1996 Buick Lesabre 1996 Buick Lesabre dies at random times

RYGEOR

MEMBER
1996 BUICK LESABRE

Electrical problem
1996 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Automatic 183000 miles

While I'm driving, suddenly everything locks up, I cannot move the steering wheel unless I force it, pressing on the gas does absolutely nothing. The "VOLT" light and the "OIL" light come on, as has the "TEMP" light on a few occasions. It seems if I pull over, turn off the engine, and restart it immediately, it restarts fine. On one occasion, it did this, but I was no longer able to restart it. I got it towed to a garage, where they changed the battery and said that was the problem. I asked about the alternator but he said it wasn't that. It ran fine after that, but as I got closer to home it died again.
It's been doing this at random times ever since, which as you can imagine is very dangerous and stressful for me. People have said that it might be an electrical problem. The price of repairs will probably influence my actions with this vehicle, I don't have a lot of money to fix it.

4 Replies

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hello -

To better assist you is your model the Custom or Limited and what is your engine size in liter?

Please go to Auto Zone (AZ) or O'Reilly's (OR) and for FREE they can pull the codes to the car. Most important: Once they check your codes, if they find something and you don't get it fixed and need to get back with us, please make sure you tell us exactly what the code was, number and all. Example, if the code was E0568 O2 Sensor bad. Then make sure you give us all of that. While there for FREE also they can bring their tester out and check your battery and alternator.

It is really important they check out your alternator.

Next, how does your belt look..... Good... Old....... Tight? Also your belt tensioner may be weak.....

Looking forward to hearing back from you

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Thursday, August 20th, 2009 AT 11:31 AM

SPAINHOURNC

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I have a 94 buick lesebra limited and it did the same thing we changed every thing electrical on the car still did if then we had one of our friends check it out and it turned out to be the computer! I put money on it yours is the samething cause mine was acting the same way yours is.

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Monday, August 24th, 2009 AT 12:49 PM

RYGEOR

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2 POSTS

I just got back from the garage.

So my Buick Lesabre 1996 (Custom) was shutting off at random times.

I brought it in this morning, the mechanics checked it out. The problem I described was apparently caused by a cracked Air Flow Sensor. He said this crack could have been caused by humidity that got in there and froze or something along those lines.
They also changed the air filter and the AC connector.

Total came out to 500 dollars, half of which was the actual Air Flow Sensor.

Hopefully this will help people who have a similar problem in the future.

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Monday, August 24th, 2009 AT 1:45 PM

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hello -

Thank you very much for the info. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .I am sure it will help other readers. . .. . .. . .

Also, it looks like you may have some recalls on your vehicle. The dealer may fix these for free. Please contact the dealer service department, give them the VIN number of your car and have them check on these to see if they apply to you.