp, IAC counts, Fuel trim numbers are. These number would clue you in to which direction you should go.

With that kind of age you may want to inspect the rubber fuel vacum hoses. Especially, at the fuel regulator. They will crack and you can lose pressure making it necessary to give it a little throttle to start.