96 3.8 MAP Sensor question

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by upacreek

HI,
I am the sister with the 96 Buick problems. First of all I do appreciate all of the input. My question now is, will driving the car with the broken plentum so that the map sensor was not secure hurt the car or any sensors?

You're welcome and welcome to AF.

Just to clarify what specific part is broken? The plastic forked retainer that holds the MAP sensor or the part of the UIM plenum that it inserts into? Try to explain to us using the pic below. The MAP sensor area is highlighted.

Worse case is a vacuum leak, positive crankcase ventilation not proper, or MAP sensor DTC(s).

[upacreek]

The part of the plenum that it inserts into. The small plastic piece that the map sensor fork turns onto is what broke. The reason I asked is because they replaced the MAF sensor instead of the MAP sensor because the mechanic could not find the MAP sensor. Just wondering if the vacuum leak would affect the MAF sensor. The car ran fine, the only problem I had to begin with was that the check engine light was on and the code was P0108, MAP sensor. I just wanted the light to stay off. One thing lead to another.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by upacreek

The part of the plenum that it inserts into. The small plastic piece that the map sensor fork turns onto is what broke. The reason I asked is because they replaced the MAF sensor instead of the MAP sensor because the mechanic could not find the MAP sensor. Just wondering if the vacuum leak would affect the MAF sensor. The car ran fine, the only problem I had to begin with was that the check engine light was on and the code was P0108, MAP sensor. I just wanted the light to stay off. One thing lead to another.

Thats not good news. Was the UIM replaced? Or is the P0108 DTC still on? The P0108 DTC was most likely caused by the MAP sensor not securing properly into the UIM. Hard to say why the mechanic replaced the MAF sensor instead or could not locate the MAP sensor in which all 1996 and up odb-ii Series II 3800 engines should have. I recall the earlier SII 3800 engines in 1995 GM cars that were odb-i or maybe transitional 1.5 did not have a MAP sensor.

[Jrs3800]

You are correct... All of the 1995 Series II engines did not have the MAP sensor..

All 1996+ 3800's use the map sensor..

[upacreek]

Yes the UIM was replaced. That is when other problems started occuring. Before I took the car to the shop, the night before I glued the piece that broke and it did hold for a while. I started the car, the light was off and the car ran smooth. The next morning I started it to take it to the shop, the glue did not hold, it drove okay, but when it was idoling, it did not run smooth. I took it to the shop. When I went to pick it up after they replaced the UIM, it was missing and they could not figure out why. The scanner was not showing where the misfire was coming from. The mechanic had the rpms up for about a minute or 2. The shop filled up with gas fumes. I left the car and called the next day. They told me an injector had gone out. They replaced it with a used one. Said it was fixed. I started the car that night, the light came on and the car was missing. I called and told them, they said another injector must have gone bad. I did not talk to them for about 3 days. When they did call me that is when they told me that my motor was shot. I had told them to take off the new MAF and put the old one back on. The head mechanic said the car would not run with the old MAF so he put the new one back on. Then it ran good till it lost the old pressure. The car ran good before they replaced the MAF in the very beginning. It is a long story that really leads up to all of this. Hope this makes sense.

[upacreek]

I guess I did not answer your question about the light being on. I am not sure if it was on or not once the UIM was replaced. He did say it was off at the time when he drove it and it lost all the oil pressure.

[Hapynzap]

I recently replaced my upper intake manifold and had the same idling problem. There are 2 o rings - one on the pcv valve and one larger o ring on the fitting that hold the MAP sensor that fits into the manifold. I had forgot to replace the larger o ring and that fixed it.

[upacreek]

Thanks for the input Hapynzap.

[upacreek]

Any idea what a 1996 Buick LeSabre is worth without the engine. Car is in good shape other wise.

[tempfixit]

When the engine quit the car was pulled into town about 3 miles not towed. I know the old cars it could hurt the tranny if pulled for a distance, could the tranny have been damaged by pulling it 3 miles???

thanks

[Hapynzap]

Worth? $200- $400