2008 Buick Lucerne Fuel Pump Relay

[mgio92]

Hi All,

I have the same issue with my 2010 Lucerne. Will be fixing it next weekend so hopefully that will be the last time it happens!

I bought this fuse box for it so hopefully all will go well... Fuse & Relay Box - GM (20894794) | GMPartOnline

Also- I've attached the service bulletin just in case anyone needed it.

Have a great 4th of July!

 

[Lifetime Buick Owner]

I noticed a few minor differences between the original and the one I bought off of eBay. I was a little worried, at first, but after checking the service manual, it doesn't appear that any of the missing fuses are used for anything...at least not on my CX. Haven't run into any issues since swapping fuse boxes.

Here is the original

And here is the one I bought off of eBay (with the 88953222 fuel pump relay installed...in place of the one that came with the fuse box)

The missing fuses are described in the 2008 Lucerne service manual as follows:
No / Device / Rating / Description
#3 / Run3 Fuse / 5A / Not Used
#11 / MDL-RR Fuse / 20A / Not Used
#23 / SWS-RR Fuse / 20A / (Z75)
#27 / NAV Fuse / 10A / (Z75)

Just replace mine as well, the fuse box I got also was missing these 4 fuses. (08 Lucerne CXL) Not sure what systems they go to. Interested to know what you found out. Will continue reading this thread maybe its been answered. Since mine had fuses and connectors in the box and the new one didn't have connectors or fuses.

 

[Lifetime Buick Owner]

Talked to a friend of mine who works at a GM dealer and a tech. As century 76 stated, my new box was missing the four fuses too. He said that the lucerne was basically a Cadillac with a different trim. And most likely wiring harness and fuse box on the same production run. And those fuses are for the Cadillac DTS. Fuse 3 - Run3 Rear Blower, Fuse 11 - Rear seat heat module, fuse 23 -Rear Lumbar and fuse 27 Navigation. Hope this helps

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Just asking what you are talking about? This is on the fuel pump relay TSB and fix for the fuse box.

 

[Lifetime Buick Owner]

Just asking what you are talking about? This is on the fuel pump relay TSB and fix for the fuse box.

Yes, I had the same problem replaced the relay then decided it was best to replace the fuse box as well. the fuse box I got to replace the orig one was missing those four fuses (3, 11, 23, 27) also as a previous member stated and was missing four fuses. and wanted to know what they are and if I needed them (with the replacement fuse box/block) for any accessory I might have. I was just addressing the missing fuses that might not be in the new fuse box if anyone ordered one to replace the one they had and it was missing those.

Sorry if it caused any confusion

 

[tsleber3]

Re: [SOLVED]Re: 2008 Buick Lucerne Fuel Pump Relay

I own a 2008 Lucerne and have the EXACT same problem as Century61. Exact same burnout of the fuse block at the exact same location. Car wouldn't start and I was lucky to find the problem myself without paying a lot of money. Replaced the relay and it works for now while I'm waiting for a new fuse block. I ordered an OEM one from the big auction site for $19.95, far less that the $300 the dealer wanted.

Here is what I think is going on. The original relay coil gets hot normally or gets hotter than normal because of an internal coil short. In the original relay design, the coil housing is part of the switch circuit and basically pin 30 is a continuation of the coil housing. Thus the heat of the coil is transferred preferentially to pin 30 because of the way the relay is designed. This heat causes a loss of temper in the connector in the fuse block which leads to a poor connection and more heat. The loss of connection may be exacerbated by plastic insulation which melts inside the relay and flows down the pin. Eventually, the connection is lost and the car won't start. I think Buick is aware of this because the new relay I bought from them has been redesigned so that there is no longer thermal continuity between the coli housing and pin 30, and the coil housing is no longer part of the switch circuit. Also, the new relay coil ohms out at 145 ohms vs. 90 ohms for the old relay. The coil wiring on the new coil is finer than than it was on the old coil so I think this is a design change to cause the coil to run cooler, rather than just indicative that the old coil was shorted. Moreover, if you take the cover off the relay and run the engine, you find that the coil housing is the first thing to get hot, not the switch. So, again, I think the design of the original relay was flawed because it allowed this heat to be transmitted freely to the connector in the fuse block.

Fixing the problem requires replacing both the relay and the block because the connector in the block has been irreparably damaged by the defective relay.

What is the part number of the replacement relay? Ted Leber tsleber3@netzero.net

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Read post #76 it has the information.

 

[tsleber3]

Has anyone tried replacing the fuse box-block themselves? is the box-block just plug and play, so to speak?
thank you!

It takes less than ten minutes. There are four clips that hold it in the base. I flex them back with my pocket
knife. The fuse block comes up (kinda 'folds' to the rear). There are three 72-pin connectors on the bottom
held in by one screw in the center of each block. When you unscrew the screws they will unplug the connector.
there are two more small connectors. Compress the clips and pull them out. viola! that's it.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

No problem, just wanted to know as it should be in the owners manual but the fuse and relay boxes are shown here.
Buick Lucerne (2008 - 2011) - fuse box diagram - Auto Genius

 

[G-413675]

Hi folks,

I havent posted in a while but Finally replaced my 2002 Century with a 2008 Lucerne. Ive had this thing for about 2 months. I bought it used with 62k on it. Here is my problem -

After driving the car for about 50 miles in the morning I had to make another drive and got in the car and it would not start. It would turn over and all but no start. Everything seemed fine. I called my favorite repair place and had them tow it in. He found the Gas Pump Relay had basically melted/failed. So, He put in a new one and it got really hot according to him while the car ran. He did ohm out the gas pump and it seemed fine. Now Im curious as to if anyone else has heard of this problem or had it? What might you think it is?

Perhaps I should not have bought it but got it from a Buick dealer and couldnt find anything wrong with it at the time. I mean, I did all my research and all and ended up getting nailed anyway 😡.

Thanks, Everyone for reading.

Century61

I have a 2008 Buick Lucerne and I went to start my car and it cranked but no start, replaced fuel pump fuse and now it starts , now I roll the dice and see if I have problems down the road and it burns again

 

[mr. clean]

I have a 2008 Buick Lucerne and I went to start my car and it cranked but no start, replaced fuel pump fuse and now it starts , now I roll the dice and see if I have problems down the road and it burns again

Read the last 20 or so posts; there is a TSB (“Technical Service Bulletin”) out for this and the Buick dealer SHOULD know about this or at least can look it up. Your repair should be done at no cost. Thank the posters here and God for saving me around $600!

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Check your relay, Post #101 has the information and it's worth looking at the relay to be sure it's not the issue with the fuse box later.

 

[G-900301]

Hi folks,

I havent posted in a while but Finally replaced my 2002 Century with a 2008 Lucerne. Ive had this thing for about 2 months. I bought it used with 62k on it. Here is my problem -

After driving the car for about 50 miles in the morning I had to make another drive and got in the car and it would not start. It would turn over and all but no start. Everything seemed fine. I called my favorite repair place and had them tow it in. He found the Gas Pump Relay had basically melted/failed. So, He put in a new one and it got really hot according to him while the car ran. He did ohm out the gas pump and it seemed fine. Now Im curious as to if anyone else has heard of this problem or had it? What might you think it is?

Perhaps I should not have bought it but got it from a Buick dealer and couldnt find anything wrong with it at the time. I mean, I did all my research and all and ended up getting nailed anyway 😡.

Thanks, Everyone for reading.

Century61

You will need/should replace the fuse box the relay is in and grind off about 1/4 inch of the clip that holds the back seat in. on that side. What is causing the relay and fuse to melt is the clip that holds the back seat down is pressing against the fuse box lid where the relay is, Pushing on the relay causing it to short/arc and burning it out and melting the relay box connector where the relay fits in. NOTE: a replacement fuse box may be missing 4 fuses. But that should be ok. Since the Lucerne is basically a Cadillac with a Buick trim and those four fuses are for the Cadillac CTX? features. The fuse box is a for the Cadillac (probably same box used in that run) and place in the vehicles as they passed in the assembly. Also, you can get a new relay (the updated one) that is shorter than the original that may help but I would still grind/cut off about 1/4 of the clip though.

 

[FordDriver7]

Read the last 20 or so posts; there is a TSB (“Technical Service Bulletin”) out for this and the Buick dealer SHOULD know about this or at least can look it up. Your repair should be done at no cost. Thank the posters here and God for saving me around $600!

Went to the dealer with a friend having problems with his 2011 Lucerne. The fuel pump relay in the fuse box under the rear seat was burned up and car would crank but not start. Mentioned the TSB to the service advisor and he put in the vin, said if it was the fuse box they would replace at no cost as a "Special Coverage". I asked the coverage limitations on the vehicles for this repair to be covered and he said 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.

 

[mr. clean]

Went to the dealer with a friend having problems with his 2011 Lucerne. The fuel pump relay in the fuse box under the rear seat was burned up and car would crank but not start. Mentioned the TSB to the service advisor and he put in the vin, said if it was the fuse box they would replace at no cost as a "Special Coverage". I asked the coverage limitations on the vehicles for this repair to be covered and he said 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Excellent...thanks for passing this on...no doubt that is your friend’s issue and, if so, he owes you a drink!

 

[FordDriver7]

Excellent...thanks for passing this on...no doubt that is your friend’s issue and, if so, he owes you a drink!

You are welcome. The dealer replaced the fuse box with no charge and the car is now running o.k.

Don't know what the dealer would have done if I hadn't mentioned the tsb.

Thank you and the other posters for bringing this apparently fairly common problem to light and saving my friend a big bill!

 

[Miguelduenas1977]

Hi folks,

I havent posted in a while but Finally replaced my 2002 Century with a 2008 Lucerne. Ive had this thing for about 2 months. I bought it used with 62k on it. Here is my problem -

After driving the car for about 50 miles in the morning I had to make another drive and got in the car and it would not start. It would turn over and all but no start. Everything seemed fine. I called my favorite repair place and had them tow it in. He found the Gas Pump Relay had basically melted/failed. So, He put in a new one and it got really hot according to him while the car ran. He did ohm out the gas pump and it seemed fine. Now Im curious as to if anyone else has heard of this problem or had it? What might you think it is?

Perhaps I should not have bought it but got it from a Buick dealer and couldnt find anything wrong with it at the time. I mean, I did all my research and all and ended up getting nailed anyway 😡.

Thanks, Everyone for reading.

Century61

I just bought a 2008 buick lucerne. It did the same thing your car did. Did you ever fix the issue. I'm interested in knowing everything you know about fixing this issue. Please email me @ miguelduenas1977@gmail

 

[jrod81]

Hey guys... so I went to the Buick dealer here in town and he said a 2011 with 135k miles was not going to be covered and that I'd have to pay for it... so I am going to try and do this on my own I think... The part number he gave me is 84446208 but I'm seeing others mentioned... is there a list of which part numbers will get this accomplished and I'll head to ebay

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

The part number may relate to your year model or features, some of the other posts were on older years or may not had addtional options.

 

[Liltommy]

Hi folks,

I havent posted in a while but Finally replaced my 2002 Century with a 2008 Lucerne. Ive had this thing for about 2 months. I bought it used with 62k on it. Here is my problem -

After driving the car for about 50 miles in the morning I had to make another drive and got in the car and it would not start. It would turn over and all but no start. Everything seemed fine. I called my favorite repair place and had them tow it in. He found the Gas Pump Relay had basically melted/failed. So, He put in a new one and it got really hot according to him while the car ran. He did ohm out the gas pump and it seemed fine. Now Im curious as to if anyone else has heard of this problem or had it? What might you think it is?

Perhaps I should not have bought it but got it from a Buick dealer and couldnt find anything wrong with it at the time. I mean, I did all my research and all and ended up getting nailed anyway 😡.

Thanks, Everyone for reading.

Century61

Yeah dealing with the same problem let me know if you figure it out what that was.Thanks.