1988 Buick 3800 staals

TARIMORO

MEMBER
1988 BUICK RIVIERA

1988 Buick le-sabre LTD 140K miles.

Car starts and runs OK when the outside temperature is
around 95 degrees F but if the temperature is above
95 degrees F the car stalls after I had driving it 4 or 5 miles. The engine cuts off suddenly. Sometimes even less if the temperature is hotter.
(And usually is since I live in the Nevada desert.)
The car starts OK after stalling but stalls again after after I put on gear sometimes it backfires and if starts it has no power. I let it cool of for about 20 minutes or so and
it will go for 1 or 2 miles and stalls again.
B/4 this problem started the alarm system was disconnected. Fuel pump and pressure regulator were replaced about a year earlier.
Do I have to move to a place were the temperature is not so hot.

1 Reply

MIKEYBDMAN

MECHANIC
623 POSTS

IT sounds like something is overheating. It usually turns out to be something with solid state electronics in it. Problem is, your car has a lot of things that fit that discription.
The best way to get a hold on this problem is to either try and figure out what is lacking when it stalls. Not sure if you have the ability to mount and route a fuel pressure gauge so you can see if you are loosing fuel pressure when it stalls. If the fuel is good, then turn to ignition. Another option is to get it really hot and stalling right about the time you have an appointment with the service shop. It may aid them in finding the problem to see it when it is having the problem.
All in all, I have heard about 10 different things fix an overheating cutting off problem. It gets really pricy to change everything.
Good luck and let us know what you find.