ok so having some trouble with my GF's car, 99' buick park ave, 3.8 ltr

ok so she was driving today and it started to sputter at idle and low rpm acceleration, she gets to my daughters day care and picks lilly up and leaves and car stalls right before she goes to pull out, so she try's to start it but it will only crank slow, so her dad trys same thing. so i get there later and i crank it and it cranks slow, battery voltage is good, tried jumpstarting to see if it will start, nope. the fuel pump IS running. now it wont crank just here the starter engages. so i think maybe from all the times we have tried to crank it the fuel is building up in the cylinders and wont crank cuz its hydrolocked, so i pull all of the plugs which look horrible but i pull the plugs and can smell a little gas which is good and go to crank it which it should crank freely with the plugs out and it wont crank,. so i was thinking maybe a weak starter?? BUT why would it sputter and then stall if its the starter, so that kind of ruled that out. NEXT thing is there is a code and the SES light is on but of course i cant get a code reader from anywhere, but i got one from Gene a little bit ago and im gonna go back tomorrow and get the code. im kinda leaning towards the valve train, seems like the valves arent opening. but idk man i have never been stumped on something but this one got me till i get that code.

any ideas??

 

How many miles are on ?the car

 

Check for loose or coroded ground wires.

 

just hit 102k im really stumped on this one, sorry i used some names in the thread, i copy and pasted it from a message i wrote my friend.

 

the oil is at the right level and feels and smells good, when i was messing with it the car kept cranking slower and slower till it wouldnt crank but the battery voltage was good, now when u turn the key u can hear it engage and sounds like its trying to start, i was gonna say weak starter BUT why would it stall and sputter

 

ok after some more thinking im leaning towards the cam sensor which would explain the stalling and the no crank

 

Well you could have a clogged cat

 

very possible for sure

 

the exact same thing happend to my trans am, ended up being a siezed ac compressor and not letting the belt rotate the motor

easiest way to check take the belt off and try to start it.

 

Cam sensor and cat wont have anything to do w/ it not cranking though

Try another battery,that one may have voltage but no CCA's and also check power/ground cables and connections

That car has a MAF sensor correct? Those were notorious for crapping out which possibly gave you code

But your no crank sounds like possible battery/cables and or starter if its only clicking
With the plugs out are you able to turn motor w/ your hands?

 

first thing to check would be the ground.

 

This is exactly what happened to my GTP with the 3800. Check ground wires at the front of the motor, next to the starter.

 

will do fellas, thanks for all the feedback!!! i am gonna go there today and read that code and see whats going on, BUT i am almost positive that its a siezed ac compresser cuz that thing has been really noisy for the past year,. but i will report back with the code, thanks again guys.

 

props to you man, thats whats is going on here with the buick, gonna go pick up the compressor $193 at advanced plus im gonna get new plugs and wires.

 

thank you i spent alot of money to try and figure our what happend to my car and it only ended up being that.

 

hey man so i got the new compressor on and i finally got it to start BUT it started knocking and clanking like crazy, really loud so im thinking its internal rod or valve train broken, threw a rod bearing?? not looking too good.

 

also the crazy thing is , is i couldnt get it to start till i got that new compressor on.

 

possibly stretched timing chain

 

dor sure a possibility, towing it to a shop to get it diagnosed.

 

Update: pulled the oil pan and found metal shavings, #4 cylinder rod bearing is non exsistant, getting another used complete 3800 for 650 bucks w/30 day warranty with no core charge.