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99 Regal wont start-not starter

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Dailordasailor

New member
Well I bought a slightly wrecked 99 regal and put her back together and with some paint the car is now ready to sell and looks like nothing happened. But, the car randomly decides not to start. I've tried jumping the battery and I swapped the starter with my brand new one from my other car. Neither fixed it. When I turn the key all I get is a click from what I assume is a relay behind the glove box and nothing else. Then randomly it'll start but I can't sell it like it is. Is there a common issue? I assume starter because car is older and has sat but that's not it... Is there a safety switch that's messed up?

Thanks for any help, have a man that wants to buy it but can't sell as is

Dale
 


double check your grounds on the tranny bell housing, above the starter. make sure all the wires are tight clean, and not broken.
 
was this a issue when you got it? or just since you fixed her up?

id start by looking at stuff you touched during repairs first, and go from there.
 


If the starter doesn't engage at all when you crank it really only comes down to wiring, relay, or a fuse. Random starting rules out a fuse, so it could be a bad relay. Best way to find out is next time it won't start, have some one hold the key in the crank position and test for continuity from the relay, and the ground/12v wires.
 
When I trailered it home it did it once. Then it did it rarely, and now it's basically every time and today hasn't started. Which relay am I hoping for? The relay I hear click is under the glove box but don't know if the clicking means its working and another is gone or if click is the relay not working
 
Click doesn't exactly mean it's working. Might not be energizing properly. Replace it, $4 and if it's not that, it's almost 100% Wiring issue.
 
Behind the glove box is 4 relays. Running out of day light tonight but have next 3 days off to figure it out. Anyone know what those are for? Pulling glove box in morning and figuring out exactly which one is the once clicking but does that sound like could be culprit?
 
Let's diagnose it.

To do that..it'll help if we understand how the darn thing works.

The key is tossed in the ignition and the key is read by teh theft system. (What's your security light doing when you turn the key to on (not start...just on?))
Then the signal to start is sent to the PNP switch on top of the transmission. If the switch is in N or P (Look at your dash, does it read that it's in either P or N?) it'll relay the power to the starter soleniod.
Now we are under the car at the starter and we can check the soleniod wire to see if it's getting power when the ignition is turned to start. No power, let's go back through what we looked at and double check things.
Lastly, if you put the key in run/on and jump the soleniod with a screwdriver..does the car crank, start and run?

Those relays you are aiming to go after could simply be ignition supplied relays doing their thing. I know this....they are most likely not related.
 


buickdash2.jpg

buickdash.jpg


The relays checked out under the dash and i swapped the ones under hood with relays i knew work for things like the fans. No difference. Got cold so pushed the car into the garage (maybe 40 feet) and once in garage the car started.... Then 10 mins later no luck. those are pics of dash with it running and then how it looks now not running. Oil level and stuff is fine i just havnt reset them since change. for some reason traction wont turn off even when push button. Service engine soon just popped on so going to grab a scan tool from advanced in a few. also with key turned to just on the security on dash flashes... When car wouldnt start i tried jumping starter with the key in on postition and i can hear the starter noise and spark but car dosnt try to turn itself over.

Any help appreciated!
 
thats not a check engine light, its the check your car light, it says "service vehicle soon" its on because your trac off light is stuck on. most likely due to a bad hub/wires to the hub.


your problems are starting to sound like a crank sensor thats long over due to be changed, being you dont have a history for the car.

crank sensor's rarely throw a code.
 
Code reader showed no codes. I found this link and used the methods. Part 3 -How to Test the 3.8L GM Crank Sensor With a Multimeter
Tried all the tests to see that the icm is indeed getting power/ground and that it's Puting out signal to crank sensor. Got to the step to test sensor where turn the engine by hand and watched volt meter. Nothing. Not 100% sure that's fool proof but guess ill spend the $45 anyhow to make sure not it. Looks pretty likely it's it
 
Idk if makes less likely it's crank sensor but the starter dosnt even try to engage when turn key. Reading stuff online is throwing me off on importance
 


not sure i know what you mean... right now if i try to start the car theres nothing. i hear the fuel pump, the relay under the dash click (which is fine) and nothing else but my own sobbing
 
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