1999 Buick Regal

PROUT1

MEMBER
1999 BUICK REGAL
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
75,000 MILES

About two months ago, out of the blue, my regal didn't start. When I went to turn the key over it didn't engage. There was power everywhere; lights, windows, radio, dash, etc. So, I figured it wasn't the battery. My initial thought was the starter, but there was no traditional starter "clicking." After about five to ten minutes of repeatedly trying the key over and over, it finally fired up. It was fine for about two weeks, then it happened again. Same exact thing. After about 5-10 minutes it started up fine. This has happened about 8 or 10 times in the last two months.

During this time, I also noticed that the "Security" light has been coming on and going off intermittently while driving and I was wondering if it's an electrical/alarm issue?

Also, I have heard that sometimes the key code, on the actual key, wears away. I looked at mine and saw that it was worn and began using my spare. I thought I had cured the problem until it happened again yesterday.

I hate to replace the starter for a few hundred dollars to find out it's a loose wire somewhere.

This probably has nothing to do with it, but the last two times it didn't start I opened the hood, rustled some wires, closed the hood and it started. Probably 100% coincidental. I have also tried leaving the key in the on position, shifting to neutral, messing with the locks, etc, but nothing seems to work definitively. Now, I'm thinking that I have no choice but to start with replacing the starter before I'm stranded somewhere.

One additional note, I have had some electrical issues before.

Any thoughts?

1 Reply

INTERNETMECHANIC

MECHANIC
700 POSTS

If the security system has a problem, replacing the starter won't help. Some of the national brand auto stores will test the starter for you, but, you have to take it off and take it to them. If you have a digital multimeter, you can do some testing at the crank relay. Terminal 30 should be hot all the time. Terminal 85 is voltage for the coil side of relay, goes hot with the key on position. Terminal 86 is ground for the coil side of relay, grounded by the pcm. When the relay is energized that line with the arrow-head moves to terminal 87, purple wire carries voltage to starter solenoid. With automatic, the circuit goes through the neutral switch. According to forum rules, I don't think I'm supposed to tell you how to jump the starter solenoid, to see if starter will crank?

If you have a digital multimeter with an ohms setting, you can do an ohms test on the pellet in the key, compare to an ohms table. I can post ohms table, if you need it. If there is a problem with the security system other than the pellet in the key, bypassing the pellet won't help anything.