Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem


  Email This Post



docdcc
New User

Jan 20, 2014, 3:29 PM

Post #1 of 9 (3351 views)
1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

I have a 1988 buick LeSabre 3.8 v-6 with 80,000 on it. The fuel pump went out a week ago. Replaced the pump and filter also, put a new serpentine belt and tensioner on while was working on it. It cranked right up and, ran fine.
Took a test drive, all went well. parked it and , next day, it would fire and die. Checked the bleeder, had fuel pressure.
would crank and die......... rev a little, then die.
suddenly no fuel pressure on the bleeder. you can hear the pump prime each time you turn the switch on. still no fuel to the bleeder. am stumped...any ideas would be helpful. thanks in advance


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 20, 2014, 3:44 PM

Post #2 of 9 (3341 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

Things are leaning toward an installation malfunction. Looks like it's going to have to come out again.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



docdcc
New User

Jan 20, 2014, 3:53 PM

Post #3 of 9 (3337 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

I hope not but, how could it run then fail? Drove it several miles.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 20, 2014, 4:42 PM

Post #4 of 9 (3322 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

Sounds stupid but are you out of gas? Fuel pumps don't like that new or not AND if you drained tank, put some but not a lot back staying low it might have run too low and when parked can't reach what's there. Just a wild azz guess,

T



docdcc
New User

Jan 20, 2014, 5:32 PM

Post #5 of 9 (3313 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

Thought of that and, added 2 gallons........fuel gauge seems to work fine
it had about 4 gallons in it when tank was dropped


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 20, 2014, 5:52 PM

Post #6 of 9 (3310 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

You seem convinced so let that be.

It's old and I like thatUnsure

Things could be funky anywhere. Weak relay but part works. Connections along the way and at tank. Anything up to and including bad new pump, You hear it prime, new fuel filter but no pressure. Pump weak, sucking air somehow? Check it out. Not sure where the relay is but if you find it just remove and replace it as its own connections could be weak.

Went thru all hell with an intermittent relay worked but weak but for 5 power doors locks not a pump and delivered power to lock but not fully unlock. Whacked as it could snap out of it for a month which ends any testing. Stuff like that happens,

T



GC
User
GC profile image

Jan 20, 2014, 5:52 PM

Post #7 of 9 (3306 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

If you can get someone to help you, pop off gas cap and listen into tank while your helper cycles the key forward. If you hear fuel spraying/splashing when the pump primes, that is a dead giveaway that something has come apart or failed in the tank. Not sure exactly what that pump is like, but if it uses a small chunk of rubber hose to connect pump to assembly, have seen those come apart when not installed correctly. Some pumps have a rubber seal that seats on a tube on assembly and have seen these leak when not pushed on carefully.


____________________________________________________
Willing to help, willing to learn... Rob


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 20, 2014, 5:57 PM

Post #8 of 9 (3304 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

Even worse, some have a damper connecting them that fails all the time.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.



docdcc
New User

Jan 20, 2014, 6:16 PM

Post #9 of 9 (3301 views)
Re: 1988 buick Le Sabre fuel problem Sign In

Thanks!... may have to drop tank and see. Thought about even a gas cap vent problem> seems unlikely but, weird stuff happens...thanks again






  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap