Intermittent starting problem

[GScheel]

Hello All,

My sister recently gave my daughter a 1996 Buick Regal GS. It has an intermittent problem where the engine will not even crank. A few minutes to a half an hour later it will start up fine. She also says that opening the hood will often get it to start.

Also, I drive a 1991 Park Avenue and I have a similar problem but much less frequently. For me it will occur several months apart, but for her it happens almost all the time.

I have checked to see if the battery pulls down then she tries to start it but it really doesn't. It's at about 12.4V at rest and about 12.15V when she is trying to turn it over.

Any ideas?

Glen

[DABrown]

I have the same problem with a 1999 Buick Regal.When the starter cools it starts up and runs fine. I have changed the starter twice, however I have installed used starters. Other threads in this forum indicate the ignition switch may be a problem. If I turn the switch several times quickly sometimes it will start. You might keep an eye out for an answer there.

[renoandkat]

i have a 96 buick regal 3.1 v6. The starter has never been changed since i got it with 33k miles. The car has 174K now. Sometimes when i would turn the key, there would be no lights but other times,would get dash lights but no starter sound whatsoever. After verifying battery/alternator good, I noticed that the positive cable connected to solenoid was not in the slot on solenoid,so i corrected that(was on wrong because i replaced pos cable). Then i grabbed the rear of solenoid and could twist it a bit. Car started. Twist it back and it wouldn't start. I got a new solenoid but car has started every time since. Check that the rear of solenoid does not twist and also that positive cable is oriented correctly