1993 Buick Park Avenue Won't start

Tiny
STEENRG
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
MY Aunt does not drive this car very often. We had to replace the battery, and it ran fine for a month. She took it for an oil change an it had to turn over several times to start. The mechanic said that the starter was going bad. The car was driven home to the garage and it has not started since. So given the mileage, I replace the starter, only to have the old one test OK. I have jumped the starter and the motor turns over fine, but won't start. My thought is the ingnition or neutral safety switch, unless there is a relay some where I don't know about. Do you have any advice?

Steenrg
Friday, June 19th, 2009 AT 4:16 PM

37 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, 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, cap and rotor /distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, ECM, Ignitor cam and crank sensors- Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it
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Friday, June 19th, 2009 AT 5:21 PM
Tiny
MRDON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1993 BUICK PARK AVENUE
My care will not start, when I turn the key, I hear a sound that sounds like a muffled popping noise, but the car never turns over. I had experienced the problem before and took it to a mechanic and he told he unhooked the crankshaft sensor and then plugged int back in and it did start after that which was about 2 months ago until now. The mechanic stated that he did not see anything else wrong and if the cranskshaft sensor was bad it woudl have not cranked at all. Do you think the crankshaft sensor is going bad or is it something else.

Mr Don Morrison
mrdonmorrison@yahoo. Com
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MRDON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thanks for the info. The engine will turn over but will not start. The last time it happened I had a mechanic remover the crankshaft sensor and put it back in and it started with no problem until yesterday. He stated that if the crankshaft sensor was bad it would have not started at all, but I will get the other issues looked into as well.

Thanks,

don morrison
mrdonmorison@yahoo. Com
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SUSIEQU
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
One day I left the doctor's office & it took me about two hours to get it started. Once it started I was able to drive it home. The next day I tried to leave my house it would turn over but wouldn't start. The fuel pump seems to be working, it seems to be getting fuel but maybe not enough? Any suggestions?
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 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, 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, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADREENIE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1995 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • V8
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 146,000 MILES
We have a new battery, redone tranny, car will start then immediately die. If a door is ajar or if we have locked the car sometimes it won't start either. We have to reset it by locking them again then the horn/security system will honk after 20 minutes and then SOMETIMES you can start the car. We have been leaving it unlocked, all doors closed tightly and the car hasnt' started for 2 days.
Security system issue? Key issue? Crank Shaft Positioning sensor maybe?
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
First of all thank you so much for your donation. When the car doesn't start is the security light on or flashing?Also does the car turn over when it doesn't start?If it does turn over when it doesn't then I need you to check for spark and what the fuel pressure is. Also what is the 8th digit of the vin?
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADREENIE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you for your response. The engine starts and immediately dies, lasting 2-3 seconds tops. The security light had been on solidly and my husband reset the security sensor (just since I posted on the board), hoping to be able to start it and at least get it home for the weekend - but it did not work. The 8th number of the VIN is K

Thanks so much,
Adrienne
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I emailed you some trouble tree's one for crank's but won't start and one for security light stays on solid or flashes plus a wire diagram.I would print them all out so there easier to read and portable. You will also need a multimeter to do the testing. Let me know what you find.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADREENIE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks Louie,

I received those pages, thank you so much for sending them. I did print them out and will take them home with me this evening. I am encouraged and hopefully this won't be another $700-$1000 fix.

What did the digit in the VIN tell you (out of curiosity)?

Thanks,
Adrienne
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GBAKER09
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1995 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 28 MILES
I Have Change Spark Plugs, Starter, Alternater, Fuse and the just will not turn on the engine wont even turn over
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check and test all the following: The starter, park and neutral switch and ignition switch
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The 8th digit tells me what engine you have with your car there is the same size engine one being super charged one isn't the letter you gave me tells me you have the non super charged engine. That was just in case I needed to know so I could get you the correct info.I don't think it is going to be a really expensive repair the main thing is to get it diagnosed right now. Let me know what you find.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GBAKER09
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
This buick has a security system don't know the name of it but you have to put the code in the radio in order to unlock the system and the car turn over made sum noise but did not start but my sister put and music cd in and the car does even turn over it just show error on cd player and keeps making noise and one you turn the key it just makes a click noise with a beep. But does a engine do that when it is locked? Or sum thing wrong with the cord from the start to the batteery?
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I emailed you the location of the pcm and the decoder module.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELERIC32
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE
Engine Mechanical problem
1994 Buick Park Avenue 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 130k miles

My car will crank, but it wont start. I have fuel, but I heard it has something to do with the spark. If that were to be the case, what should I do to get it fixeD? Just replace the spark plugs? If its not the spark, then what should I do?
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Check your ignition module/coilpack to see if you are getting spark, then take it from there.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NORMAN82
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 210,000 MILES
Have a 1997 buick park avenue was driving down the road and heard a loud noise and the car cut off. Tried to start car back up and would not turn over. Then noticed that coolant was coming out heavily.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Try turning the crankshaft manually, can you do it -if not could be siezed up hydrolock or it thrown a rod thru the cylinder wall
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALVA FRED SMITH
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
  • 1996 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 126,000 MILES
Okay, I am working on a 1996 buick park avenue ultra. The owner said that it died at a stop light, he tried to start it again and after several cranks it eventually started up again. He drove it home and called me to come take a look. A few days later I arrive to diagnose the problem. I ask him to try to start the vehicle. It starts right up and sounds like it is running perfectly. I have him turn it off and restart the car and it just continues to crank without turning over. He continues until the battery is almost dead and still no start. I am getting spark to the plugs and plenty of fuel pressure from the main fuel line. I changed the plugs, which were all consistanly carboned up, the fuel filter by the tank. Still no start. When cranking the engine I am hearing a unique sound. Sort of like rur, rur, rur, rur. 3-4 sec. Pause rur, rur, rur, rur.3-4 sec. Pause rur, rur, rur, rur. Over and over consecutively with my jumper cables connected. I have thoroughly cleaned both battery post connections as well. Also I have a blinking security light on the dash that the owner claims always did that, but I bet he is not totally sure about that. The dummy lights seem to be flashing speratically as the engine is cranking over. The supercharger is spinning with little resistance as it should with the belt removed and the oil level is full. I am at a total loss as this engine does not have the conventional distributor, but rather electronic ignition. No check engine light is coming on, so I have not pulled any codes as of yet. Should I anyways? I am not sure what to diagnose next but I am committed to finding the problem and am experienced with an ohm meter and would love to get some direction on where to look next. Thanks a million!
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Thursday, November 29th, 2018 AT 7:42 PM (Merged)

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