1995 Buick Park Avenue Park Avenue dies while driving

Tiny
KIWIMUSICIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
Hi,
I have a 1995 Buick park Avenue, "quite rare here in NZ" When driving sometimes the car will dies as if it was running out of gas, every time this happens the elctric windows lose 98% of their also and I have to help them up by hand. While trying to start it there is an electrical smell coming from somewhere. Eventually after coughing and spitting it will start up and drive perfectly again. It's very random when it happens and last time it happened the car would not start for 3 days, I tried numerous times in that 3 days and in the end, it coughed a bit then started and drove perfectly again. I can't afford major repairs and it's at the electricians right now but started running fine again which has made it almost impossible for them to diagnose and repair. Any clues as to what it could be would be much appreciated.
Kind regards

Wade
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Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 AT 9:16 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Wade,

If I had the car, I would start at the beginning, the battery. Make sure the terminals are clean and tight. Also, the battery cables need to be checked to make sure there isn't too much resistance in them from age, corrosion. Next, I would move to the ground to the engine block that comes from the battery. Make sure it is clean and tight. After that, things would become more involved, body grounds.

Start there and let me know what you find.
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Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 AT 9:30 PM
Tiny
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Hi again,
The electricians put new battery cables on and new ground battery to the engine block. That is all they did and they said that would fix it if that was the problem. Was driving it today and sure enough, it happened again and I got a tow truck home once more. Same as last time, when it happened today, my window would not go up unless I helped it by hand while using the switch. Really weird! Engine turns over good and plenty of power in battery, I pump the gas fast on and off and it coughs and splutters trying to run but just dies. I'm clueless, paid the electricians all my money and got nowhere. Could it be the computer? Any ideas would be much appreciated. I will make another donation to here when I get some more money on my pre-paid visa.

Thanks

Wade
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Saturday, November 14th, 2009 AT 12:11 AM
Tiny
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  • 4 POSTS
Hi again,
The electricians put new battery cables on and new ground battery to the engine block. That is all they did and they said that would fix it if that was the problem. Was driving it today and sure enough, it happened again and I got a tow truck home once more. Same as last time, when it happened today, my window would not go up unless I helped it by hand while using the switch. Really weird! Engine turns over good and plenty of power in battery, I pump the gas fast on and off and it coughs and splutters trying to run but just dies. I'm clueless, paid the electricians all my money and got nowhere. Could it be the computer? Any ideas would be much appreciated. I will make another donation to here when I get some more money on my pre-paid visa.

Thanks

Wade
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Saturday, November 14th, 2009 AT 12:14 AM
Tiny
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[quote="Jacobandnickolas"]Wade,

If I had the car, I would start at the beginning, the battery. Make sure the terminals are clean and tight. Also, the battery cables need to be checked to make sure there isn't too much resistance in them from age, corrosion. Next, I would move to the ground to the engine block that comes from the battery. Make sure it is clean and tight. After that, things would become more involved, body grounds.

Start there and let me know what you find.

Hi again, I have new info that is related to the problem. I have discovered there is poor voltage going to the fuel pump relay, I'm not syre why this affected the windows but the fuel pump relay and window relays are situated right next to each other. Obviousy this is the problem, but I don't know how to track where the bad power supply is stemming from, any advice would be great, I am looking to buy a wiring diagram now, but they seem quite expensive.
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Sunday, November 15th, 2009 AT 8:30 PM

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