Crank no start after overheating and shutting off?

Tiny
JAYDUN
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
I was driving my car and it was running fine. Then out of nowhere it couldn’t get above 55 and 2,000 RPM and started overheating. I pulled over and it shut off before I could get to a parking lot. It would restart but needed pedal feathering while starting and running to get it going. Got it towed home and parked it. And now it will not restart. No coolant in the oil and vice versa but a small amount of white smoke comes out the exhaust this is also after it got so hot the coolant was pushing out the overflow tanks cap, I believe the dash temp read around or above 280C. I’ve replaced coil packs but still no start. It will crank and it tries to start but just can’t. It tries but can’t get all the way started. Talked to a 3.8 guy and he said it might be my intake and it was loose in the back. I tightened it and still no start. I read this thread and was wondering if anyone had any advice or suggestions on what it could be. The cooling system is all basically mud but it had been running fine. Checked my fuses for the important parts and none were blown. Pulled a fuel line at the rail to check if any was getting to the engine and it is. I have spark and new coils and plugs. Even with some starter fluid it will not start back. New MAP and MAF sensor still no start. And a battery just to be safe and still nothing. When I pulled the fuel line and cranked it, it was pushing gas however the fuel area is very noisy and it rattles a lot with just power to the car without starting the engine. It seems to be coming from behind a metal heat shield above the muffler.

The first video is the day it shut off and trying to restart after it cooled some. The first video I could get it started but it ran horribly and if I didn’t feather the gas, it’d shut off it started a couple of times after to get it on and off the tow truck. The second is weeks later. It only started doing the “unknown driver” after all this happened. It used to say driver 1 every time.

I forgot to mention that when it shut off I had less than 40 miles in the tank, so I’d say about a gallon left. If it didn’t shut off and overheated from lack of fuel this would be the second time, it’s stalled from lack of fuel. Don’t know if that’s helpful or not.
Sunday, August 20th, 2023 AT 3:42 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Thanks for the videos, they help. It sounds like the engine is hurt. To be sure let's go over these guides to confirm the issue:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

It sounds like the engine will need to be replaced, sorry.
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Monday, August 21st, 2023 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
JAYDUN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I took the upper intake off after I had got some advice from a guy with the same issue and was wondering the likelihood that it’s my intake gaskets. It’s got some of the signs of it like oil in the lower intake and pooled up outside the upper intake. I’ve included a video.
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Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
I don't think that will make a difference I would do the compression test to see which cylinders are not doing well.
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Thursday, August 24th, 2023 AT 10:06 AM

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