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Engine Stalling / Trouble Starting

 
tomcat.stclair tomcat.stclair
New User | Posts: 2 | Joined: 09/08
Posted: 09/05/08
11:07 AM

Vehicle: 1995 Buick LeSabre Custom, 3.8L V-6, 60,000 miles.

Situation: The engine is stopping while driving or will not start after being parked.  I have been to two mechanics and neither can figure it out.  This is an intermittent problem so no typical circumstance precedes the stalling or trouble starting.

Symptoms: While driving down the highway or street, several dashboard light flicker and flash and then the engine dies.  A couple times the car would start up again, but a few times the engine would crank and try to start and wouldn’t.  After parking and several attempts at starting, it finally starts.  Once or twice, the car has traveled a short distance, parked for about a half-hour, then would have trouble starting.  The engine would crank and try to start, but wouldn’t for several attempts and minutes.  The trouble starting seems to be similar to when fuel is an issue.  However, most of the time, the car starts on the first try.  In addition, the flashing dashboard lights while running don’t seem indicative of a fuel problem.  A couple times, while driving, it will cut out for a split second, dashboard lights flicker and flash, and it regains normal operation without having to stop and restart.

Additional information/circumstances: It doesn’t seem to matter if the car has traveled several miles or a short distance, so cold starts and warmed up do not seem to matter.  It has happened with and without the air conditioner operating, but more times with it operating, since this problem revealed itself over the past couple of months.  It is difficult to determine if it is electrical or if the AC is causing the problem.

I appreciate any help and suggestions.  Thank you.  

 
djamp1983 djamp1983
New User | Posts: 2 | Joined: 09/08
Posted: 09/08/08
05:49 AM

it sounds like we're having the same trouble. at first the just thought my fuel filter was clogged, 200,000 miles on the orginal, and after i replaced it my car went for about 2 weeks w/o any problems.  just this morning, it started stalling again.  when your engine starts back up, does it rev high for a few seconds, almost like it was flooded and is burning off excess fuel in the cylinders?  

 
syang5 syang5
New User | Posts: 7 | Joined: 08/08
Posted: 09/08/08
10:29 AM

I had a 1995 Volvo 960 and it had the same exact problem. I took it to several mechanics, until I gave in and took it to Volvo. The problem was getting an entirely new engine. You might just have to get a new engine.  

 
djamp1983 djamp1983
New User | Posts: 2 | Joined: 09/08
Posted: 09/08/08
11:50 AM

mine is a 1993 volvo 850. i had the cylinder head remachined a couple months ago it's not the engine as a whole that is giving me trouble, i just need to narrow down what is causing it to stall.  there's only three things it needs to fire; i'm getting great spark on all cylinders, and good fuel pressure. so it's got to be a problem with the intake, already replaced the air filer (if only it would have been so easy) next to test is the EGR valve.  any suggestions on what to try if that doesn't work would be well taken.  

 

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