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Won't stay running

Tiny
TAURUSPRISONER
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 BUICK SKYLARK


My mothers car sat in her garage all winter, like 6 months, without ever being started. I put a new battery in it on Sunday and after several attempts it started, I drove it around the block a couple of times and it was running great. Today, Wednesday I went over there and after about a hundred attempts, The car would not stay running. It starts fine runs for about 10 seconds and dies. I noticed on Sunday a lot of water coming out of the tailpipe, I don't mean A LOT just enough to notice it on the ground. So today a put a bottle of "Water remover" in the gas tank{it would not start at all before I put in the water remover}and it starts fine but runs for like 10 seconds and dies. It "feels" like its not getting gas. Is it related to sitting for six months without being started, or is it a coincidence and its a different problem altogether?
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 AT 3:45 PM

27 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Do you think the security system might be causing a problem? Is the security lite on the dash, on or flashing, when having the problem, passlock is injector disable. Sometimes when battery voltage is lost, the vehicle may go into theft lock. When the vehicle dies, watch the security lite, if it is on, leave the key on, see if the lite goes out, may take about 10 minutes. If the lite goes out, recycle key and try to start.
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
TAURUSPRISONER
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for the quick reply. YES the anti theft system light is on, I noticed it on sunday, but once the car was running, it went off, now however, the car won't stay running so that red ligt is on again, is there anything I can do or do I have to get thecar towed in to the shop?Thanks again
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Thursday, April 1st, 2010 AT 3:34 PM
Tiny
2 LINSEY
  • MECHANIC
  • 287 POSTS
Hi taurusprisoner, Try doing a relearn on the passlock system.... see the guide below for instructions.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 11:27 AM
Tiny
IOLAJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 BUICK SKYLARK
1990 Buick Skylark 4 cyl Automatic

my car starts when I turn the key but when I let it go it dies
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
If you hold the throttle open, just a little, will it stay running?

Can you check for codes? Your obd1 so you should be able to check for codes, yourself.
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WBECROFT
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1993 BUICK SKYLARK
Transmission problem
1993 Buick Skylark 6 cyl Wheel Drive Type unknown Automatic 55000 miles

I just bought a 93 buick skylark coupe and drove it home about 10 to 15 miles and then back to the same place when I was just about there the car started to make a grinding noise like I was draggin something and didn't have much power when I came to a stop it stalled when I restarted the car it started fine but when I put it in drive it stalled I did this about 3 times then I went to talk to a tech and after about 2min he got in the car and started it and put it in drive and it was fine so I drove it around the block about1/12 miles and it started making the grinding noise again and not much power what could this be (torque converter)?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
The grinding is from the engine area?
Like belt area?

Transmission area?

Heavy metallic grind?

3.3 motor?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WBECROFT
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Yes it seems to be from the trans and it is defently metalic also 3.3 engine
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WBECROFT
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
It really seems to be like the torque converter locking up doe this vehicle have a torque converter lock up solenoid?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
You hit the nail on the head. TCC is where I would have gone to. Need info on it?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEYN1988
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1996 BUICK SKYLARK
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 81,000 MILES
When I turn the ignition on, I can hear the fuel pump start up and then stop. The car does start up for about a second before stopping again. I have taken the cover off to get at the accelerator while under the hood and added gas manually. It will run from that, but it doesnt seem to be getting any gas from the accelerator itself. When trying to start it up again without first turning the ignition off and then back on again, it will turn over, but not start. I replaced the fuel filter thinking that might have been the issue, but now I am at a loss when that didnt fix it.

Is the fuel pump maybe starting to go?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WBECROFT
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Yes, please tell me this is a simple and inexpensive fix.
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The first thing you need to do is check the actual fuel pressure with a gauge if thats good then check for injector pulse with a noid light. You can rent the fuel pressure gauge and noid light set from auto zone.
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Well. Although I agree that I would first go to this for test, shouldn't mean we know it's bad. It needs to be tested. The converter may be damaged.

I suspect either way this isn't going to be inexpensive. There were some of these that would develp a shudder and unplugging the tcc would disable it and it would just not give the higher gear capability. That may work. But I don't know that it will.
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Hi Louie,

Let me add that you also want to look and see if there is a security light on or flashing when you attempt to start it.
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WBECROFT
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
So I unplugged the tcc and the car drives beautiful but the check engine lite comes on and off obviously so does this mean I need an new lock up solenoid and is this part of the valve body also should I do a trans flush do you think it might help?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I didnt know buick cut the fuel for anti theft in 1996?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Changing the fluid and filter is always a good idea and you'll be right there when you do the TCC anyways.

The CEL is now on because the the tranny is not peforming opimally and therefore emissions are affected-most likely. I don't believe the valve body is part of the TCC, but not positive.
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEYN1988
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No. There is no security light on anywhere
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WBECROFT
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
So what is the name of the part I should ask for and once the trans pan is off is it easy to install?
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Monday, October 22nd, 2018 AT 7:16 PM (Merged)

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