97 Buick Regal GS - No Start - Intermittent

[sea-doin-it]

I have a 1997 Buick Regal GS 3800 Supercharged with about 153,000 miles.

It will intermittently decide to not start.

My wife drove it to the animal shelter and returned, after about 10 minutes she decided to go back to the shelter and it would not start. It cranked over and acted like it would run but quickly died. I came out and got the car started. She drove to the shelter again and went in for 10-20 minutes and it started fine for her drive home.

The next day we went to the mall, drove fine there. But after 1/2 hour at the mall we were ready to return home. The car would not start, just crank over and not start up. I'm led to believe it's something with ignition or fuel delivery. We called a tow truck. Just after we called I tried the car again and it started, we quickly drove home.

I thought it might also be something that when the car is warmed up it doesn't want to restart. But since my wife was able to return from the shelter I rulled this out.

I have had the computer scanned by Autozone and O'Riley and the computer comes up "PASS" from both. I've also been told that the Supercharger could be the problem, could this be so?

Yesterday I decided we would take it to an event, started fine, drove 10 minutes, stayed 2 hours, drove another 10 minutes, stoped for 5 minutes, drove fine for another 5 till we were at home. 30 minutes later it wouldn't start again. We took another vehicle, came home 3 hours later and it started up fine.

Please help!
Allen Eddington
Wichita, KS

[BNaylor]

Welcome to AF.

What were the codes retrieved? Do you have the SECURITY light on or flashing?

I seriously doubt the supercharger is your issue. Also, you might consider running a fuel pressure check to see if it is in specs. How old is the fuel filter? If the car starts and dies within a matter of seconds then you could have a fuel pump resistor acting up which is part of the fuel pump speed control relay but that can be bypassed for troubleshooting purposes. We have a bypass procedure.

[sea-doin-it]

Since writing this thread my wife spoke with an ASE certified mechanic that used to work at the local Buick dealership. He told her the three most common problems on this model with the symptoms described are 1) Ignition Module, Fuel Filter & Crank Position Sensor. He told me that next time it will not start, to check for spark, if none, replace ignition module. If I do get a spark, check for fuel pressure at the rail (mechanic required as I can not figure out how to do this yet) and if I get propper fuel pressure, it should be the crank position sensor.

I decided that since the car has 153k miles on it and we had not replaced the fuel filter since it was gifted to us at 148k miles, that I would replace it at the least. Since I have replaced the fule filter at $7.10 and 5 minutes, I have NOT been able to get the car to not want to start. I wasn't sure if it was a temperature issue, so I drove the car for 15 mintues, parked, started it, drove home, wait 5 minutes, start again, let cool for 20 minutes as before, and it still started. I repeated this test just to make sure, again no problems. A week later the wife called, for the first time it had a new light on the dash "check engine soon" I had never noticed this light on, only the "service vehicle soon" (which I attibute to the ABS light since the right front hub bearing/abs sensor needs to be replaced due to wire breakage). The car still ran fine, I took it to have the codes read and to my astonishment it came back with a code for the first time. I was overjoyed to see a code, but not the one for the Crank Position Sensor. I purchased the part, I was told that I should have a shop do this. Any Suggestions?

[sea-doin-it]

Sorry I did not anwer your questions.

No, the security light is not blinking.
If the car starts, it runs fine, no irregularities.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by sea-doin-it

The car still ran fine, I took it to have the codes read and to my astonishment it came back with a code for the first time. I was overjoyed to see a code, but not the one for the Crank Position Sensor. I purchased the part, I was told that I should have a shop do this. Any Suggestions?

What was the code or what part? Are you referring to replacing the crank position sensor? Although the crank sensor is a known problem on the L36 and L67 SII 3800 engines it doesn't mean it is the sole cause of an intermittent, no start condition.

[sea-doin-it]

I think it was something like p336 (Crankshaft Position Sensor). I have fuel pressure at the rail. I have spark. When the motor doesn't start, I think it's cause this sensor is not telling the computer that there is rotation and therefore not opening the injectors to let the car start.???

[BNaylor]

If it was P0336 then go for the replacement of the CKPS. The DTC means the sensor has a range-performance issue and the 18X pulse output is bad. This is before feeding the 3X pulses derived from the 18X pulses to the cam position sensor which provides timing for the fuel injection system. The 18X pulses control ignition timing too so it is possible to have spark but the timing is off.

Also, be sure to check the electrical connector to the crank position sensor for contamination, corrosion or moisture.

The link below has the R&R procedure for a crank position sensor on any GM car with the SII 3800 engine.

Click here

[sea-doin-it]

Thanks, I followed the R&R procedue you linked me to and have had no problems for the last two and a half weeks.

[DMCGEE]

I am having pretty much the same problem on my 96 GS. The one thing I can do is if it acts as though it is not going to start...I can slightly pump the accelerator constantly and it will eventually start...roughly, but start and then smooth out. It is not that it isn't getting gas as I always smell gas.
Did replacing the Crank Position Sensor solve the problem for sea-doin-it for good? Thanks

[heyraver]

I've had similar problems with my 98.
I had the garage take a look and
told me the problem was a dirty
Throttle body and Idle Air Control valve.

[Torcque]

I have this problem on my 96 Regal custom. 3800 Series II NA. Through an SES at me. Got it scanned. P0171. "Bank 1 lean". There don't appear to be any vacuum hoses leaking. Cleaned MAF with electrical cleaner. Replace MAP. SES went away for a week, then came back while I was in traffic on the highway. Rough starts. Once it starts and is warmed up, I can start and restart with no prob until it cools down. Then rough starts again. What could it be?

[DMCGEE]

Well, my 96 Regal GS wouldn't start for almost an hour last Friday so when I finally got it started I took it and had the Crankshaft Position sensor replaced.
Sunday, the transmission bit the dust: so I never got the chance to see if the replaced CPS worked. Now I am looking for a new car....