Car won't start?

Hello,

1997 Buick LeSabre
156,665 miles
3.8 VIN L engine
(wife's car)

Awhile back she had the A/C serviced. A few days later, while driving along, she could not get the car to go over 30 MPH. (she does not know if the car was overheating.) She stopped for gas and when she went to restart, the car would not turn over. I suspected dead battery, but an overnight charge would not crank the engine. The engine would do nothing, not even a partial revolution. (I checked radiator while doing this, and needed to add at least 3 qts. water)

I had the shop look at it and was told that the engine oil level was too high (it's at about 7 qts. - See posting on "Too Much Oil"), and that something must have broken loose in the engine, and the car needed a new engine.

I brought the car home and pulled the plugs, and the engine cranked just fine, though shot anti-freeze out of the #6 cylinder. I was told by a gentleman who had the exact same problem that the problem was the upper intake manifold (design problem. Post if you want to know specifics)

I replaced the upper intake, gapped plugs and now the engine acts like it wants to start, but not really. If I open the throttle while cranking, it soulds like it wants to backfire.

I have checked all plugs, and they fire just fine. I have checked the cam gears and chain, and the cam timing is fine.

One note: When I started putting the engine back together, I was really tired and put the positive cable on the negative terminal, and when I went to put the negative cable on, sparks flew. I did this twice before I figured out my mistake.

Any ideas what is going on? Could my mixing up the battery cables have caused an additional problem?

Any help would be appreciated.

after hooking up the cables in reverse, try to read the PCM with a scantool...if you are successful, you may overcome your mistake, If the PCM fried, it won't comunnicate.

I have tried to scan the PCM, but the scanner would not register, indicating a fried PCM. I picked up another PCM from a junkyard from a 97 Park Avenue (tested it at the junkyard, and the scanner read it just fine).

I installed this PCM in the LeSabre, and the scanner will not register this one either. To me, this indicates a short, blown fuse, or fried wiring somewhere.

Thoughts???

The problem with reading the PCM was a blown fuse. I replaced the fuse, and am now able to readthe PCM, though it shows "no codes". The car still will not start, with the above mentioned symptoms. I am down to only a few possibilities: 1. Bad crank or cam sensor(s). 2. Fuel pump pressure low. 3. Fuel pressure regulator bad.

???

my donation was for a question simular to this one.
i did not reverse my battery cables.
my pcm reads just fine.
i did replace gaskets and mine is acting simular
i still need help thanks bill b

Check main maxi fuses in the power distribution center. Follow the heavy cables from The a UKlternator to the pdc. Install your original pcm.

Have a 1997 Buick LeSabre that cranks but will not start when the engine is at operating temp. If driven for more that a couple of miles, will stall & not restart. Engine temperature is in the 185 degree range (+/- a couple of degrees). Had a code for the ECM. I have no DTC's (codes) at all. When it is running, it runs like a raped ape, but now.......
Replaced it and that code disappeared & hasn't returned. New plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, etc. Replaced the key (not sure why, I wouldn't think it would make a difference whether the engine was warm or not.)
Running outta money to throw at this thing. Any ideas?

check your fuel pressure, the pump may be getting hot and not giving you enoguh pressure. also scan the engine to see if the code pops up. most auto parts stores can do this for free.

I checked and there are no codes at all. I'll try the fuel pressure test. I bought a new fuel pump already but hesitated installing it as the car starts right up (when cool) and, even when it won't start, I can press the "bleeder" on the injector rail and it shoots fuel half way down the driveway.
Thanx,
Tim

I replaced the fuel pump. Still same symptoms. Have been searching the internet for suggestions. Read that the Temp Sensor" could be the issue. Or the "Crankshaft Position Sensor" or the "Camshaft Position Sensor" or the MAPP Sensor or the..........
Bought crank & cam position sensors but,wow, what a pain it seems to replace. Not looking forward to pulling the harmonic balancer. Think either of these could be the issue or ....

Have it scanned for soft codes. Make sure the plugs are all getting spark. Use a test light to verify that the injectors are being pulsed.

I have put new battery and new ecm in 1997 buick lesabre cranks but still won't start,was driving just fine until it got to -5 I didn't go nowhere that day in it but next day tried to start it and I couldn't

[quote:716a27b291="boz1"]Other Category problem
1997 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 70,900 miles
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I have put new battery and new ecm in 1997 buick lesabre cranks but still won't start,was driving just fine until it got to -5 I didn't go nowhere that day in it but next day tried to start it and I couldn't[/quote:716a27b291]
check if fuel pump working and have fuel pressure
(dry gas )

Engine Mechanical problem
1997 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Automatic 76000 miles
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My '97 Buick Lesabre had about 3/4 of a tank of gas. I started it in my driveway and it did a little power surge kind of thing for a second but then it was fine. I continued to drive down the street to top off the tank and get a car wash and as I attempted to leave the pump, my car would not start. I had to get towed home. I changed the spark plugs and hooked it up to a code scanner. It gets spark and no codes come up, and it still won't start. Help Me!

you need to check fuel pressure. does it run off of starter fluid? try banging on the gas tank while cranking and see if it starts, if it does then the pump is bad

My car wont start i drove it around all day and it has been parked and turned off and on a couple times today, I got home and after 30 minutes or so the car no longer starts. What could be the 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

Have a 1997 Buick LeSabre that will not start when the engine is at operating temp. If driven for more that a couple of miles, will stall & not restart. Engine temperature is in the 185 degree range (+/- a couple of degrees). Had a code for the ECM. Replaced it and that code disappeared & hasn't returned. New plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, etc. Replaced the key (not sure why, I wouldn't think it would make a difference whether the engine was warm or not.) Running outta money to throw at this thing. Any ideas?

When the problem occurs, if it cranks good but won't start, have a helper crank it, while you visually check for spark at the plugs. Also check for an injector pulse. You can carry a spark tester in glove-box, it won't get hot. Don't pull a spark plug from engine. Maybe you have an intermittent rpm signal, hard to tell without a little testing.

I have a great spark but I went ahead & replaced the 3 coils. No change. I replaced the fuel pump. Still same symptoms. Have been searching the internet for suggestions. Read that the Temp Sensor" could be the issue. Or the "Crankshaft Position Sensor" or the "Camshaft Position Sensor" or the MAPP Sensor or the..........
Bought crank & cam position sensors but,wow, what a pain it seems to replace. Not looking forward to pulling the harmonic balancer. Think either of these could be the issue or ....

Any applicable trouble codes? Did you use a gage and check fuel pressure?

no codes at all & the fuel pressure's great (new fuel pump)with the pressure at about 40 psi

I haven't looked up your thermostat, but, 185 sounds too cold to me. What is engine vin/litre size. My fuel pressure spec says 48--55psi, key on engine off.

I replaced the EGR Valve.The Car Ran before I replaced.After we Replaced it The car won't Start.We have fuel and Spark.But it won,t start.

What does it do when you try to start it?Also have you checked for codes?

The car turns over.When it did start.It started and then ran rough.And then died.We ran a scan on it.And nothing showed up.

Are you sure you didnt double gasket the egr valve or leave the gasket out or not clean the old gasket good enough and have a vacuum leak?

1997 Buick LeSabre. Went to start it and it wouldn't start. Tried again and there was a loud pop and then smoke. Could there be something wrong with the spark plugs?

you could take them out and look at them for wear/deterioration?

I checked the codes and there were (P0300) Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire detected and (P1406) EGR VALVE PINTLE POSITION CIRCUIT.

The serpentine belt broke on the Lesabre with a 3.8L engine. I replaced the belt, and now the engine will not start. Did some kind of timing get thrown off, or is there a security system that needs resetting? There was not much left of the old belt, but a bunch of strands and chunks got stuck behind the crank shaft pulley. We cleaned most of them out, as be as we can tell. Is there a sensor behind the pulley that may have been damaged? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Hello,

Yes, the Cam and Crank Sensors are in that area.

The Camshaft Sensor is located on the lower right of engine above crank pulley.

The Crankshaft Sensor is located behind right side of crank pulley.

.

what does the coil pack do on this car, and what does a Electric Spark Control sensor do?

The coil pack is your ignition coil. This is what generates the high voltage to the spark plug. The ESC is the ignition control module. This controls the timing of the spark. It tells the coil when to send voltage to the spark plug.

1997 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

I have a 1997 Buick Lesabre, 3.8 , 6cyl .... After driving the car to a few places and stopping, shutting off engine, when I try to restart the car it will turn over but wont start. If I let it set for a little while, with positive battery cable OFF, it will start again. I need to know what is causing this, or what part I need to fix it.

When it turn's over and won't start is the security light on or flashing?Also do you have spark when it crank's and doesn't start?Also do you have any code's?

Yes, Security Light is on ... we do have a spark, just doesnt start. We got codes, but I can't remember the codes thereself, but I know they were for a crank sensor, map sensor, or mass airflow sensor. Which of these would come closer to being my problem?

If the security light is on when it doesn't start then that is reason it's not starting is because the security light is on.Follow the what i posted i also emailed it to you so you can see it better.

Other Category problem
1997 Buick Lesabre 88000 miles
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When starting my Buick, I heard a pop sound and smoke arose from under the hood (on the passengers side).
The car was then running rough (like it was missing). I took it home, and tried to start it the next day and now it won't start. Just the rrrrr sound but no start up.

Could it be the carburetor? Someone told me not to try to start it again, that it could be a hose broken that leaked gas on the engine?

Any ideas? I am a female and do not know how to fix my own car, but I want to be as informed as I can when I take it to a mechanic.

Thanks,
Rory

The symptoms you have can be from a results of many different possibilities. It may be too much or not enough fuel, spark missing on some or all cylinders, a problem with timing or compression in a general sense. It need to be troubleshot using various testing procedures.

Not to sound condescending, but that car has a fuel injection system, no carburetor. They are related in a broad sense but 2 very different animals.