Car won't start?

Hello,

1997 Buick LeSabre
156,665 miles
3.8 VIN L engine
(wife's car)

Awhile back she had the A/C serviced. A few days later, while driving along, she could not get the car to go over 30 MPH. (She does not know if the car was overheating.) She stopped for gas and when she went to restart, the car would not turn over. I suspected dead battery, but an overnight charge would not crank the engine. The engine would do nothing, not even a partial revolution. (I checked radiator while doing this, and needed to add at least 3 qts. Water)

I had the shop look at it and was told that the engine oil level was too high (it's at about 7 qts. - See posting on "Too Much Oil"), and that something must have broken loose in the engine, and the car needed a new engine.

I brought the car home and pulled the plugs, and the engine cranked just fine, though shot anti-freeze out of the #6 cylinder. I was told by a gentleman who had the exact same problem that the problem was the upper intake manifold (design problem. Post if you want to know specifics)

I replaced the upper intake, gapped plugs and now the engine acts like it wants to start, but not really. If I open the throttle while cranking, it soulds like it wants to backfire.

I have checked all plugs, and they fire just fine. I have checked the cam gears and chain, and the cam timing is fine.

One note: When I started putting the engine back together, I was really tired and put the positive cable on the negative terminal, and when I went to put the negative cable on, sparks flew. I did this twice before I figured out my mistake.

Any ideas what is going on? Could my mixing up the battery cables have caused an additional problem?

Any help would be appreciated.

I have tried to scan the PCM, but the scanner would not register, indicating a fried PCM. I picked up another PCM from a junkyard from a 97 Park Avenue (tested it at the junkyard, and the scanner read it just fine).

I installed this PCM in the LeSabre, and the scanner will not register this one either. To me, this indicates a short, blown fuse, or fried wiring somewhere.

Thoughts?

The problem with reading the PCM was a blown fuse. I replaced the fuse, and am now able to readthe PCM, though it shows "no codes". The car still will not start, with the above mentioned symptoms. I am down to only a few possibilities: 1. Bad crank or cam sensor(s). 2. Fuel pump pressure low. 3. Fuel pressure regulator bad.

?

My donation was for a question simular to this one.
I did not reverse my battery cables.
My pcm reads just fine.
I did replace gaskets and mine is acting simular
i still need help thanks bill b

Have a 1997 Buick LeSabre that cranks but will not start when the engine is at operating temp. If driven for more that a couple of miles, will stall & not restart. Engine temperature is in the 185 degree range (+/- a couple of degrees). Had a code for the ECM. I have no DTC's (codes) at all. When it is running, it runs like a raped ape, but now.
Replaced it and that code disappeared & hasn't returned. New plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, etc. Replaced the key (not sure why, I wouldn't think it would make a difference whether the engine was warm or not.)
Running outta money to throw at this thing. Any ideas?

I checked and there are no codes at all. I'll try the fuel pressure test. I bought a new fuel pump already but hesitated installing it as the car starts right up (when cool) and, even when it won't start, I can press the "bleeder" on the injector rail and it shoots fuel half way down the driveway.
Thanx,
Tim

I replaced the fuel pump. Still same symptoms. Have been searching the internet for suggestions. Read that the Temp Sensor" could be the issue. Or the "Crankshaft Position Sensor" or the "Camshaft Position Sensor" or the MAPP Sensor or the.
Bought crank & cam position sensors but, wow, what a pain it seems to replace. Not looking forward to pulling the harmonic balancer. Think either of these could be the issue or.

I have put new battery and new ecm in 1997 buick lesabre cranks but still won't start, was driving just fine until it got to -5 I didn't go nowhere that day in it but next day tried to start it and I couldn't

Engine Mechanical problem
1997 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Automatic 76000 miles

My '97 Buick Lesabre had about 3/4 of a tank of gas. I started it in my driveway and it did a little power surge kind of thing for a second but then it was fine. I continued to drive down the street to top off the tank and get a car wash and as I attempted to leave the pump, my car would not start. I had to get towed home. I changed the spark plugs and hooked it up to a code scanner. It gets spark and no codes come up, and it still won't start. Help Me!

My car wont start I drove it around all day and it has been parked and turned off and on a couple times today, I got home and after 30 minutes or so the car no longer starts. What could be the problem?

Have a 1997 Buick LeSabre that will not start when the engine is at operating temp. If driven for more that a couple of miles, will stall & not restart. Engine temperature is in the 185 degree range (+/- a couple of degrees). Had a code for the ECM. Replaced it and that code disappeared & hasn't returned. New plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, etc. Replaced the key (not sure why, I wouldn't think it would make a difference whether the engine was warm or not.) Running outta money to throw at this thing. Any ideas?

I have a great spark but I went ahead & replaced the 3 coils. No change. I replaced the fuel pump. Still same symptoms. Have been searching the internet for suggestions. Read that the Temp Sensor" could be the issue. Or the "Crankshaft Position Sensor" or the "Camshaft Position Sensor" or the MAPP Sensor or the.
Bought crank & cam position sensors but, wow, what a pain it seems to replace. Not looking forward to pulling the harmonic balancer. Think either of these could be the issue or.