2000 Buick LeSabre won't start...cold weather

[amatta80]

2000 Buick Lesabre won't start. When I crank the key over it sounds like it's gonna start but won't catch, like it's almost there but not quite. First I thought it was the cold weather (7 degrees here for a few days) turned out I needed a new battery, but still wouldn't start after replacing it.

Then I checked the fuel pump/supply, put new fuel in, still won't start.

A mechanic neighbor came over and said it's probably the electronic computer module? I'm not even sure if that's what he said. He said it's located under the dash, but i can't find it, but if I use a hair dryer to warm it up and give a tap it may do the trick. Any idea where it is or what else I can check before taking it to the shop?

 

[ddranger]

try holding the gas to the floor while while staring it. do not pump it.

 

[amatta80]

Tried, it's just not catching. We put dry gas in too but that didn't do anything.

 

[Spriteman]

To me it sounds like you're not getting good spark or intermittent spark at the cylinders.

You need to check spark at each plug? Are you familiar with how to do that?

You should get a blue arc - if it's more yellow then you're not getting enough power to the spark plugs to get a good spark.

If one or multiple plugs show bad then you need to start moving back toward the battery by checking the spark plug wires, then the ignition coils, then ignition module, then the power to the ignition module. You don't need any special tools to do it but you'll need to trade around the spark plug wires and the coils for a process of elimination.

Let us know if you're comfortable doing that or if you need more details on what to do next.

 

[DonP]

Do you smell any fuel smell at the exhaust after cranking a bit?

Might be worth checking fuel pressure?