Car wont always start

RICKM5

MEMBER
1997 BUICK CENTURY
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150 MILES

My 97 century runs fine, except occasionally it wont fire. It will catch if starting fluid is used. It will crank fine, and after awhile will start just fine. Rather annoying. Any ideas? I would think that due to the erratic nature of the problem, that the fuel pump and filter would be eliminated as source of the problem. A friend suggested turning the key on and off several times w/out turning the engine, then waiting a few seconds. This has worked, but not always.

3 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

If priming the pump and fuel line's has worked in the past then I would check and see if your fuel pressure is bleeding down when the car sits causing the extending cranking.

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Thursday, January 20th, 2011 AT 1:23 AM

RICKM5

MEMBER
2 POSTS

How do you check that out? Additionally, why would it start 30 min.S later? Also, wouldn't cranking the engine reprime the system? Just trying to cover all the bases, this is driving me nuts.

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Thursday, January 20th, 2011 AT 1:36 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

The reason I suggest checking for the fuel pressure bleeding down is you said you have used starting fluid to start it that would suggest a fuel issue. Also you have talked about cyling the key without starting it which run's the fuel pump and will reprime the pressure in the fuel line's etc. You could also try when it doesn't start checking for spark nothing wrong with covering all your bases. Now for the fuel pressure I know auto zone rent's fuel pressure gauge's you would screw the hose on where it show's in the diagram I posted figure 10. Then you would turn the key to the run position without starting it for 5 second's and see what the gauge pressure read's and see what the pressure is in 5 mins of siting there holding pressure. You also have a bad coolant temp sensor next time it fail's to start hold the gas pedal all the way to the floor while cranking it and see if it start's. Also do you have a ohm's meter?

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