93, Loss of RPMs, stalling, dies when put in drive.

[ideate.net]

93 Buick Regal, 3.1L, 176k miles. Last week developed a "hiccup" - sudden loss of RPMs, at highway speed mostly, with a slight jerk, (not a surge), but would keep going. Occasionally would die at stop lights. Sometimes rapid hiccups when accelerating from a stop. It would die if let idle a few minutes. Took to a Buick dealer, they replaced spark plugs, ignition wires, fuel filter, thermostat. All that $300. Seemingly fixed.

Then a few days later, on a 4-hour road trip, started to hiccup again on highway after 30 miles. Pulled over, turned around, and hiccup was gone. Decided to turn around again. About 30 miles later, hiccup started again; especially pronounced on uphills. Almost felt like it was dropping out of gear/downshifting hard or slipping. Died once at highway speed, had to pull over, restarted just fine. It could accelerate just fine, perhaps a little rough, but if I tried to hold a speed between 55-70 the hiccup came back. Pulled in to a drive-thru for dinner, and it died. Started it, died. Started it, died. Then it wouldn't start..it would crank and sound okay, but would basically die immediately. Sat for 15 minutes, started again, but rough. Backed out, and when I put it in drive it died again. Coasted through the interstate intersection, parked it. Tried starting it after an hour, and it would start fine, but if I put it in drive it died.

Let it sit all night, came back the next day with a trailer. Started up beautifully, went in drive about 10 yards, but hiccuped pretty violently on the ramps up the trailer. After we got it home (2 hours), it started up just fine again, backed off the trailer, and idles just fine for 5-10 minutes (then I just shut it off).

I'm going to try to get it into a shop tomorrow..and have been trying to do some preliminary research on what this could be. Some ideas are crankshaft and/or camshaft sensor; fuel pump, ignition module. Can anyone help me narrow it down further than this? Does anyone think it could be a (gasp!) transmission problem? I realize that at 176k miles it could be any or all of those things, but frankly, I can't afford to put much into this car. (Poor newlywed college student!)

Thanks for any help!

[AHaag]

Did you ever find out what the problem with the car was? Ours if having the same problem. It had done it once before and it was the computer chip? or something like that. But that is not the problem here.

Someone said something to me about some sensor that has something to do with the oil or fuel that when it goes bad that it acts like the car is on its top so it will not allow the car to start? Says that it is only with a 3.1 Does that sound familiar to you? Hey if you found out the problem let me know. Mabey that will be what the problem with our car is.

[intheory]

I found out that it was the ignition module. Odd to believe that part cause this type of problem in the car, but it was shorting out or something and that affected the rest of the systems.

Prior to that, the shop had me spend $400 replacing ignition wires, spark plugs/wires, and had the fuel system cleaned--at a Buick dealer none the less--misdiagnosed big time. The new module and repairs would have cost me another $400, so I let the car die. Instead I purchased a Hyundai Elantra GT and never looked back. Hope this helps!

[tomogchi]

Stupid Idea, but thehiccuping and stuff... Ym mother has a '91 buick roadmaster, thatstarted to have a really bad hiccup; stalled every mile/2miles or whatever... hot cold, no diff........rebuilt, no change. New fuel pump, new map sensor, 02 sensor, charcocal canister, fuel pump, fuel lines, brand new radiator, maf sensor ( ithink thats what it called..) new thermostat,Plugs, wires, spark plugs, hoses, purge canister, egr valve. oh man. .the list goes on and on... No dealer could locate the problem, no shop, not even my auto tech class coudl figure it out (this is after 3 months of day after day testing and stuff; spent over 4 grand on the car (not including the rebuild), Still runs a little rich/ lean depending on the weather.nuttin worked...so my mom forgot to put the gas cap on at the local gas station.... Worked ever since, no clue why though. Only 168,000, shes a dependable and freakin fast car man...
Try the gas cap... It might actually work.... Dont ask me how tho...
Hope this helps,
Bill