1992 Buick Century Intermittent and no spark, not running

DKTSGT

MEMBER
1992 BUICK CENTURY
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
142,222 MILES

I have a 92 Buick that runs, I pressured washed it a week ago to get the grease off the engine. The car ran fine, later that night it stalled out and would not start again for 10-15 minutes. When it did it ran fine. Got the car home and let it sit for a day or two. Still would not start, I tried the WD-40 Trick under the coil packs and around the crankshaft position sensor and it fired right up. This week I drove in the rain, when I got to work it stalled and would restart, went to lunch, the car would not start again, it sat for about an hour for lunch. When I was able to restart it, it ran fine. When I got back to work it stalled out again, this time I could not get it restarted. I towed it home and pulled the module under the coil packs off and had Auto Zone test it. They ran the test 20 – 30 time and it passed with flying colors. I bought some Brake Clean to clean off all the contact that had WD-40 on them, dried them off and put some Di-Electric Grease on all contacts. Now, it still will not run, turns over fine though. I have ruled out the Crankshaft position sensor, and the only thing I can think of is the computer. Any insight?

4 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Why did you rule out he crank sensor? Is this a 3.8? If so they had problems with the crank sensors. Do you have injector pulse?

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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:45 AM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi DKTSgt,

Thank you for the donation.

Why have you ruled out the crank sensor? The sensor might not be faulty but could be out of adjustment resulting in the intermittent non starting.

Have you confirmed that the non starting is due to sparking problem? The most common cause of no sparks are the crank sensor.

ECM are quite reliable and seldom gives way though it does breaks down and I would go for the crank sensor first.

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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:45 AM

DKTSGT

MEMBER
2 POSTS

How hard on a scale of 1 to 10 is it to adjust or check the sensor? I use to be a GM Mechanic before I joined the Air Force in 1989. :>)

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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:45 AM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi DKTSgt,

With the proper tools, I would say it is a 3.

2CarProJack asked if there were injector pulse, did you check those when it could not start?

Is it a 3.8liter engine?

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (DIS)
1. If a "Scan" tester is available, scan RPM parameter while cranking engine. If RPM is indicated, crankshaft position sensor is operating properly.

2. If "Scan" tester is not available, disconnect crankshaft sensor harness connector. Set ohmmeter to 2-k/ohm position, measure resistance across sensor terminals. Resistance should be 900-1200 ohms.

3. Set voltmeter on the 2-volt AC scale. Crank engine and measure voltage across sensor terminals. Voltmeter reading should be.1 volt or greater. If resistance reading is not as specified or sensor does not produce a voltage reading, repair faulty wiring or crank sensor.

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Monday, January 14th, 2019 AT 9:45 AM