Buick Stalls

[nobody05]

1990 Buick that starts no problem and runs for a few seconds then falls on face and stalls. A restart will sometimes work and sometimes stall again. 3rd time is always the charm and will run and start fine until the engine is dead cold again. new crank sensor plugs & wires recently put on. Any Ideas out there?

[Scott K]

Model? Engine size?

possible a bad maf, or map, depending on Model and year

[nobody05]

riviera w/ 3.8l series 1. Also another symptom when running would be abit of a stumble on any change in throttle position.

[nobody05]

just cleaned the honeycombing on the MAF. Still does it. Noticed that the throttle body had a thing layer of soot on the inside before the butterfly. Any other Ideas?

[1968]

Any engine or security codes? Lose fuel pressure, injector pulse, or spark when it doesn't start?

25 year old car, could be anything...

[nobody05]

it always restarts just dies right away thereafter. it seems like its not getting gas really. changed fuel filter also. i will have to get a gauge on the injector manifold and see what that does on startup

[JOHNBIGDOG]

If you don't get a fuel pressure gauge, try cycling the key three times, them crank. give it a 15 seconds between cycles and listen for the fuel pump?

you can disconnect the Mass Air flow sensor and see if i starts up on the first crank attempt. It may turn on the Check Engine Light, but because its O.B.D.1, it will go out as soon as the sensor is reconnected, as obd1 is a dumb system.

maybe try and hold the throttle open a little while cranking. if the Idle Air Controll valve is sticking it may free itself after 3 cycles???

I'm just throwing some stuff at the wall.

[luckycrank]

Fuel pressure regulator ? Pull the vaccumm line of and leave it for about 5minutes .. is there fuel present ? , check valave in fuel pump bad .. as said could be a ton of things

[luckycrank]

just cleaned the honeycombing on the MAF. Still does it. Noticed that the throttle body had a thing layer of soot on the inside before the butterfly. Any other Ideas?

Did you clean the small resistor like elemment on the MAF SENSOR ?

ALSO have you cycled the key a few times and then cranked giving time for fuel pump to run beetween cycles ? ..

[luckycrank]

Possible the intake gaskets suck air while cold also and seal when warm ..