98 buick limited wont start, please help

[Iron Shaykh]

Hello,

Okay I have a 1998 Buick regal limited. My car was hisitating before it would start up a few days ago, then it would turn over finally. Now I attempt to start the car you can hear it attempting to turn over, it will make a choking noise like it is trying to start but it wont.

Any thoughts on what it could be? If it is the starter, is that hard or easy to replace? If it is not to difficult I would like to try it myself. I am a total noob so as much help as possible would be wonderful.

[Ruley73]

Be more specific....Is the starter turning over slow or not turning over at all? Or are saying that the engine eventually starts but takes alot longer than it should? If the latter is true I would suspect the fuel pressure regulator. This is located on your fuel rail and has a vacuum hose going to it. If you pull this hose off and see gas than it is bad and needs to be replaced.

If it's the starter that is hesitating then I would have the battery and the alternator checked. I'm thinking that the battery is the dead if this is what you're experiencing. I hope this helps.

[Iron Shaykh]

well if i turn the key forward once with out attempting to start the car then the radio will come on in the car. So that shouldn't be the battery or can the car still do that even if the battery is dead via alternator (im totally ignorant to cars)

Okay when I attempt to start the car, you can her it trying to turn over but it wont, it will make a noice like it is attempting to turn over but it will not do it, no matter how long I try.

[Ruley73]

Your radio will still work because it doesn't draw near the power that your starter does. It definitely sounds like a dead battery to me. It could be a weak starter, but I doubt it.

[Iron Shaykh]

If it is the battery I should be able to jump start it you think? I am going to attempt this in the morning, i will report in with the results.

[Ruley73]

Yes, you should be able to jump start it. Don't drive for too long with a dead battery though because it is very hard on an alternator.

[Iron Shaykh]

Yeah it is the battery, so i have to ask is it hard to install a batt?

[Ruley73]

How hard a battery is to install varies greatly by vehicle. A Chrysler Sebring for example takes about an hour because the battery is located in front of the left front tire and requires that you take out the fenderwall to install. The battery is neither accessible or visible from under the hood.

A '98 Regal on the other hand is actually not all that hard. I'd say 20 minutes is an accurate guess for a beginner assuming no other work (such as replacing a terminal) is required. The battery is on the front passenger side of the car and is easily spotted under the hood. You'll need a group 78 size battery. The tools you will need will be 3/8" drive ratchet, a 1/2" socket on a 10" extension, 10mm socket, and a 5/16" wrench or a battery terminal tool for the side terminals. Here are brief general instructions and some tips:

1. Remove the three bolts that hold the black metal beam between the strut tower and the radiator support in place.

2. Remove the terminals from the battery, the black negative terminal first.

3. Unbolt and remove the battery retaining block from the base of the battery pan.

4. Remove the two nuts that retain the fusebox to the strut tower and gently lift the fusebox straight up and away from the battery. It won't move much, but it is necessary to do this to remove the battery.

5. Tip the battery toward the front of the car and lift it straight up and out of the car. If the engine is cool, removing the radiator cap will make this a little easier.

6. Installation is reverse of removal. ALWAYS put the red positive terminal on before the black negative terminal. Tighten the terminals snug then 1/3 of a turn more.

I hope you find this helpful.