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1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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Jr.mechanic16
Novice
Oct 31, 2012, 7:57 AM
Post #1 of 11
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1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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Hi i have a 1994 buick lesabre with a 3.8 liter engine. It has 109,000 mile on the engine and it will start when its cold but runs really rough and i have to give it a little bit of gas to keep it running. After it runs for a minute or two it dies out and wont start for another 10 minutes. So far i have replace coil packs, plugs and wires, air filter, oil filter, and still wont run right. I know these engines tend to skip teeth on timing chain because of fiber teeth, could that be my problem??? I am very mechanicaly inclined but i dont have much time or money on my hands. Should i fix and keep the car or sell it for what i can get? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Corey
-UPDATE- also whenever i give it more that half throughtle it dies out
-DAC
(This post was edited by Jr.mechanic16 on Oct 31, 2012, 8:03 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 31, 2012, 10:41 AM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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When it cranks but doesn't start check then for spark and fuel delivery starting with fuel pressure which if too low will run like crap or too low not run at all. For valve timing take a compression check and if all low chain may have jumped but doesn't usually jump back by itself.
I'd just check it when down for lack of fuel. If priming in throttle body makes it try to run or just for a few seconds concentrate on fuel delivery problems,
T
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Jr.mechanic16
Novice
Oct 31, 2012, 11:40 AM
Post #3 of 11
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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Ok cool i will check for spark later when im home but where can i get a compression tester? Does autozone have ones that i can rent and return for money back?
-DAC
-DAC
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 31, 2012, 3:20 PM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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I think the "zone" does rent compression testers - never rent stuff so not sure and can't be sure if all do the same.
It starts, runs lousy then needs a wait which my guess is not a jumped chain. Plain priming while down with starting fluid (carb cleaner can work) into throttle body, reattach intake parts then if it fires right up I wouldn't be so worried about ignition anything yet. You could also get a spark checked just to see spark.
I just have a gut feeling fuel pressure is too low to run well first try then way to low to run at all. A few things could cause your problem just easy enough to rule out lack of fuel is the problem or not. If no reaction I'd get a spark tester. If it had spark and fuel and didn't want to run at all then valve timing would be a concern. That or it could be flooding out.
Start with ruling out simple stuff to narrow the reason before going too nuts. I actually don't know of these to be timing chain eaters but who knows - it's older now and that alone matters if in fact it does have the damn plastic cam gear,
T
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Jr.mechanic16
Novice
Oct 31, 2012, 5:53 PM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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ok thanks for the reply, i took all six spark plugs out and they are all firing with bright blue spark. I will be trying the starting fluid tomarrow and i will let you know if it worked. and if it is a fuel issue where do you think the best place to start replacing parts would be, i did run it out of gas about a month before it started acting up
-DAC
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nickwarner
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Oct 31, 2012, 7:47 PM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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Don't just throw parts at it. Diagnose it. You can buy a cheap fuel pressure tester for $25, and a multimeter for about the same. For about $100 you can throw a fuel pump at it that may or may not solve your issue, plus the $13 for the filter, lets not forget the pressure regulator, injectors, 500 feet of wiring and over a dozen different connectors withing that, the relays that engage the parts, the PCM that engages the relays and the ignition switch that powers up the PCM. Thats not all it could be either, but just that list is about as much as a 94 Lesabre is worth.
Swaptronics is a very expensive way to fix things. Start with getting that fuel pressure gauge and seeing what your pressure is. Watch it as the vehicle is dying. Note the starting pressure, running pressure, and if and by how much it drops while this is running badly down to the stall.
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Jr.mechanic16
Novice
Nov 2, 2012, 8:06 AM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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Ok its definitly a fuel prob. I didnt have time to run to autozone ( i live 30 mins out of town) so i used carb and choke cleaner and i sprayed it when it wanted to die out and it kept running. Maybe a bad injector? Or fuel regulator? Or?????
-DAC
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 2, 2012, 8:58 AM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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That's good evidence of lack of fuel delivery. It doesn't say quite what yet. Forget checking compression for now as if it runs as you said it's at least enough to run or phart or something more than just dead.
Fuel pressure that holds. Noid light that injectors are getting the signal to pulse out fuel. If either are not getting power then you find out why not. Plain low fuel pressure will not deliver fuel if below a certain spec which we can find,
T
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nickwarner
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Nov 2, 2012, 5:06 PM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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If you think your regulator is leaking, you can unplug the vacuum line and see if any fuel has been coming out of the port. If so, you have a bad oine. Has your fuel filter been changed in the last 20k or so? Thats a cheap part and general maintenance. It will also kill the pump if it gets restricted and causes the pump to overwork itself, along with causing issues like this. Even if you had a bad pump, you would have to replace the filter when you do it to not end up in the same boat shortly after getting it running. No idea if AZ lends fuel pressure gauges, but a cheap one can be had for around $25. Your car doesn't need any special adapters, just a regular schraeder port and easy to get to.
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Jr.mechanic16
Novice
Nov 9, 2012, 1:05 PM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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I finally fixed it.....i bought a new fuel pump off ebay for 62 dollars and replaced filter it ran noticably better but still smoked a lil bit and ran rough so i cut off the cat and put in glasspack now it runs fine so thanks to all who helped contribute to the replies
-DAC
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 9, 2012, 5:11 PM
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Re: 1994 buick lesabre runs rough and dies out
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Start saving up your money. The fine for doing that is in the thousands.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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