1991 Regal 3.8 ran great-stalled, ran great-stalled, don't run

[mroman4]

The car was my mother's and it ran great for years. Several months ago it stalled a few times. My brother took the car to check it out but it ran great for him. The car ran great for a month or so. Then the same thing happened. Again, he took the car and it ran great. No check engine light, no codes, nothing. By the way he is a mechanic. My mother didn't want a car with problems so I took it. I drove it over 200 miles for NY to PA and the car ran great, and it ran great for another month or so. One morning my wife drove, parked it in the driveway, I got in it fifteen minutes later and it wouldn't start. Every since then it won't run for more than ten to fifteen minutes at a time, if it even starts at all. When it does run for a few minutes it runs great. Other times when I try to start it it spits and sputters with black smoke out of the exhast like the timing is off bad. It does the same thing no matter what parts I change. It came up as a code 41. So far I've change everything related to that code (ECM, cam senser, crank senser, computer) even change the fuel filter and checked the fuel pump. Yet the car does the same thing. I took it to a local mechanic and he can't find the problem. buy the way it is no longer showing a code. Someone suggested it could be a clogged catalitic converter, I haven't check that yet. I checked some of the other threads on this site, and wonder if it coud be the injectors. Can I check them at home. But why did it run great, then not, run great, then not. now it won't start at all. Yes there is spark. Please help.

[tomogchi]

having the same problems you are... Have you tried replacing your coil packs? or possibly your plug wires and spark plugs? and maybe the plate underneath your coil packs?..... From what you say... it seems like it runs really rich.. Somethign else you could do, Get a rachet, chek under the coil packs, and wipe the connectors on the palte with your fingers... See if that helps any..
Hope im somwe kind of help,
Bill

[mroman4]

Originally Posted by tomogchi

having the same problems you are... Have you tried replacing your coil packs? or possibly your plug wires and spark plugs? and maybe the plate underneath your coil packs?..... From what you say... it seems like it runs really rich.. Somethign else you could do, Get a rachet, chek under the coil packs, and wipe the connectors on the palte with your fingers... See if that helps any..
Hope im somwe kind of help,
Bill

Thanks for the reply. I changed the EMC under the coil pack. The car is getting a spark, so I'm pretty sure it's not the coils. Plugs and wires are good. I'm not sure what to try next.

[tomogchi]

Okay, my bad, missed a part. Bad gas mabye? maybe it is an clogged catylitic converter? those come off semi-easy, either clamp or screw. (follow the exhaust manifold from teh y to the caty. Is it a possibility one of your injectors is (or more) is missfiring/not firing all the time? Does it only do it in certian weather? Could it be your Charcol canister mabye? Do you have a hole in any of your vacuum lines maybe? HAve you checked your purge canister.... Or maybe your egr valve? (hope its not the egr valve)(big P.I.A)
Hopefully i can be of some help for you.
but, i gotta go eat dinner,
Bill

[mroman4]

All of the things you mentioned I will put on my list of things to check. It's not bad gas, and it doesn't matter what the weather is like. Thanks.

[mroman4]

The oxygen censer connection was melted and grounding out because it was leaning on the manifold. That didn't fix it. Unplugged the mass air flow censor and the car ran great. So I'm replacing that today. With the help of a Christmas Miracle the car should be fixed.

[tomogchi]

Were is your Maf sensor located? and your 02 sensor melted and grounded out? thats...wow..lol Neva heard of that before, but the manifolds cna get hot..., Hope your problem was only that, good luck on it.

[mroman4]

The Maf is on the air intake hose right before the manifold, It sits right on top. Three screws to change it.

[smantas]

My 92 regal does the EXACT same thing......I have had it to several mechanics and one told me it might be the TCC selenoide in the transmission....I guess they were pretty common for this.

[AZeline]

Any luck?