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Buick Regal Car Repair Questions and Answers

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Question: 1999 Buick Regal mileage: 60,000. I work for a company with fleet of about 35 vehicles, my problem is this Buick. It stops running when it gets hot. I live in Arizona. Two weeks ago it would not start, after running it a couple of hours. This was on a Friday. That Monday when I got to it started right up. The guy drove it a week - same thing. We took the car to the dealer; they kept it for four days. They called and said they cannot find a problem. We picked up the car, four or five days later, same thing. Hooked a snap-on mt-2500 to it and got the code 670 quad control module #4 {qcm}...went back to the dealer the code still stored two days ago. Today they called and still cant find a problem, even with the code this time...please throw me some ideas.

Answer: We have had cars with similar problems caused by the fuel injectors shorting out when the windings got hot.

Question: 2002 Buick Regal mileage: 40,000 The trans. initially had a delay when placed in drive when cold and then would grab. After warm up, the lag was gone and operated ok. A year later it still has lag when cold but operates ok until it gets completely warmed up (30 min or more) and then if seems to stumble in drive and low ranges (engage/disengage?) 2 or 3X from a standing start. This confuses the computer mixture control system so the car stumbles and or cackles until it catches up with itself. After revving the engine a few times and letting it come back to idle and placed into drive, it will sometimes not stumble. Holding brake and accelerating gently causes the car to pulsate arithmetically. It will shift and downshift ok once past the stumble. It doesn't happen in reverse. What in the transmission is causing this condition?

Answer: You may have two problems. The hesitation going into drive is probably caused by the transmission converter draining fluid back into the transmission. Your stumbling problem is probably due to a lean fuel condition in the engine. Check the EGR valve, fuel filter, fuel pump, vacuum leaks, ignition timing, etc.

Question: 1998 Buick Regal mileage: 70,000. The cruise control worked fine and then just stopped working. My mechanic checked it and said it as not getting current from main source under the hood (you can see I don't have much mechanical knowledge!) He did not want to go any further because it was electrical. I don't have a lot of money to fix this but need it fixed since I use hand controls. Should I take it to a battery place to get it checked or another mechanic?

Answer: Several things will keep a cruise control from working. There is a switch on the brake pedal that may be out of adjustment or a faulty servo, which operates the throttle. There is a speed sensor and a main on/off switch on the steering column. If any of these are out of adjustment or faulty, the cruise control will not work properly.

Question: 2002 Buick Regal mileage: 30,000. Changing spark plugs. I have tried to rock the engine to access the rear plugs. Loosened the top motor mount strap, shift in neutral. It won't swing. What am I missing?

Answer: To get the engine to move, leave the transmission in park and use the weight of the car to rock the engine. Once it has moved, use the parking brake to secure it.

Question: 1998 Buick Regal mileage: 99,000. I am looking for a part in my Buick Regale’s digital dashboard. The odometer won't work and I think the problem is in the 8-pin IC that drives the stepper motor in the odometer. Who would sell the IC? EGC and NTE don't have the cross-reference. # on the IC is 9863B & C59028H.

Answer: We always replace the instrument cluster rather than trying to repair the digital dash. The reason for this is that usually the failure of one component is caused by another faulty component and a week later, it will fail again. Replacing the whole unit saves headaches and money in the end.

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Question: 2001 Buick Regal mileage: 44,000. I am having starter problems. The car will run fine until it warms up. If we stop and shut the engine off and try to start, it up 10-20 minutes later, all I get is the starter clicking. I have to let the motor cool down for several hours before it will start again. I have had the battery checked and the alternator both tested fine. I have to check the fans to see if they are coming on and check the contacts on the battery. There is something ever stranger. When it does fail to start, I have noticed that the clock on the radio is behind an hour or two. No idea what is causing this. I am leaning toward the starter and starter solenoid at this point. Any other ideas at this point would be greatly appreciated. I want to try to fix this myself before I take it to the dealer.

Answer: Check for 12 volts at the starter solenoid with the key in the start position when the car will not crank over. If 12 volts are present, the starter solenoid and/or starter are probably faulty. If our memory is correct, you already have a heat shield installed to protect the solenoid from heat from the exhaust system. If not, it would be wise to install one.

Question: 2001 Buick Regal mileage: 42,000. The first sign of trouble was while driving with the cruise control on. Suddenly, the cruise cut off, and the car de-accelerated as if it were going to stall out. It didn't, and the car continued to run just fine, but I didn't try turn on the cruise control again. Then, at the end of this same trip, in a parking lot, the car began to sort-of buck and surge as I was braking, but not until I slowed to about 40 MPH and below. Next, I was driving at about 40-50 MPH and the car cut off twice. Since then, the car has been OK, but I have been driving very gently, and the only symptom at this point is that as I approach idle while braking, the car surges and bucks a little bit, as if it is either a) not getting a continuous flow of gas, or b) having trouble coordinating downshifting and running at the same time. The car has an automatic transmission; unfortunately, I don't know the engine type. I think it is a 6-cylinder engine.

Answer: It may be that you may be experiencing a fuel pump failure or possibly a lock-up converter in the transmission is failing to disengage at lower speeds.

Question: 1998 Buick Regal mileage: 65,000. I am getting ready to replace the serpentine belt and need to know if replacing the automatic tensioner is advised. The belt is not that bad, but i thought it was about time. Thank you!

Answer: Yes, it is a good idea to replace the belt tensioner when you replace the belt. Over time, the spring inside gets weak and looses tension.

Question: 1997 Buick Regal mileage: 63,000. When I turn the wipers off, they stop straight up. Other than this, they work fine. Even the intermittent position.

Answer: The windshield wiper motor has a park circuit built into it. Yours, apparently, is not working properly and the entire motor will have to be replaced if this turns out to be your problem.

Question: 1998 Buick Regal 3.1 mileage: 13,000 I recently purchased a used Buick Regal. The seller told me there was50k miles but after I bought it, I found there was more than 100k miles. He reimbursed me 60% of the cost so I felt I was getting a good deal and decided to keep it. The car is in beautiful shape. After 3 weeks, I developed an oil leak. I can't track it down but the pressure gauge is always at the very top of the gauge. Is there any way to develop too much pressure, causing some kind of oil blow-by?

Answer: Too much oil pressure can cause oil leaks. Double check the dash gauge by temporarily installing a mechanical oil gauge. With the engine at normal temperature, you should have approximately 20 to 25 PSI at idle and 40 to 50 PSI at 2000 RPM. If your readings are really higher, the oil pump relief valve may be stuck.

Question: 1998 Buick Regal mileage: 88,500. 1. I would like to know why my engine light says on. I have taken my car to several mechanics that all state that Buick’s are like that and not to worry. 2. The window on the driver’s side of my car has fallen off-track. Please advise how to fix it or get it back on track.

Answer: Your car is equipped with a computer controlled engine management system. An independent auto service center can scan your computer for fault or error codes. The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning components. The window regulator is probable broken and needs to be replaced.

Question: 1999 Buick Regal mileage: 75,000: If I drive a long distance like 40 to 50 miles straight without turning the car off, when I get to my destination and turn the car off - I have to wait about an hour before it will crank back up; it turns over but it won't crank. I put a relay switch in it under the hood where it says electrical center - I put the one that says Cooling Fan #1 -it looked burnt, but the Auto Parts store said there was no way to check it - I just don't know why it keeps doing it. Just please let me know what you think.

Answer: On your long distance no start problem, try to check spark to the spark plugs when it will not start. Also, perform a fuel pump test. This will give a direction for more tests. A distributor pick-up coil may be failing or an ignition module. With the cooling fan relay that looked burnt, that may be the result of above normal current draw by the cooling fan. The fan motor may need replacing.

Question: 1995 Buick Regal mileage: 68,000. When I step on the brake pedal, my brake light in the rear window goes on but the other brake lights do not. I have checked all of the bulbs and fuses and they all seem to be working properly. I have also traced the wires as far as possible to check for breaks but found nothing. Any suggestions?

Answer: Check your turn signal switch. Sounds like it has shorted.

Question: 1992 Buick Regal Custom, mileage 145,000. We recently replaced our engine and within a short time, it acted up on my wife in stop and go traffic. The people who replaced the engine then replaced the coil packs. This seemed to work for a while, but it started to backfire and lose power when my wife was in stop and go traffic last week. I was kind of not sure that it was doing this because I wasn't there. I drove it to and from work for about the next week and a half and last night it did it to me. It was backfiring through the carburetor I think and I didn't see any smoke. When I tried to give it more gas it acted like it had no power at all and soon died. I let it sit for about ten minutes and then I drove it the rest of the way home (about a block and a half) and it started to do it again just as I got in the driveway. We don't know what to think and we're not sure if the guys who replaced the engine know either. Please help! We have only put about 4,000 miles on it since the engine was replaced. This has put us $4,000 in debt.

Answer: Unfortunately, there maybe no easy fix. The vehicle must be scanned for trouble codes (OBD II) to pinpoint which system is failing. Then trouble shoot to repair the problem. Some possibilities are fuse pump or PCM (computer).

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