# Engine stutters while starting warm

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stutters-while-starting-warm/37012>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** lesabre, buick\
**Created:** [September 22, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stutters-while-starting-warm/37012 "2009-09-22T22:56:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rjalvare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a5b964/32.png) [@rjalvare](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rjalvare)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stutters-while-starting-warm/37012/1 "2009-09-22T22:56:55Z")

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I have a 1996 Buick LeSabre with the 3800 V6.  
  
  
  
 In the mornings (when engine is cold) it starts up after a second or two.  
  
  
  
 After being driven to normal operating temperature, if it is shut off and started right away, it starts immediately.  
  
  
  
 If I try to start the engine after being driven, shut off, and allowed to cool down for about 5 minutes to 1 hour, it stutters as it struggles to stay on. Sometimes it stays on and sometimes it dies. The second time I turn the key it starts right away 100% of the time.  
  
  
  
 It?s been doing this for a couple of years and a tune up did not help.  
  
  
  
 Some research leads me to believe the engine is flooding. What could the problem be?

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-stutters-while-starting-warm/37012/2 "2009-09-23T14:25:24Z")

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If it were flooding I think it wouldn’t clear right up on the second try.

I think it’s an intermittent electrical problem with either the crank position sensor, power to the fuel pump, or ignition.