1997 Buick Regal...no start

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Car cranks like it wants to turn over but doesn't. I cleaned the MAF sensor, ensured there was gas in the car, heard the fuel pump prime when car is in the "on" position. The engine actually turns over when I turn the key. It is like the car wants to start, but it just can't quite turn over.

Any suggestions?

A friend reccomended replacing the cam position sensor.

Click to read more...

 

[Blue Fury 10+ year member]

no spark?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

From what I can tell, yes. I don't know of a way to test it without some diagnostic tools, but I am open to suggestions.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

if it turns over fast it may of jumped timing or broke a timing belt //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif...hopefully no bent valves

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

if it turns over fast it may of jumped timing...hopefully no bent valves

No, when I turn the key it tries to turn on like it normally would. If I pump the gas hard when trying to start, it will jerk like it is really trying then shut completely down.

 

[SICCMAD3 10+ year member]

get underneath the car by the gas tank with a hammer and hit the bottom of the gas tank in the middle while someone tries to start it. if it starts its a fuel pump that went out, if not then its either spark or compression related. if you don;'t want to get under it you can remove the air box at throttle plate and then spray brake clean or carb cleanr into the intake while someone tries to start it.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

get underneath the car by the gas tank with a hammer and hit the bottom of the gas tank in the middle while someone tries to start it. if it starts its a fuel pump that went out, if not then its either spark or compression related. if you don;'t want to get under it you can remove the air box at throttle plate and then spray brake clean or carb cleanr into the intake while someone tries to start it.

I have some of that "starting fluid" handy....

What is odd is that the car ran fine...then sat for two days and now won't start. The fuel pump is priming though...I can hear it when the car is in the "on" position.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

fuel filter may be clogged...you can spray the starting fluid inside the throttle body if it starts for a few secs and goes dead...then it may be a clogged filter...

 

[SICCMAD3 10+ year member]

yeah it can turn on and you would hear it at the filler neck or the gas cap but the pump would be jammed up, thats why you bang on the tank. also does that buick have a distributer or coil-packs. i see alot of no-starts with water in the distributer and /or a rotor that ate itself up. i cant say for sure with yours because i work in the truck shop at a GM dealer and dont really touch any passenger cars. but gm does have shitty fuel pumps

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

yeah it can turn on and you would hear it at the filler neck or the gas cap but the pump would be jammed up, thats why you bang on the tank. also does that buick have a distributer or coil-packs. i see alot of no-starts with water in the distributer and /or a rotor that ate itself up. i cant say for sure with yours because i work in the truck shop at a GM dealer and dont really touch any passenger cars. but gm does have shitty fuel pumps

It has the coil packs. I am going to try the starting fluid tomorrow. It will atleast determine if it is a fuel problem.

 

[SICCMAD3 10+ year member]

yeah more then likely its fuel related, with those setups theirs not alot of things that cause crank-no starts, but good luck with it

 

[tapout 5,000+ posts]

but gm does have shitty fuel pumps

this.

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

Ignition coil, or ignition wire from coil to rotor. Also by continuing to try to start it, your flooding it. So, take the coil wire off the rotor and test for spark. Do the same on the coil. Ohm out the wire and check for leakage when it tryies to start. ie, sparks shooting thru the jacket to valve cover ect.

 

[jrouter76 10+ year member]

Ignition coil, or ignition wire from coil to rotor. Also by continuing to try to start it, your flooding it. So, take the coil wire off the rotor and test for spark. Do the same on the coil. Ohm out the wire and check for leakage when it tryies to start. ie, sparks shooting thru the jacket to valve cover ect.

He has a coil-pack, no rotor or single coil.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Ignition coil, or ignition wire from coil to rotor. Also by continuing to try to start it, your flooding it. So, take the coil wire off the rotor and test for spark. Do the same on the coil. Ohm out the wire and check for leakage when it tryies to start. ie, sparks shooting thru the jacket to valve cover ect.

My mother took it to the shop and it was indeed something along those lines.

Ignition Control Module...whatever that is.