I changed intake gaskets on 97 3800 and now it will start and back fire and die?

Tiny
MAXAC
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 BUICK LESABRE
  • 99,000 MILES
Ive checked plug wires, air leaks and all my sensor plugs.
i can force it to run a few seconds by throttling.
all I get is jerking, spitting and a backfire at the end.
fuel pressure is 37psi. DTCs 0171, 0300
i made a donation for this question as "maxair" moments ago
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 1:50 AM

16 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Did you get all the push rods placed in the right place when you put it all together?
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 2:19 AM
Tiny
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Yes I was able to see the lifter tops
how did you know I remove them?
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 2:53 AM
Tiny
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Do you think my lifters are over pumped?
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 2:54 AM
Tiny
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When do the gasket you would remove the push rods. The lifters could be over pumped I helped some one else a while back with a similar problem. That turned out to be over pumped lifters.
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 3:42 AM
Tiny
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I ve definatley seen water in oil over pump lifters.
Ill find out in morning
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 3:47 AM
Tiny
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When the lifters are taken out and put back in they can over pump just from. That.
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 3:57 AM
Tiny
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I checked all twelve and can twist at least one per cyl with my fingers easily.
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
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Have you performed a compression test yet?
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 AT 11:07 PM
Tiny
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I did compression check. They all fall between 165 and 185
the last one I checked was 185 and it was one of the ones doing
the backfiring, #5. I didnt remove any rockers or pushrods on
the front head 1, 3, 5
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Thursday, October 4th, 2012 AT 12:02 AM
Tiny
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How did it run before you replaced the gasket?
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Thursday, October 4th, 2012 AT 2:31 AM
Tiny
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It ran fine, but #6 started taking water and finally hydralic locking. There is something that I should mention, after I was done. The cars security wouldnt let me start it. As in no starter funtion at all. I disconected the batt 20 min still nothing, the next morning it was back to normal starter funtion but runing bad.
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Thursday, October 4th, 2012 AT 3:04 AM
Tiny
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I appreciate your help and if you think of thing else I'm ready to try
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Friday, October 5th, 2012 AT 2:59 AM
Tiny
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I put #1 piston at tdc and a white line on the balancer and front case. Ran a timing light and it showed right at tdc. I expected some advance.
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Friday, October 5th, 2012 AT 6:57 PM
Tiny
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So it doesnt really run the engine?All the push rods etc were put back in the same places?Everything torqued to correct spec and pattern?You just have a random missfire code not a certain cylinder code?Fuel pressure spec is 48-55psi.
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Saturday, October 6th, 2012 AT 12:28 AM
Tiny
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That is all correct except I have 37 psi fuel pressure.
I replaced the fuel pressure regulator, along with gaskets,
i saw it was leaking when I took it off. There was gas coming out of the vac connection
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Saturday, October 6th, 2012 AT 2:53 AM
Tiny
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The security light isnt on solid or flashing when trying to start it is it?
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Saturday, October 6th, 2012 AT 3:01 AM

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