Engine wont start

Tiny
SCOTT FANZ
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
1998 buick lesabre will occasionally not start
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Next time it refuses to start don't wait for it to make up its mind-do below immediately to determine if its fuel or spark problem

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if so, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADAM DAH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,000 MILES
I think its in the sycurity system. Have had the problem before. Its my moms an she had to unlock passanger then driver side door to make it start. Is the problem in the steering coulum. And is it hard to fix?
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DE772601
  • MEMBER
  • 123 POSTS
Hello I don"t think the problem is in the steering column from what you are saying the problem is in the security system itself. First thing is to see if its a factory alarm or after market and check the remote to see if the battery is dead in it and if not start checking for any ground wires that are not making a good connection that may be causing the alarm to work properly. Hope this will put you on the right track
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NESS1829
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
  • 0.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • 148,000 MILES
I place neg battery cable to starter and used more jumping cable to jump start. The engine behave like I had a weak battery.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Make sure the battery has a full charge. Battery connections all good. Then check your charging system. Don't use the alternator to charge a dead battery. Just my opinion.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES ARNOLD HARRIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
Replaced crank sensor and still have no power to plugs and injectors.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try a different key then scan for codes it may be a security issue so check that with scanner.
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+1
Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
  • 125,000 MILES
While I was changing my oil the other day, I had my car radio running. Right around the time I finished putting the new oil filter in, the radio turned itself off. I tried starting the car and it wouldn't start, just clicked sporadically. My power windows and locks were sluggish. I had the battery tested and it was 60% full, so that wasn't the issue. Any idea what could've happened?
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FREEMBA
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,152 POSTS
The 60% battery is the problem. At that level it is too weak to start you car. Also, check for corrosion at the battery terminals (especially the positive cable), make sure they are clean and tight (making good contact).
If you have corrosion, and the 60% battery power, that's enough to keep it from cranking.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
60 percent? It's dead. I don't know of any tester that measures in percentages but you need to recharge the battery at a slow rate for an hour.

The best way you can test the battery yourself is with an inexpensive digital voltmeter. A fully-charged battery will measure 12.6 volts. A good but discharged battery will measure close to 12.2 volts. At 11 volts or less a cell is shorted and the battery must be replaced. That only tells you the state of charge, not how long it can deliver current before it goes dead. That amount of time decreases as the battery ages due to the lead flaking off the plates.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KATIEBELL588
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
I have a 1998 Buick LeSabre. It started running rough. Felt as though it had jumped time. Pulled over and had car towed home. I have checked battery, it was good. When I turn switch over, I get no reaction from starter, so engine will not start.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Use a socket to see if the engine will turn over by hand. If not, remove the spark plugs and see if it is hydrolocked on coolant. This engine has a known problem with the plastic intake manifold deteriorating and leaking coolant into the vacuum chamber under it.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYSON360
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 97,000 MILES
I was driving the car and it kinda bogged down till it cut off. The car wanted to start but it wouldn't. I thought it was a fuel problem so I put a fuel pump in it. After installing it still wouldn't start. I realized soon after there was no anti freeze in it. So I pulled the spark plugs out of it and they were covered in anti freeze. I pulled the upper intake off (the plastic one) and their lied some anti freeze. Car never ran hot. While putting the fuel pump in, the rear of the car was 3-4 feet in the air while the front was on the ground. Is it possible that gravity took its tole or theres another issue.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Pressure check coolant system for intake/head gasket leak.
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Thursday, February 28th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DABANDLMA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 BUICK LESABRE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
This car afer driving a while, will not start again until car sits a while
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2020 AT 4:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Usually an ignition module. They will run OK until hot, then will run again when cool, then fail when hot.

They can be tested at most autoparts stores for free.
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2020 AT 4:57 PM (Merged)

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