1995 Buick Park Avenue engine skipping

PCDJ64

MEMBER
1995 BUICK PARK AVENUE
3.8L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
137,000 MILES

I have a naturally aspirated 3800 series 2 engine.
it has an issue where it is skipping when under heavy load such as running at slower speed in overdrive.
it has a new upper intake manifold, lower intake manifold gaskets, plugs and wires.
the check engine light is off and aside from the skip it runs smoother.
if I run it long enough the skip seems to go away but it has to have been running for a long time.
it is not losing antifreeze or oil.
any idea where I can start? It has the OBD 1.5 computer in it, old OBD1 with OBD 2 plug.

5 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Check your spark plugs and wires. The 1.5 is a bear to diagnose as it was a oneyear only and not many have a scanner or adapter for it. The wires shold have 5000 ohs per foot.

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Saturday, November 30th, 2013 AT 5:54 AM

PCDJ64

MEMBER
127 POSTS

When I got the car it had the skip so I installed new wires and plugs, they are not the cheap or generic ones.
It only skips under load like when in overdrive and if the engine is not all the way warm it hesitates.
If I drive for about an hour the skip is gone and it has normal power.
I know the 1.5 is hard to diagnose, I can't find anyone with the proper equipment to scan it, the check engine light was on but since replacing the upper intake manifold and lower intake gaskets it is now staying off.

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Saturday, November 30th, 2013 AT 6:00 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Check your fuel pressure then it may be low should be 41-47 psi

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Saturday, November 30th, 2013 AT 6:11 AM

PCDJ64

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127 POSTS

The original owner had checked the fuel pressure and it was in range, not sure of how long ago but it was skipping at the time he did it.
The fuel pump is very loud, when you are stopped you can hear it in the car.
The filler tube on the gas tank has a few rust holes in it, can that cause a skip?
I was told before that it could be the start of a bad head gasket but I don't lose anti freeze or have mixing in the oil.

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Saturday, November 30th, 2013 AT 7:19 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Skips are normally electrical so check around coils for leakage is about the only thing I can think of. You might check compression and see what you have if there is a 20% variance then that wold be the one to look at.