wildirish
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2012
- Messages
- 34
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- Buick Ownership
- 1996 Buick LeSabre Custom
It has a new battery, plugs, wires, and both the fuel pressure regulator and starter were replaced within the last year.
I tested the battery and it's solidly at 12.6 v. AutoZone and O'Reilly both tested the battery and alternator, and they say everything looks good.
I took it to the dealership, and they used a smoke test to find a vacuum leak: a broken vacuum line on the purge valve at the throttle body. They didn't have the part, so they patched it with tape until they could try to find the part.
They tested the fuel pressure, and said it was good.
I looked at the fuel pressure regulator, and it did look as if the hose wasn't quite on it tightly enough. I took it off, and there's not a drop of gas in the hose, so I guess the fuel pressure regulator is okay.
Here's what's happening:
* The car usually starts right up, with some major exceptions--usually, after I've driven 30 miles to work, and parked it in the sun for 6 hours.
* If I run a few different errands, sometimes it's slow to start...when it's hot, I guess.
* The idle is better since they found the vacuum leak, but I still notice a loss of power going up hills that aren't very steep.
* When I back up, I notice a gas smell, so I suppose unburned gas is coming out of the exhaust. There is no gas smell at all, when I park it in the garage--only when it's running.
* The most recent time I had trouble starting it, I stepped on the gas--which I've never had to do in 20 years, living in both desert and bitter winter climates. Giving it gas got it to start, but it reeked of gasoline when I backed out of my parking space.
* I drove home 30 miles, parked the car in my garage for an hour--no gas smell while parked--and it started up just fine when I drove to a nearby town to get gas.
The mechanic thought it was having trouble starting while hot, because of the vacuum leak. So are my problems continuing because of the temporary tape fix, or is something else going on?
I'm taking it back to the dealership in a few days, but I'd like other people's input before I do.
If there's any other info you need to know, I'll do the best I can to answer your questions.
Thanks!
I tested the battery and it's solidly at 12.6 v. AutoZone and O'Reilly both tested the battery and alternator, and they say everything looks good.
I took it to the dealership, and they used a smoke test to find a vacuum leak: a broken vacuum line on the purge valve at the throttle body. They didn't have the part, so they patched it with tape until they could try to find the part.
They tested the fuel pressure, and said it was good.
I looked at the fuel pressure regulator, and it did look as if the hose wasn't quite on it tightly enough. I took it off, and there's not a drop of gas in the hose, so I guess the fuel pressure regulator is okay.
Here's what's happening:
* The car usually starts right up, with some major exceptions--usually, after I've driven 30 miles to work, and parked it in the sun for 6 hours.
* If I run a few different errands, sometimes it's slow to start...when it's hot, I guess.
* The idle is better since they found the vacuum leak, but I still notice a loss of power going up hills that aren't very steep.
* When I back up, I notice a gas smell, so I suppose unburned gas is coming out of the exhaust. There is no gas smell at all, when I park it in the garage--only when it's running.
* The most recent time I had trouble starting it, I stepped on the gas--which I've never had to do in 20 years, living in both desert and bitter winter climates. Giving it gas got it to start, but it reeked of gasoline when I backed out of my parking space.
* I drove home 30 miles, parked the car in my garage for an hour--no gas smell while parked--and it started up just fine when I drove to a nearby town to get gas.
The mechanic thought it was having trouble starting while hot, because of the vacuum leak. So are my problems continuing because of the temporary tape fix, or is something else going on?
I'm taking it back to the dealership in a few days, but I'd like other people's input before I do.
If there's any other info you need to know, I'll do the best I can to answer your questions.
Thanks!
