Electrical problem
1992 Buick Regal 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 80,000 miles
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had a problem with car sputtering and dying after driving about 5 miles. was told it was probrably the coil packs getting hot or the ignition control module.
or both.. changed those -- starter was also shot so i replaced that also. all wires are back where they came from. will not start.... before replacing these it would start on the 2nd or 3rd try-- but would start.. only it would die about 5 miles down the road. now the starter works but seems like it is getting no spark--just cranks over and over again. any help you could give me would be much appreciated.
engine is a 3800-buick regal custom
thank you
joe
also just changed plugs and wires about a month ago and is getting gas.

outofaz4gd wrote:

Electrical problem 1992 Buick Regal 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 80,000 miles ---------------------------------------------------------------- had a problem with car sputtering and dying after driving about 5 miles. was told it was probrably the coil packs getting hot or the ignition control module. or both.. changed those -- starter was also shot so i replaced that also. all wires are back where they came from. will not start.... before replacing these it would start on the 2nd or 3rd try-- but would start.. only it would die about 5 miles down the road. now the starter works but seems like it is getting no spark--just cranks over and over again. any help you could give me would be much appreciated. engine is a 3800-buick regal custom thank you joe also just changed plugs and wires about a month ago and is getting gas.

where did you get the parts at? does it start with your old parts back on it?

got plugs and wires at auto zone -- got starter- ignition control module and coil packs at junkyard.
put old icm and coil packs back on and did not start that way either.
in order to put in forum do i need to go back to car repair page or just hit reply to you .. first time here.

just went out and took the wires off the plugs - (one at a time) and put in a different plug into the ends of the wires and held to ground . no spark from any of them??

outofaz4gd wrote:

got plugs and wires at auto zone -- got starter- ignition control module and coil packs at junkyard. put old icm and coil packs back on and did not start that way either. in order to put in forum do i need to go back to car repair page or just hit reply to you .. first time here. just went out and took the wires off the plugs - (one at a time) and put in a different plug into the ends of the wires and held to ground . no spark from any of them??

just hit quote to reply....buying parts at autozone is not a good idea, they are junk sorry to say and I dont trust them, jack the car up and look at the front crank pully, I believe the crank sensor is in there, grab hold of the wires and wiggle it a little and see if it is loose, if its loose it will need replacing, I will look this up to make sure and get back to you. what was the engine size 3.1 or 3.8?

engine is a 3.8. crank sensor was replaced about 2 weeks ago. by a certified mechanic not me, so i am sure that is ok. went and got a screwdriver type power tester and am getting power everywhere, up to the ignition control module that the coil packs sit on, just not getting any power through them. so i went and got another ignition control module to make sure i did not blow the first one- since i forgot to disconnect the battery before installation-new one did not work either. what i did notice though is that there are 3 red wires coming up from under the motor ( can not tell where they come from as they are coming out of a cover with about 30 other wires in it) any way 2 of these wires go to the fuse box located next to the battery- that holds the fuses for the horn , hi beam/lo beam , fog lamps- nothing that would keep it from starting. the third wire is unhooked? i did not unhook this wire that i can remember. it has a male plug in on end of it. have looked everywhere to see if i may have inadvertantly unplugged and can find no where to plug in. only has about 6 inches of play in the wire . usually red means power-so maybe this one little wire is my problem . to be honest i dont know. anyway getting power everywhere except from the ignition control module plate up through the coils. have tried three different plates and all are the same. they are getting power - just not sending it through the coils.
all fuses are good and fuel injectors are getting power also. any suggestions would be appreciated
thanks
JOE

outofaz4gd wrote:

engine is a 3.8. crank sensor was replaced about 2 weeks ago. by a certified mechanic not me, so i am sure that is ok. went and got a screwdriver type power tester and am getting power everywhere, up to the ignition control module that the coil packs sit on, just not getting any power through them. so i went and got another ignition control module to make sure i did not blow the first one- since i forgot to disconnect the battery before installation-new one did not work either. what i did notice though is that there are 3 red wires coming up from under the motor ( can not tell where they come from as they are coming out of a cover with about 30 other wires in it) any way 2 of these wires go to the fuse box located next to the battery- that holds the fuses for the horn , hi beam/lo beam , fog lamps- nothing that would keep it from starting. the third wire is unhooked? i did not unhook this wire that i can remember. it has a male plug in on end of it. have looked everywhere to see if i may have inadvertantly unplugged and can find no where to plug in. only has about 6 inches of play in the wire . usually red means power-so maybe this one little wire is my problem . to be honest i dont know. anyway getting power everywhere except from the ignition control module plate up through the coils. have tried three different plates and all are the same. they are getting power - just not sending it through the coils. all fuses are good and fuel injectors are getting power also. any suggestions would be appreciated thanks JOE

that maybe a fuel pump test port, and red doesnt always mean power

is there any way you can take a picture of your coils and control moduel, there are 3 types of ignition systems for this car or do you know which one you have, one is controled by the ECM (computer) since you said you couldnt pull codes out of it it could be the prob

was the crankshaft sensor that was replaced- not the cam sensor. will replaced this on monday when i get money to do this.went and got another ignition control module(exchanged) and am going to try this one today.will let you know either way. your help is much appreciated as i would have never figured any of this out. if i take it apart i can put back together , but i didn't know what to take apart or replace. here are the pictures of the coil packs and module.
thanks
joe

couldn't pull the codes because the diagnostic tool they brought over only went down to the plug in for a 96-- mines a 92 would not fit the hook up under the dash.

think i may have found the problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-- (i think).. guess i should have checked the cam sensor when you told me to. then i could have picked up the part i needed when i was at the junkyard today. the cam sensor i believe is ok.... but the wires on the connector are not , one is completely broke off and the other 3 are still connected but wore through like the ends of uncovered speaker wire. am going to go get a new connector and solder together, plug back in and cross my fingers as i really DO NOT want to have to change the sensor itself.anyway will update you on monday night and let you know how it went. hopefully it will be good news. either way you are going to get some very positive feedback and as many points as i am able to give you. on my screen it says i only have 0.2 points , but if i have to i will buy some. you deserve it.
thanks
joe

is it the crankshaft sensor or cam sensor that sits down by the water pump behind the harmonic balancer. i think you are right that it is the crankshaft sensor --- i just didn't want to believe it!! since a mechanic was suppose to have just changed it. the sensor itself looks new-- but the wires as i said are shot. thought that it would have been mentioned , instead of just letting us drive off knowing that it would just break down on us again. got use to an honest mechanic for the last 10 years had same one- then we moved. the scematic i got off the internet says that the crank has 4 wires and the cam has 3 wires --this one has 4.. so i guess i just wanted to tell you that you were right.will try to fix tommorrow and will let you know.
thanks
joe