1998 Buick Century Starting

BAUER1993

MEMBER
1998 BUICK CENTURY
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
96,000 MILES

I am not sure if this is a problem between the person turning the ignition switch or the car. My 16 year old is have intermittent problems starting her car. It has happened on 3 occasions in the last week. She goes to start up car and claims it won't start. The first time a neighbor came over and it fired right up (it was very cold the night before so at first thought was battery but since started guess it eliminates that), second time wouldn't start she waited and after a few minutes it started. Today, started up fine went on errands at second stop wouldn't start. She calls me I drive down to where she is at and fires right up. Does this sound mechanical or end user?

Saturday, January 9th, 2010 AT 4:49 PM

1 Reply

ERNEST CLARK

MECHANIC
1,730 POSTS

First thing to do is keep it simple. How much gas was in the tank? If there's very little gas in the tank and it sits all night in freezing temps, then water in the gas could freeze and make it hard to start in the morning. But it will eventually start.

Put a bottle of "Heet" in the tank and make sure it's at least on a half-tank the night before you park it in freezing temps.

Now, if your problems persists, this sounds like a failing fuel pressure regulator. I properly working regulator is supposed to keep pressure at you injectors so that after the car has been sitting for awhile, there'll be fuel ready to start the engine immediately.

A faulty regulator will let the fuel bleed back to the tank slowly. And after awhile of sitting, you'll have to crank the engine quite a few times to get it started.

It's a very cheap part ($20.00 at AutoZone). And if you find a mechanic who won't rip you off, he/she will probably charge you no more than $40.00 to put it on.

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Saturday, January 9th, 2010 AT 11:03 PM