2000 LeSabre is stalling/sputtering/hesitating despite many parts replacements

[MisterSleep]

Hi.
I have a 2000 Buick LeSabre Custom with the GM 3800 series II engine. It's got 245k miles and it's been stalling, sputtering, hesitating, and unwilling to start at seemingly random intervals. And, such is my luck, there have been no Check Engine light at any point during this saga. Here's the chronology of events spanning 6 months:

The first symptom I experienced was occasional sputtering, mainly while going uphill, almost like a misfire. This began to occur shortly after the spark plugs were replaced during regular maintenance. So I replaced the spark plugs again, and also the wires, fuel filter, and fuel pressure regulator. Plus I gave the MAF a good cleaning.

But the problem persisted, and it grew to include intermittent stalling when I would come to a stop. Undaunted, I replaced the ignition coils, and swapped in a used ICM.

The car began to not start every now and then. It would just crank to no avail. So I would try again after an hour or two and it would immediately start as if nothing was wrong. Fearing that I or my wife could be left stranded I replaced the fuel pump. But it still occasionally stalls and still sputters at low rpms.

So then I replaced the crank sensor and I cleaned the camshaft sensor too. Guess what? It's sputtering/hesitating when I accelerate from a stop and it stalled again today for the first time in a week, just as I was pulling into traffic. And it even sputters while idling in park as well. Most of the time it runs like a champ, but every once in a while it just wont run properly.

Please help. I'm totally out of ideas. Thanks a million.

Cheers.

 

[HotZ28]

Has the catalytic converter ever been changed, or at tested for back pressure? You have a lot of miles on that engine, what is your oil consumption? Cats do plug and restrict flow, therefore causing all sorts of problems. You may have other problems, but we need to start somewhere, mostly in places you have not mentioned.

 

[Spriteman]

Perhaps a vacuum leak - test with smoke or other all around the intake manifold and vacuum lines coming off of manifold and any sensor areas.

It is strange that no codes have been set.

 

[over45]

my car has had many similar problems - not all of them but some. no one can figure it out and i've had numerous mechanics look at it. i agree a smoke test / vacuum test might be in order... or bite the bullet and take it into the stealership for a diagnosis. there is also a sensor back near the gas tank that does something.. forget what it is called but it controls fuel pressure flow ...

 

[MisterSleep]

I checked it for vacuum leaks as thoroughly as I could, but all the hoses look fine. BUT after a trip to the salvage yard, I swapped in an idle air control Valve and a mass airflow sensor. Now it's right as rain! Thanks for the suggestions.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[G-230254]

Hi.
I have a 2000 Buick LeSabre Custom with the GM 3800 series II engine. It's got 245k miles and it's been stalling, sputtering, hesitating, and unwilling to start at seemingly random intervals. And, such is my luck, there have been no Check Engine light at any point during this saga. Here's the chronology of events spanning 6 months:

The first symptom I experienced was occasional sputtering, mainly while going uphill, almost like a misfire. This began to occur shortly after the spark plugs were replaced during regular maintenance. So I replaced the spark plugs again, and also the wires, fuel filter, and fuel pressure regulator. Plus I gave the MAF a good cleaning.

But the problem persisted, and it grew to include intermittent stalling when I would come to a stop. Undaunted, I replaced the ignition coils, and swapped in a used ICM.

The car began to not start every now and then. It would just crank to no avail. So I would try again after an hour or two and it would immediately start as if nothing was wrong. Fearing that I or my wife could be left stranded I replaced the fuel pump. But it still occasionally stalls and still sputters at low rpms.

So then I replaced the crank sensor and I cleaned the camshaft sensor too. Guess what? It's sputtering/hesitating when I accelerate from a stop and it stalled again today for the first time in a week, just as I was pulling into traffic. And it even sputters while idling in park as well. Most of the time it runs like a champ, but every once in a while it just wont run properly.

Please help. I'm totally out of ideas. Thanks a million.

Cheers.

I had the same problem on my car it was a 97 Buick LeSabre and I tried a lot of things and finally I went to Riley's bought a new ICM and three new coil packs and it runs great it used to do the same exact thing years did but don't ever put a used ICM from the junkyard in cuz the ICM are running good but when it warms up it shorts out and I used one so I put the new one in it's okay so invest into a new one

 

[jotzgr]

11-year old thread. Doubtful OP still has car or is even on here.