need help

[jrichardson42]

We have a 88 olds 88 royal with a 3.8 and its hard to start when its cold it just cranks for a long period of time and when it warms up it starts fine could that be the coolant temp sensor also when it does start it idles way to fast there is no vacuum leaks the only code is a 63 for the egr valve what else can make it idle fast.

[thisnametooktolong]

temp sensor could do that if it is reading that the engine is hot, check the resistance against the table in the book to see if it is in range. On the pre-type 1 and type 1 engines, The EGR stuck closed, you would never notice. If it is stuck open or leaking air, it will idle fast and probably make all kinds of shimmies and shakes, along with some interesting clangs and bangs. Non of those cars will start until it gets at least one crank and one cam puls so you could have either one of those sensors going bad. I have also seen 3800 have a problem starting with a bad fuel pressure regulator. Before you start the car see if you have pressure on the rail. If you don’t it could be the regulator or the pump going south. Then there was that one 1988 98 (same engine) about 10 years ago that would not start the second the outside temp was 20F, and the engine cold. Ended up playing, with an Oscope and multi meter. Eventually found that it was the coil pack drive board, and that was just a part change of desperation. A little more experience and I found that that board will cause a host of problems such as, poor starting, high RPM misfire, general misfire, and no power. All of those symptoms together or one at a time. And even only one.

By the way that 1988 88 has a heck of a motor in it. I just rode in one that has seen far better days, it clanging a lot, smokes a lot, and ticks a lot. But hay it just turned 480,000 miles. never having the oil pan off, heads off, or valve covers pulled. The tranny is also original with only a few cans of magic goop in it, and two or three modulator valves. My father uses his 1988 98 regancy for a in town car. He just bet me that it would run from his house to mine (575 miles each way) with not problems and 2 quarts of oil….. darned it….. I lost that bet. Why on earth a 70 year old man would hop in that POS with tools just incase is besides me. he has a 04 Buick (i think its a park ave) that is mint.