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1973 Other Buick Models Starting Problem

Tiny
73BUICK
  • MEMBER
  • 1973 BUICK
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
I've noticed that I have no problem starting the car (73 Buick Centurion 455) when it's cold. However, after it has been running and is warm, starting isn't immediate. After stopping the engine for several minutes, when I go to crank the engine, it sometimes (randomly) grunts- doesn't crank at all. When I let go of the key, and try again, it usually starts fine. Why is it doing this? I've also noticed the gas pedal sticks (gets locked in position) before start-up. I almost have to force it to go down. I don't know if it's related and I don't know where to lube the pedal or if to lube the pedal. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Friday, September 19th, 2008 AT 5:21 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
You can either replace or lubricate the throttle cable with either graphite, or tranny fluid. When you say it grunts? Do you mean it starts to crank and slows down? Could be the starter is eak, and overheated by the engine, when new GM's came with a heat shield for the starter. On a car of this vintage, the shield has probably rusted away!
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Friday, September 19th, 2008 AT 5:31 PM
Tiny
73BUICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
No, I mean it grunts and immediately stops cranking, but if I let go of the key and try again, it starts up without hesitation.
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Friday, September 19th, 2008 AT 6:50 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
This grunt is what is throwing me, is it like a high pitched whine? If so it could be the bendix drive on the starter is weak and dissengauginge too early. If thats it, replace the bendix drive, or the whole starter.
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Saturday, September 20th, 2008 AT 8:13 AM
Tiny
73BUICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
It's a low-pitched grunt. Almost like when there isn't enough battery power. But I know the battery is fine. It will basically just not crank (like something's locked up). Grunt! When I let go of the key and try again, there's no problem. The car starts! That's why I wasn't sure if it was voltage related, distributor, battery, or starter, or something else i'm overlooking.
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Saturday, September 20th, 2008 AT 1:07 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
My money is on the starter, remove it and take it to a parts store and have them test it.
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Saturday, September 20th, 2008 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
BRASSMONKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
This seams to be all your problems in one, the gas peddle sticking is usually due to faulty or worn clips or pins that hold the throttle linkage together, or something obstructing the linkage inside the car or under the hood. If so, this would cause the car to vapor lock or flood the carb when you kill it, leaving excess unburnt gas in pistons. So the sticky gas pedal sounds like to me is the overall problem.
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Monday, October 19th, 2009 AT 10:25 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
This post is from sept 2008, you might wanna try finding newer stuff to andwer, I have had Many 60's cars, and vaporlock NEVER caused a grunt!
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 AT 2:41 PM
Tiny
MICKEY-D
  • MECHANIC
  • 304 POSTS
My money would be on a stretched timing chain, and/or the plastic coated aluminum gear on the cam starting to shed the plastic. As for the sticky throttle, I would check the cable for any kinks, or just replace it. Mickey-d
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 AT 10:16 PM

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