96 LeSabre - crank, no start.

[100mphclub.com]

Hey guys,

First off, this is my Grandpa's car. I plan to go work on it this coming w/e and see if I can get it running for him.

All I know about the car is it's a 1996 and a V-6.

My grandparent's drive their vehicles MAYBE 3,000 miles a year. Yeah, not much at all, and they are really short trips in town. Which I know is hard on the cars.

I was told that the car will occasionally not start. It'll crank just fine, but not start. They can put a jump box on it, and it'll fire right up.

I plan to check the voltage and see if the battery is dead and check the cables and grounds. The battery is only a year old, but it also isn't used much and it's extremely cold out right now.

I've done some searching and it seems there is a debate about the Crank sensor being bad, or the connections to it????

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...crank+no+start

If there is a common issue and/or you think it's something else. I would appreciate some feedback. My grandpa gets screwed going to the dealership, and it really kills me when they do that to an old guy.

Oh, and he's had problems before. The dealership put a new alternator on the car. But it's been a few years back IIRC.

[lesab92]

We replaced the crank sensor on our '92 Lesabre because there was a starting issue. I remeber well that it was during very hot weather and when the sensor would heat up and I believe the engine would start to stall and maybe or maybe not start up again. We would need to wait until it cooled off before we could get the engine started again. Replacing the sensor fixed that. We are now having starting problems again where starter seems totally dead one time and then cranks right over the next. We had a rebuilt started (NAPA) put in last August. I think we're going to have to wait until the things up and quits altogether cause our mechanic has no clue. He put a new battery in and claims it was the battery but the car is still acting up. Does you grand parents car have one of those security keys? I'm wondering if that's our problem.

[100mphclub.com]

I'm not really sure, I'll have to check on that. It just seems that it is losing electric current somewhere. Like it's enough current to turn the starter, but not enough to turn on the injectors or coils.

Guess I may be in for a w/e of troubleshooting. LOL

[Bassasasin]

This is getting to be a popular topic in this cold weather.

Security key for sure.. there. .
Dissallows fuel pulses after it runs for 10 seconds, approx.

Anyway.
My Opinion..
Not likely the current wont allow the firing of the ignition module.
The Crank sensor more often fails when hot. The Ignition module gets moisture in them and fails till dry or warm.

If you can duplicate the conditions you may smell for gas and flodding, try pouring very hot water on the sensor.. and next the Ignition module.
Injectors sometimes leak and flood the engine and give an intermittently no start condition.



Good Luck

[100mphclub.com]

I had to read that 4 times to get what you were saying. LOL

Okay, so it has a security key, but it's most likely not the case. You are leaning towards the ignition module?

Basically you feel it's just a coincidence that jump starting the car will fire it up?

I did have a key tumbler screw up once. It was shutting off the fuel/ignition vitals but would still crank.

[Bassasasin]

Somewhat, yes im leaning toward the ignition module if its not terminals like the small one from the battery. But, more thought brings more ideas.

Sadly, you dont have a fixed bad condition easier to find.
Your in a tough, remote position. Perhaps shortening that extention like borrowing the car for a time may help determine the problem, and log better information and indicators.

Logically I agree, a battery that will turn the starter will start an apparently, startable car.
Scratching my head, perhaps it may be that the battery providing 10 volts sometimes depending on temperature messing things up. I have heard of them getting taken to a tester and pass warmed up.

QUOTE: " I did have a key tumbler screw up once, It was shutting off the fuel/ignition vitals but would still crank".
Trying to remember my particulars on my 94', the car primes at cold start on the car with fuel before it goes into the pulsing inject to keep the car running. Thats how it runs for a second or two. Then the VATS dis-allows the continued running of the car. I also think the VATS will not stop the car once its been running for a while for safety reasons but will turn on the Security light just to inform the driver.



Good Luck..