'95 Regal GS Intermitting problem - need help badly!

[Marc212005]

Hello, I've been looking on the net for information about a problem I've got and your forms seem to be pretty good at helping people so I'm giving you guys a shot .

I have a 1995 Buick Regal GS with 152,000km on it. I bought it as my first car for me and my little family (son and fiance). I've had this intermitting problem where the car will all of a sudden just die. In the winter time, I would have problems getting it started but after it sat for a bit it would fire right back up. Besides that my engine light comes on here and there but if i turn the car off and then back on, it goes away.

Here is a list of things that I've done in it:
fuel filter changed
fuel pump and pressure perfect
cleaned the fuel lines
put a newer coil and MAP computer in (out of a brand new car)

Recently though it has done this at the most unappropriate times, on the expressway at 110km/hr, I let it glide and just hit it into neutral and fired her back up. It seems that I have this problem at variable speeds so I know its not related to that. I don't have money to keep putting into this this (both students with a small child) but I can't keep driving around like this. I need someone to help me out if possible or at least point me in the right direction. Dealership says it's probably electrical but I can't afford to have them look at it for an hour and I don't know anyone with a computer.

I hope someone can help and appreciate and thank those who do post any suggestions.

Thank you all!

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. I don't know how you can proceed with no support here, first a full scan is in order, second when it dies someone has to check for spark and injector pulse. Bad or corroded grounds and/or battery connections, intermittent functioning crank sensor another possibility. How did you put a Map?, MAF?, and coil out of what car, brand new?

[Marc212005]

Car was the same model and year but the guy put a brand new coil and MAF computer in 2 weeks prior his accident. Had receipts and all.

I guess I might have to save up some cash and see what the dealer comes up with the computer reading or find someone in my town that might have one.

I guess I should fill in some more gaps ... I had a family mechanic look at it and the fuel pressure and sparks/compression i think it was is all in good order. I'm thinking it might be grounds but I'm not sure (not a car buff just got this from reading on the net)

Can you suggest anything to try besides what you already have? Like i said I dont have money and I would rather try thing on my own before having to find some.

thanks again.

[richtazz]

The most common cause of a problem like yours is a failing crank position sensor as Max mentioned above. They will intermittently short out, trip the CEL, then cool off enough to let the car start again until the cycle repeats. There is no set duration as to when they get hot enough to fail or the cool down period. Sometimes they fail fairly soon after starting the car, some times they won't fail at all. Then sometimes the car will start right back up, and others it can take 15-30 minutes to sufficiently cool.

[Marc212005]

Well I'm going to see how much that's going to cost me and give it a shot. I just hope its easy to repalce.

Thanks, I'll update when I can.

[Marc212005]

Well, I would like to thank you guys! It seems that the problem as far was with the crank position sensor. I changed that component and the Engine light hasn't come on ever since the change (Saturday) and I havn't had the car stall on me.

I'll see how long this good luck lasts but I hope that it stays for at least a year.

Thank you everyone for your help and input!

Thanks a bunch!

[richtazz]

Thanks for the feedback. We like to hear the happy endings, and it may help another person doing a search on a similar issue later on.