Quite confusing 94 LeSabre

jaimysessanna · #1 06-12-2009, 11:26 PM

Hello everyone, I have a whole new problem now. First though, thank you everyone who helps. I'm just so ever thankful that there is a resource for help that I don't have spend tons of money on.

Okay on to the problem. So I have a 1994 LeSabre with the VIN L 3800. It has always started fine, ran great, never ever an issue. It has 191k miles. Anyways, recently it has had some issues. It started getting harder and harder to start in the morning. Then I noticed one morning as I was almost parked at Bryant & Stratton, that it had stalled. It also took a few tries to get it started again. Then I noticed one day while driving home from work, it stalled. I started it, then it died again, then tried to start it, it wouldn't start. So I coasted to the side of the road and finally got it started. Then one day I went to work. I turned it off and went to go start it again and it wouldn't start. It started real hard and ran super rough. I could hear it sucking air in through the air box. It soon died after that. Now it will run alright, after started cold. But once it's warm it will not start that easy. Sometimes it will start, others it will start hardly and run real rough then die.

I was thinking maybe EGR valve, but wouldn't it cause the car to run horrible when it becomes warm? And if it was a sensor wouldn't it trigger the check engine light?

I have replaced the fuel filter about a week ago, I did plugs and wires last November with BOSCH Platinum +2 plugs. I also cleaned the MAF sensor today with carb cleaner. I unplugged that while running rought and it didn't make a difference.

Could it be the fuel pump. I'm going to do a pressure test tomorrow. Or maybe I was thinking the fuel pressure regulator. I'm really stumped. Maybe CPS. Any and all help is appreciated.

Andreas E. · #2 06-13-2009, 01:29 AM

Hi jaimysessana!

I think I went through what you experienced just this week. Check out this thread to see if it sounds familiar. I had to replace my crankshaft position sensor...

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=955144

jaimysessanna · #3 06-13-2009, 02:03 AM

Yes that sounds very familiar, but did your car work fine sometimes then just become a hunk of shit other times. It's annoying. And how much did the CKPS run you?

Andreas E. · #4 06-13-2009, 10:52 AM

In the beginning, the car would start up just fine again as if nothing had happened. The worse it got, the less often the car would start up and I'd sometimes have to wait 10-15 minutes for it to start again. I guess the sensor had to cool down. When it did start up, there was a lot of backfiring, probably because of all the unburned fuel? In the end it would not start at all.

The sensor was $27.99 at Autozone. It is US-made. No Chinese import. If you prefer OEM parts, I have seen them from GM online parts dealer for$40-$50.

However, putting it is is quite a PITA, but it can be done. The tool rental (trust me, you don't want to do without) would have been just $30 if I had known what I got myself into.

jaimysessanna · #5 06-14-2009, 12:45 AM

Well today I went to AutoZone and bought a CKPS. It was $35 with taxes here in NYS. Put it in a it was a bit of a pain but I got it in thanks to a 3/4" impact gun. It definitely seems to run better and start better, but I'm still going to check the fuel pump's pressure. It doesn't seem like it's getting enough fuel when starting. I wonder if it's possible both of these could be headaches at the same time.

jaimysessanna · #6 06-14-2009, 12:56 AM

Also, I have a multimeter. Could someone explain to me how to check my coils to make sure they're good.

stuzman · #7 06-14-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaimysessanna

Also, I have a multimeter. Could someone explain to me how to check my coils to make sure they're good.

You could check the primary and secondary resistance of the windings, but even if they checked in specs, the coil(s) could still be bad. The best way without a scope, etc. is to put a spark tester on them. You can get one at any one of the auto chain stores.

Andreas E. · #8 06-14-2009, 12:37 PM

If you have a second vehicle, couldn't you just take the coils out, to an auto parts store to have them tested? Some of them do it for free in the hopes of being able to sell you something...

HotZ28 · #9 06-14-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

I did plugs and wires last November with BOSCH Platinum +2 plugs.

This could be your problem, Bosch Platinum plugs are not a welcomed addition to a DIS ignition system, they will fail, usually sooner than later! Click Here for one opinion (of many) on the use of Bosch plugs.

jaimysessanna · #10 06-14-2009, 10:23 PM

Well the CKPS wasn't the culprit, but I guess preventative maintanence isn't a bad thing. So spark plugs, eh? The one's I took out were Autolite XP's and they were in there since 120k and I changed them out at 180k. So I think I'm going to get some Autolite's.

Those okay?

jaimysessanna · #11 06-14-2009, 10:28 PM

maybe just ac delco's. I mean how can a gm reject it's own part

Andreas E. · #12 06-15-2009, 09:49 AM

I have NGK's in mine without any issues...

jaimysessanna · #13 06-15-2009, 04:39 PM

Well I just took out the BOSCH +2 plugs and I put in ACDelco ones. Gapped them at .060. Still has issues starting when warmed up. Any ideas?

jaimysessanna · #14 06-15-2009, 04:39 PM

I heard something about gas being in a vacuum line or something about a fuel pressure regulator. Any clues anyone?

imidazol97 · #15 06-15-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaimysessanna

I heard something about gas being in a vacuum line or something about a fuel pressure regulator. Any clues anyone?

Something else to think about, in some Bonneville discussions the computer is found to be a problem in some problems that are difficult to track down. The 94s and 95s seem to have a higher problem rate than other years of our H-body cars.

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