Starting problems
 

Hi guys. My dad just bought a 2001 Buick Regal (136,000 km or 85,000 miles) last week. The car was starting and driving perfectly, but when he came over to my house, it just wouldn't turn over (it was raining slightly that day).

The car cranks but doesn't start up. I changed the fuel filter - it was a bit dirty but not clogged. However, leaving it overnight, it started in the morning. I left it running for about 5 minutes - no issues. Turn it off and turn it on again immediately, starts fine, but if I leave it for about 10 minutes and then try it, no luck. Once it cools down completely, it starts fine.

Initially I thought it was the fuel pump, because I can't hear it when I turn the ignition on. But I am assuming that can't be the case if it stays started up for over 5 minutes.

The battery is new and good. I am thinking it is the starter, but if it was bad, it would be problem every time, right?

Should I try to hammer on the starter trick? Unfortunately, I don't have access to a fuel pressure gauge.

Thanks.

Doesn't sound fuel related.

When it's warmed up... check the connections and your coil packs.

I no longer it is fuel related, either. How do I check for coil packs?

By the way: I do have a code reader and checked for codes - no codes.

if you have a local shop with a scan tool they can tell you if it is showing a misfire, usually it will misfire on the 2 cylinders that the coil is associated with, easy fix, still might be a fuel pump or very slim but it may be a injector issue,

by what your explaining the problem after it is warm is usually electrical, fuel pump or such,

Re: Starting problems
 

It doesn't sound like the starter...my experience is that there is no cranking of the engine...just a dead spot. Turn the key and you get nothing (or just a couple of clicks)...a bad starter is not consistent either - sometimes it'll start up, other times it won't. I never used a hammer...rather a long flathead screwdriver - touch the bolt on the starter to generate a spark...not sure if that's the correct procedure, but it worked for me!

Regardless...that doesn't appear to be your problem...

Fuel Pump Resistor
this is a FAQ on the regalgs.org site

read an example of one of the threads below:
http://www.regalgs.org/forum/viewtop...+pump+resistor

I read the topic on the fuel pump resistor, and did some searches on the same on the regalgs forum. From the looks of it, the symptoms for the FPR failure is that the car starts, and then shuts off after 2-3 seconds. In my case, when the car does not start, it keeps cranking and not start at all. When the car does start, it will stay up forever.

I am still leaning towards the starter. Thoughts?

If the car cranks over like you said, the starter is fine. Look toward spark and fuel if the car won't start.

The car was starting up and running fine until today. The weather conditions are the same as the first time it didn't start - raining. I have a strong suspicion it has something to do with dampness. Ignition, I assume? After a couple of tries, though, it started again. So the problem happens in damp weather only, and only sometimes.

I have a ignition spark tester, so I can test whether the spark plugs are getting the current. Anything else? The guy we bought the car off of said he did a tuneup in April, but I am not sure what that included (plugs only, wires, etc.).