Hi, Scotty, I have been working on my 1989 Buick LeSabre with the 3.8 v6.
I have compression as well as fuel just no spark. I have checked all fuses and relays everything else works on the car from headlights to power windows just no spark.
The car does start very rarely and runs like it just rolled off the lot for about 3 minutes then the engine starts to stumble, But if I give it some gas it snaps right out of it.
When it dies or I turn the key off I get no spark and won't restart.
I know the whole history of the car it has been in my family since 1989 71k original miles. (I have the original title too)
Do you have any thoughts I'm running out of things it could be?
I want to keep it in the family and drive it some but it just doesn't run.
thanks
I have replaced the following parts
- fuel pump (wasn't getting fuel when I first got it)
- fuel filter
- spark plugs
- plug wires
- crank sensor (and got the spacing right)
- cam sensor
- ignition module (twice thought one was bad)
- ignition coil pack
- tps sensor
- water pump
- belt
- radiator hoses
- checked wires going to the ignition control module (it has 12v)
- fuel injectors (all 6)
- transmission flush and filter change
- no codes are showing its obd1
Hope he can help you cause I have the exact problem and I did submit a question a while back and Scotty said it's usually a bad fuel pump or fuel filter...I have a 2006 Buick Lucerne, automatic with the 3.8...He suggested pressure testing the fuel pump but I was told by another dude that it was probably that too...I just went out and changed it and the fuel pressure sensor as well...It actually worked for a couple days and but the I was back to square one...But it still would only start when ever dam well pleased and also just die fwhen driving...But now she just cranks and doesn't turn over...Bought a Mass air flow sensor and a Crankshaft position sensor as well last night...Kinda want to do what Elvis used to do and just shoot it with my .45.
yeah, thanks mine did that too at first. I drove it to work actually after I thought I fixed it. the car did well until I was driving it home then it just died on me and didn't start back up. had to get a chain and drag it home.
The car has no spark (complaint 1) but when it starts, it dies after a very short time (complaint 2), (will be due to getting no fuel).
If the car has a carburator, start while spraying starting fluid into the carb. When it runs on as long as you spray, fuel shortage is a/the cause.
Does plugs spark consistently and as long as you are cranking (plug earthed to mass, hold them with isolation between you and the plug). When they stop sparking after a short time, your ignition system is sick.
the car is fuel injected and it has fuel the whole time I put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail and I have an injector pulse
I wish it had a carb that would be sooooo simple
Are the plugs wet or dry after some cranking-without-starting?
Maybe there is an injector problem?
'injector pulse': 'electric pulse to' or actual spray-out of the injectors?
UPDATE !!!!
I was going over the wires on the ICM and I checked for a crank signal and noticed I was missing either the 18x or 3x signal. either way that was my problem when I replaced the sensor it started right up and ran great. but while driving for 15-20 minutes my check engine light was on again. I got a snap-on mt2500 it says EGR solenoid failure. I'm wondering if I can just get a block off-plate and call it done or should I get another EGR valve?
Thanks for the update. Please post new problems in a topic. Thanks.