Gramps gets a mate.
 

With the 90 Electra kind of on the back burner with it's stalling and crank no start issue after 20 minutes... I decided to get another daily driver until the Electra could be fixed.
SO.. gramps got a mate. grams. A 2002 LeSabre Custom, gold, and almost flawless. Owned, yet again, by a little old man that (as the Craigslist said) "Grandpa is hanging up the keys." Got it for $2700, and only has a little over 89K miles. There are a few very minor things wrong, like the center arm rest is broken, the right sun visor clip is broken, and there is a scuff mark on the passengers side fender and door. I'm not worried about that since all of this can be repaired. This thing runs so smooth and quiet that I didn't think there was an engine under the hood until I saw it this morning!
It was a tad low on coolant, that got promptly topped off when I got home this evening. I have all of the maintenance records too. He was another one that any squeak shake, rattle, or sniffle, it went in the shop and got repaired. I really got a deal!
I also got to program some features that were turned off tonight as well. Now the horn chirps when i press the lock button, and I have delayed locking turned on. I also reprogrammed the car so one press of the remote unlock button unlocks the drivers door, and the second press unlocks everything else.
The security light only lights up with the key in the on position, and will not flash when the key is out of the ignition. I can reach through an open window, unlock the door and open the door without the alarm going off. Haven't figured that one out yet.
It goes down the road straight, and doesn't want to wander of pull. A/C blows extremely cold, and that's a must down here in Phoenix! Good gas mileage too!
One thing I want to do is put an auto dimming mirror with a compass and a temp display in it. I have just the auto dim with compass in the 90 Electra that I put in.
I also want to replace the headlight lenses since they are faded on the top half. As for the scuff, it's very light and my finger nail doesn't even follow the grooves. A little xylol and a good waxing and it should be undetectable. I also have some 9H MR-FIX Ceramic coating I want to put on this car too. I have 3 boxes here on the desk just itching to be used.
SO.. now I own 2 gorgeous Buicks. Grams and Gramps. If you would like pictures, I can post them.
Thanks for reading! :)

I think you have a crank sensor problem on the 1990.....check to see if you don't have spark when it doesn't start...

As for no alarm when opening an unlocked door through an open window(did you arm the system by using the keyless entry?), that only happens if you have CTD, content theft deterrant, which is standard on a limited, but not on a custom...

Keep an eye on the coolant level....

Enjoy your cars....

PS....does Grams have a bra on the front?

Of course we want pictures!

[QUOTE=Tech II;1628051]I think you have a crank sensor problem on the 1990.....check to see if you don't have spark when it doesn't start...

Crank and cam sensors were replaced, along with the harmonic balancer. Everything is new except for the EGR valve, fuel injectors, fuel presser regulator, and wiring. I kept asking if I pinched any wires upon reassembly, but it didn't appear that I did.
The ECU is new, all sensors are new, all gaskets are new, even the heads, valves, springs, keepers, radiator, A/C pump, lines, condenser, and all shrader valves are new (I had an A/C conversion after it was up and running). We thought it was the fuel pump so I have a new tank, sending unit, and fuel pump. Like i said, everything has been replaced.
There was a post about the trans shifting weird and once in overdrive, it would make the engine shutter and sometimes die. However, with the replacement of the ECU, all those weird problems disappeared, except for the run for 20 minutes and die.
Weird huh?

I will take pictures this weekened and post them.
I JUST got back from getting the title, changed over from IOWA, and it now has an AZ title, plates and tags. It was soooo expensive! A whopping $56.80! LOL This is why I love having older cars. :)

I assume you have scanned for codes.....

When it dies, does it restart right away or do you have to wait awhile.....

If the stall/dies is consistently around 20 minutes, it sounds like an electronic problem....typically crank sensor, ECM, IAC, ICM, etc.....

Hate to ask it, but was the dying problem there before the ECM was replaced?

I wouldn't doubt that it would be an electronic issue. gramps is old. LOL Most everything is old and probably wearing out, however, like I sated almost everything has been replaced.
When it died before the new ECU it acted like it would stutter (after 40 mph) and then it would act like it had half power, or limp home mode. If you didn't rest it by turning the key off and back on within around 10-15 minutes it would die. But usually would start back up. With the new ECU it would act like it would stutter just a little, but it would die after about 20 minutes, You would have to wait about 10 minutes before it would start up. Right after the new ECU was put in, after waiting the 10 minutes it would start up and everything was fine for the rest of the day, no more issues. Now it waits about 20 minutes, and dies, You wait 10 minutes, start it up and it sometimes will do it again in 20 minutes, or if it's hot out (like it usually is here in Phoenix in the summer time) it would die sooner.. usually 5 minutes, so the my mechanic told me.
I saw on Youtube, that a C4 Corvette came into the shop, and had the same symptoms. Eric O, of South Main Auto, did some tests and found out they were the injectors. I told my mechanic about that and he said he would try to get to the car to do the same thing. One thing to keep in mind is that he is a small company, and just moved into a bigger shop, and has other customers as well. he's also a friend of mine, so any ideas, we bounce off each other.
I forgot to add, that on the LeSabre, I honestly don't know what all it has or doesn't as I've only owned the car 3 days, and haven't had a chance to really get to know it, other than change a few modes for the remotes. I'll let you know later about the security thing. Doesn't bother me, at least the car locks and unlocks, and when started, STAYS started. LOL
I should also let it be known that I do intend on keeping BOTH Buicks. just because the Electra is having issues doesn't give me a reason to get rid of it. It's still a very soft couch on wheels. :) it's just something simple that I'm not focused on yet, that is causing the issues. I'm positive we'll get it fixed... eventually. :)

I doubt it's the injectors......

One thing to do, when it dies and won't restart, check for spark....if there is no spark, check the connectors in the wire harness to the crank sensor and to the ICM....only real way to check them is to go to a GM dealer and buy a male connector that goes to into both harnesses(the Parts department will know which one this is).....insert into each female connector in each harness and then pull out....should feel the male connector drag as you pull out....if the connectors are ok, and you installed the new crank sensor connector correctly, then I would suspect the ICM....

Now for the bad news.......the ECM's of the late 80's and early 90's were known as the red, white and Blues(because of the connector colors on the ECM's), because they had so many problems, especially the rebuilt ones....you could install a rebuilt and it may fix the current driveability problem, but may cause another problem....

Gramps gets a mate
 

The original Magnavox coil pack is a weak link in these old cars . Just swap the coil pack from the Lesabre just to rule it out.

Unfortunately, I can't do that. The coil in the 90 Park Ave is different than the 02 LeSabre. The connector isn't the same. The Park Ave uses the the single coil kind, where as the LeSabre uses the 3 coil type. :/ The coil in the Park Ave tested fine, and we did swap the coil pack out for another one and it did the same thing. /
I should note, that the troublesome 20 minute running issue is on the Park Ave. The LeSabre runs perfectly. :)
Le Sabre is getting the auto Dim mirror with the compass and temp display. It should be here Friday.. YAY!