1999 regal problems

[bigolehooch]

My 1999 buick has been giving me tons of problems. Number 1 is after I fuel up, and no i am not fueling up a low tank, it takes 30-45 minutes to start again. Second is the signal light on the passenger side keeps burning out approximatley every week. Third is the climate control sensor acts up and shows my exterior temp to be 50 or so degrees lower than the actual temp causing the heater to come on in the summer heat. Does anyone know know how to disable this sensor because unplugging it does not work. Does anyone else have these problems? Rebecca

[StevePT]

Does the car crank but not start at all after you fill up? Have you tried starting it without the gas cap? Sounds like you're getting some vapor lock. I'm assuming the car starts fine all the other times you use it, but only has a problem when you open the gas cap and fill it up?

Check the wiring from the signal light back into the wire loom. One of the wires might be chaffing on a sharp metal edge. Also, make sure the light socket is free of rust/debris.

Don't have much info for you on the temp sensor problem other than seeing if it'd be affordable to just try replacing it and then see how that works. Otherwise, to test it you'd need resistance readings at certain temps, subject it to those temps and then read the resistance to see if it's reading correctly.

[bigolehooch]

I have never tried leaving the gas cap off. I'm so afraid of being late for school or work I leave my car running when I fuel up. Yes I know this is dangerous. What do you mean by vapor lock? I was thinking about the short in my light and I recall leaving my car in a rainstorm 2 yrs ago and when I got in several hours later, the passenger floor was full of water and it was trickling in from where the blower motor is. I had to change the blower motor last year and now its screaming again. I can't see where the water comes in at and I have a covered garage so it hasn't happened again. Its also very difficult for me to check the wires b/c they are enclosed in a tube like thing. I just don't know if the vehicle is worth fixing anymore. Seems after 100,000 miles it began falling apart around me. Thanks for your speedy reply. Rebecca

[StevePT]

If you take off the plastic cover just below the window outside of the car, you'll see the tunnel for the air to flow through and down into the blower housing. Sometimes that housing will get so backed up with leaves and debris that water will stagnate in there and raise to a level that overflows into the blower housing.

Some of the black plastic covers are two piece and others are one piece. If it's a two piece, it's easy to take off by removing the trim clips that hold it down. If it's one piece, you have to take off the wiper arms.

As for the wiring, even though it's covered, it could have rubbed through at one spot. Check from the back side of the light socket as far as you can trace the wires and see if there's any spot in the electrical tape/split loom that looks like it's been rubbed through.