91 Buick Regal Problems

matthew89 · #1 11-11-2009, 08:55 PM

i have a 91 buick regal GS that has a few problems that i cant figure out. first the car has a intermittint no start where it will run till it heats up then die setting no codes. starts and runs if you keep it above 3,000 rpms but wont idle. once it cools down it starts over again. some times i will get a quad driver code. sometimes after trying to start it dies and i will have the canister purge solenoid clicking like the pcm is commanding it on 100%. I have a red "check gauges" light that stays on all the time in the dash. and the right side cooling fan never comes on. So i checked all relays for fuel and fans. ive checked iac, tps, cts(coolant temp), canister purge sol., and ignition module circuits for high resistance and shorts to ground and short to powers. but found nothing wrong. i have a had time believing that my cam or crank sensors are bad, or my cat for that matter. so right now im starting to think that all the wiring i have running next to the engine is getting hot and causing high resistance, but everything checked out good cold. I dnt know where to go from here tho other then doing all the work over again when it dies. has anyone heard of the problem ive got? any reply is appreshated

GTP Dad · #2 11-12-2009, 07:56 PM

Welcome to AF!!

This truly sounds like a crank position sensor. The key is the fact that when it stalls it is warm and it restarts again. The CPS will not set a code until it completely fails. Replace it and the problem should go away.

matthew89 · #3 11-12-2009, 08:55 PM

well the reason i had a hard time believing that the crank sensor was bad was because when the ecm loses crank sensor it kills the fire. and sence i was able to start it and run with my foot on the gas at 3000 rpms and it would die as soon as you let off the pedal. But alright...im gunna replace the crankshaft sensor tomorrow and see what happens, i just dont want to start throwing parts at it...thanks for the rely! ill let chu know what happens.

matthew89 · #4 11-13-2009, 04:21 PM

alright so after i replaced the sensor making sure it was aligined right i started the car it ran a little and dies i checked the codes and i got a code 42 for the crankshaft sensor open ground/open. it this something i caused in the sensor or is the probly in the wiring?

matthew89 · #5 11-13-2009, 10:38 PM

mybad i meant code 42 for the EST open/grounded i think

GTP Dad · #6 11-14-2009, 03:32 PM

Check the wiring. It is possible that one of the wires has been damaged or the insulation is worn and is grounding out on the block.

matthew89 · #7 11-14-2009, 08:00 PM

yea i did all the checks that i knew how to do and i still have this problem im so frustrated that im not gunna waste any more of my time on it. sorry. i think my mom is gunna take it to a shop and hopfully they know more then i do. thanks for all the help tho. later

GTP Dad · #8 11-15-2009, 10:43 AM

Please post the issue once the problem has been remedied.

matthew89 · #9 11-19-2009, 01:21 AM

I have been working with the mechanic in the shop and we've ruled out a number of things. And still havent found the problem. ill remember to post the issue on here as soon as we find out.

matthew89 · #10 12-16-2009, 07:06 PM

so i guess the problem was a bad mass air flow sensor signal going intermittint untill it wouldnt show up at all. he replaced the maf, spark plugs, and the battery. and says the car is running fine. im gunna pick it up tomorrow.

Ruley73 · #11 12-19-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthew89

so i guess the problem was a bad mass air flow sensor signal going intermittint untill it wouldnt show up at all. he replaced the maf, spark plugs, and the battery. and says the car is running fine. im gunna pick it up tomorrow.

You better double check that. The 3.1L (VIN T) in the early Regals doesn't have/use a MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor.

matthew89 · #12 12-19-2009, 09:21 AM

thanks man but its a 3.8 liter and if its not the mass air flow he replaced it has to be the manifold air presure sensor. it cost around 100 dollars for the part

Ruley73 · #13 12-19-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthew89

thanks man but its a 3.8 liter and if its not the mass air flow he replaced it has to be the manifold air presure sensor. it cost around 100 dollars for the part

IDK WTH I was thinking as in what made me think your car has a 3.1L. Especially considering you did say that it had the GS package, which only comes with a 3.8L. So, sorry about that

.

While I'm here though I'll also point out that the VIN L 3800 engine only uses a MAF sensor (and not a MAP sensor). Your symptoms do point do a bad MAF sensor and I would have mentioned this earlier if it wasn't for my brain fart. LOL. The code 35 was likely set because despite it's efforts, the IAC valve was unable to keep the car running/idling.

matthew89 · #14 12-19-2009, 11:21 PM

thanks for looking at the post either way. i had no idea that a bad maf would cause this sort of problem. i would run the car and unplug the maf and it wouldn't cause the problem so i just ruled it out i guess, also i had takin it off and cleaned the hot wire and it had no effect on the driveability. oh well tho the problems fixed and i hope i dnt have any other problem in the future. thanks again

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD