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View Full Version : 94 buick lesabre starting problems


stangbanger1990
Aug 20, 2008, 02:44 PM
My mom has a 94 buick lesabre 3800 with 86,000 miles she is the second owner. The car sometimes has a misfire at 60-65 mph. but the other day she was pulling in the drive way an the engine stopped. It did start right back up but wouldn't stay running. I went out to look at it a few days later an started it up it ran fine for half an hour. I shut it off an about 20 minutes later I went to pull it in the garage an it wouldn't stay running without babying the gas. Sometimes it will start up fine other times it will crank an crank an never start. Sometime it will crank as long as 10 seconds to fire up just for it to shut right off. But if you baby the gas it will stay running most of the time. But the fuel pump is buzzing and I checked the fuel pressure at the rail it is 35 psi. It is getting spark. I asked a mechanic he said it could be a ICM (ignition control module) How do it test the module to see if that is the problem? The car isn't stable enough to leave the drive it just isn't trustworthy. I have read forms about people having the same problem an they started replacing everything form spark plug,wires,air filter, fuel filter, coil packs, ignition modules to computers. But I'm not one of those people I want to test an replace what's wrong with it not the hole car. So if anybody could help me out on how to test this or if I'm in the right direction it would be a big help. THANK YOU IN ADVANCED

TxGreaseMonkey
Aug 20, 2008, 05:00 PM
My advice is to replace the Ignition Control Module every 120,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first. You can have AutoZone test it for free, but I've seen ignitors pass AZO's test and turn out to be bad on a number of occasions.

If you want like new reliability and performance, my advice is to replace the ICM, coil packs, and spark plugs (ACDelco only).

this8384
Aug 22, 2008, 11:47 AM
I would have a fuel pressure test done to make sure that the pump isn't getting weak. Is the check engine light on?

CaptainRich
Aug 22, 2008, 12:51 PM
But the fuel pump is buzzing and i checked the fuel pressure at the rail it is 35 psi. It is getting spark..... But I'm not one of those people i want to test an replace what's wrong with it not the hole car. so if anybody could help me out on how to test this or if I'm in the right direction it would be a big help. THANK YOU IN ADVANCED
Does the check engine light come on while cranking, then go off once the engine is running?

You're getting spark so that should rule out the crank position sensor, but you may be geetting only an intermittent signal from the cam sensor.

Was fuel pressure tested with the engine running? If so, then 35 psi at the rail is acceptable.
Next, you should test for fuel volume. There may be enough pressure but lacking enough volume.

OBCRG
Dec 26, 2011, 01:02 PM
What should the fuel volume be on a 1994 LeSabre? My car's fuel pressure is also at 35psi; however, my fuel volume is 47 to 48 seconds for a 1/2 quart. Any help is appreciated.

TxGreaseMonkey
Dec 26, 2011, 01:11 PM
I don't know the answer to your question. I would change the fuel filter, if it hasn't been done in the last 25,000 miles--that should help increase the flow.

CaptainRich
Dec 27, 2011, 08:25 AM
What should the fuel volume be on a 1994 LeSabre? My car's fuel pressure is also at 35psi; however, my fuel volume is 47 to 48 seconds for a 1/2 quart. Any help is appreciated.

Fuel pressure below 284 kPa (41 psi) may cause a lean condition and may set a DTC P0131 or P0171. Driveability conditions can include hard starting. Are you getting any of these symptoms? If none of those symptoms, what are your's?