2003 Lesabre intermitent stalling, Crank but no start

[Hjhambone]

I have a 2003 Buick LeSabre that I am about to do some explosive testing on... It now has 245,000 miles since my last post over a year ago... I Changed most everything 2 years ago... Fuel Pump, ICM and coils, Crank sensor, Cam sensor, AIC, Cleaned MAF, TPS, Fuel Presure Regulator, Plugs, Wires, New Battery... I got a code 0442 for a while and kept clearing it... The last code that was in there in a 0452. Its been stalling intermittenly for a couple of weeks and would start in nuetral going down the road. Now it just has a mind of its own... I drove it to my friends house about 10 miles away and it died about mile 8, got it to start made it to his house and shut it off. Went to leave a few hours later and it would crank but not start. Finally it started... I drove about another 8 miles and it died at my parents house. I left it there, stole one of my dads trucks, and left for vacation... My dad jumped in it two days later and drove it to my house about 5 miles away with no issues. I get home from vacation and my car is in the driveway but it wont start... It makes no sence. My brother thinks it's a security thing... I only have one key. I had a lot of issues a two years ago and have a thread on here if you want to see what was happening then. That was winter time... Its now summer. I realise I should just get a new car but when it runs, it runs great. I would like to sell it and get something else but I'll take a bath on non running car.

 

[grantlarmstrong]

I experienced the symptom of - car starts, drives for a short while, then dies. After a period of time, it would do the same thing again.

I was able to resolve that issue with a new MAF sensor.

As a side note. One of the things that I replaced was the Crank Pos sensor (CKP). That did not fix my problem. It later created a new one because of a mistake that I made.

When I put the harmonic balancer back on, I used a weak impact wrench to do that. I didn't realize it, but it did not get tightened all the way back in place. This messed up the function of the crank sensor and caused a no-start condition. I ended out paying $300 for someone to figure that out.

I hope it turns out well for you.

 

[Hjhambone]

I cleaned the MAF sensor... No dice... The crank bolt is very tight. Did you get a code for the MAF? Thanks for trying.

 

[grantlarmstrong]

Cleaning the MAF sensor does not always solve the problem. They do fail.

As for having a code. The check engine light was not on. I put the scanner on it anyway and found that there was like a stored code for the MAF sensor. Between the stored code and what I found in research, I was desperate enough to go ahead and replace it. (I know, it is an expensive part.)

One other thing. If I tapped on the MAF sensor, every now and then, I could get the engine to stumble (momentarily idle really bad). That was enough for me.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Hjhambone]

I found a truck this morning... Black christine can be someone elses problem... I'm over it... I don't care anymore... To keep working on this car would be like staying with a girl that cheated on you... you can never trust them again. The 150,00 miles before it screwed up were great. The rest have been hell. I'm sure its something stupid but I don't have time for stupid anymore. Thanks for any help... If anyone wants to buy the old black bitch, she's for sale... Has almost all new parts and it was drove into my driveway... New tires, everything works, except the motor running... FML

 

[IMSITINGINYOURCHAIR]

if you weren't in MI and I didn't just get into a car payment. I would consider your offer. I've been through a world of work with my past lesabre so it's nothing new for me.

(try unplugging the maf sensor then attempt to start) failing that unplug the map sensor too. maybe it will set it into "default" mode or "limp home" mode and get it to run. I had a map sensor crack and cause a stall if I tried to go wide open. found that out when I tried to overtake and stalled in the wrong lane

 

[Hjhambone]

Tried both of those man... Nothing. I think it's the crank sensor... I'm not getting any spark. The tach would stop working and it would "hesitate" once the car got to operating temperature, within a few miles it would die or not start back up.

 

[Hjhambone]

Once I have some other wheels besides my farm truck I can probly get it going. Just too expensive to take the shotgun approach to it.

 

[Hjhambone]

It was the Crank sensor... I changed it and that black bitch fired right up. I've got her for sale out if front of the house... Gotta make a craigslist ad today. Thanks everyone.