2003 Buick Park Avenue 3800 Series II hard to start

jiminvegas
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:30:44 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

The problem occurs under all conditions, cold start, hot start, weather doesn’t play a factor. When you turn the key it will sometimes fire right away and then die or you’ll have to turn it over for a few seconds. I now just rest my foot on the gas and press it slightly the second that it fires. It will sort of stumble and surge for a second or two and then it is fine. A few times it has died at a stop light, although not recently. It has has 45,000 miles and isn’t driven very often. I’ve scoured the internet and have come to the conclusion that it is getting too much fuel, hence when pressing the gas to open the throttle body to let more air in helps. It seems to be a rather common problem with this engine but I can’t seem to find an actual smoking gun fix posted anywhere. Some suggest the fuel pressure regulator. I don’t have a fuel pressure tester but I the regulator isn’t leaking out of the vent tube. Coolant temp sensor maybe? Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!!

8 posts - 5 participants