97 LeSabre no start

[HesFixnMe]

I was given a 97 LeSabre with 85k, one owner,little old lady, never drove long trips so car had oil scum build up, drove it for a month to see what needed to be done, did an oil and filter change, 10/30 mobil 1, wix gold o/f, new plugs and wires. drove it to Disneyland and back 35mpg on 5, after about 2k miles on oil it made a big rattling noise, oil pres went way up, then way low then stablized, drove it about 2 miles home and found the oil filter was plugged and went into by-pass mode, put on new filter topped off oil, drained oil into clean pan and strined oil with cheese clothe, refilled oil no big chuncks or metal found in oil. car had a lifter like noise when restarted and would set a code for cylinder misfire when ever it started cold, the code would change to a different cylinder each time so thought it was a chunk of scum in lifter gallery. car also had low power level and my code scanned showed the timing retardin 25-39 degrees ATDC, then after three days of this it barely started and I was able to limp home on surface streets about 2 1/2 miles. car then decided to stop running. I have changed fuel filter, checked fuel pressure 45-49lbs. spark is great on all six cylinders to the plugs able to jump about an inch brite blue spark. I have an older scanner so unable to register timing during cranking.

Any help is appreciated

 

[HotZ28]

Are you low on coolant, or have you had an increase in oil level? Have you pulled to plugs to see if they are wet? Sounds like the common UIM failure to me.

 

[HesFixnMe]

I have since pulled all the plugs, they were all wet with fuel, the coolant did go down about 2 qaurts from when I did the first oil change in December, I replaced the thermosat and gasket during first oil change and the o-ring didn't seem to be sealing properly so I added a paper gasket, car never got hot while low on water. the oil level has not gone up either. I sorta tested all the plug by hooking a ground wire to them and cranking motor, all plugs were able to make a spark, all six wires also get spark through them. the plugs on cylinders 3 and 4 were black, the other nice and white. when I cranked the engine over with all six plugs out I did get a bit of fuel expelled. fuel pressure is between 45-50 during cranking and holds pressure.

What is the UIM problem, I understand upper intake, but what kind of problems will that give me? any more help is appreciated. kinda like driving the big boat...

 

[HotZ28]

There was a recall on the Delphi fuel pressure regulator. When the regulator failed, it would flood the cylinders with fuel & occasionally lead to an explosion of the intake. Pull the vacuum line going to the regulator to see if there is any raw fuel in the line.

NHTSA Campaign Number
96V116000
Vehicle Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 275811
Model Affected
1997 BUICK LESABRE

1997 Buick Lesabre Defect Summary:
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Defect Consequence:
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Estimated Vehicles Affected:
275811

Notes:
GENERAL MOTORS CORP. .

The UIM failure is due to lack of clearance between the EGR tube and plastic UIM. The failure is usually in the area behind the throttle body where coolant passes to heat the throttle body. When the coolant passage develops a leak, coolant is ingested into the UIM, combustion chambers, and eventually into the oil. This is an invisible leak, and can totally destroy the engine if not resolved. Things to look for are, loss of coolant, brown milky film under the oil fill cap and valve covers, lifter rattle noise, random misfire code P0300, or an increase in oil level.

UIM failure:

 

[dcraig1000]

😀thats UGLY!(but a nice shade of green)

 

[journeyforce]

Do yourself a favor, if you are replacing the upper intake manifold also replace the lower intake manifold gaskets with the GM(or Felpro) metal intake gaskets. All 3800 series II engines have lower intake manifold gasket leaks due to GM using a plastic gasket.

Also if you have Dex-cool coolant(Orange) in your coolant system, flush the entire system and replace it with green coolant

 

[HesFixnMe]

Ok so what I am getting is that if my UIM is leaking I will not see an external leak, will I see the old white cloud out the tail pipe?

I have not noticed an increase in the oil level it actually was a quart low when the problem started. changing the upper and lower manifolds and gaskets is not a problem logistically for me, time is another matter...

I just put in fresh Delco Orange coolant. so is this actually a contributor to the UIM problem that can be subsided with standard green?

I really appreciate all the help and comments as I am hitting my head on the wall with this, that is what happens when you quit working on cars for a living about the time distributors quit being used....

A friend of mine thought maybe a lifter is plugged with crud from the build up that made it past the filter.

 

[misterRollsRoycer]

I would check the starter as well. You probably already did that. I don't know. I actually did a UIM gasket and lower gasket replacement. It was to stop decent amount of oil and coolant leaking out side of manifold near about where throttle meets plenum. However, that wasn't keeping car from starting. Only times have had no start, (I have a 98 lesabre), was either battery or starter.