1992 Buick Lesabre PLEASE Help :(

[leeleeaub]

My car starts then won't start for a while 30 to an hour. He tried replacing the coil pack that didn't fix the problem. Once it starts it sounds great, runs great, it is just you never know when it is or isn't going to crank. We don't have much money to spend so any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I start a new job Friday that is 20 miles away and I REALLY need this fixed before then as I have no other way to get to work. Thanks very much. Oh the battery is good too.

[Alibi]

Are you getting any trouble codes (ses light)? It sounds like a crank sensor is going south. When it stalls next, fill a pitcher of water with cool water and dump it on the crank sensor (behind the harmonic balancer). If you can start the car afterward, then you've found your problem.

[leeleeaub]

Can you tell me exactly where this is located. I know where the pulley system is and the battery where is it exactly from that?

[leeleeaub]

Is it directly under the power steering thing? If so how do you reach it to pour water on it? Sorry for all the questions but I am desperate.

[Alibi]

No, it is a sensor located behind the harmonic balancer. The balancer should be a large pulley towards the bottom of the engine, on the side close to the grill as opposed to the firewall. It is probably covered in gunk so it may be a bit hard to see.

[HotZ28]

Here is a pic of the location and what the sensor looks like;

[Amopower]

Are these easy to replace? I might just do some preventative maintenance and replace mine before it fails, since I have an original 1993.

[Alibi]

The sensor themselves aren't too bad, but the biggest problem is getting the bolt off that holds on the harmonic balancer. I believe it is torqued from the factory to around 400lbs of pressure. A 1-inch impact wrench seems to be the most effective way to remove one...keep in mind that a 1-inch impact wrench resembles a small jackhammer...