Weird car problem

[ezmobee]

Ok guys, I really need your help on this one. I've got a 2000 Buick Regal with a 3800 V6. 2 times in a row now, following a torrential downpour overnight, in the morning the car will start fine but run terribly like it has a bad miss. As I have my wife and son with me (going to daycare) neither time did I attempt to drive the car to see if it would get better. Last time, when I got home from work after everything had dried out, the car started and ran fine. That was over 2 weeks ago and we've had no issues again until this morning. I fully expect the same thing to happen today where it will be fine this afternoon. What the heck could be effected by rain? The car is sitting on level ground.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Weird car problem

Damp/broken down HT leads/coil arcing? Damp air does odd things to electrics.
This kind of behaviour is common with older bikes in the wet. A good spray over with Holts DampStart usually seals the electrics nicely and stops it.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Weird car problem

It's almost certainly going to be an ignition issue. You have coil packs on your engine, not a distributor. But I'll bet one of them is getting wet or one of the spark plug boots is cracked/broken/loose/not sealed up properly. (Had an 84 Ford Bronco 2 that would do the same thing. Start on 0 degree days with tons of snow, but a little rain, no start. It was the distributor cap.)

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Weird car problem

I guess new spark plug wires would be a good start then....been thinking about changing out the plugs anyway.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Weird car problem

Because it was the quickest, easiest, and cheapest thing to do...this evening I pulled the plug wires out of the coils and looked at the connections. They were horrible! All crusty and dirty. So I cleaned them up and tightened them up a bit. We'll see if it happens again. Still putting new plugs and wires on the to do li$t.

 

[Splat]

Re: Weird car problem

Park your car in your garage or out side when it's dark.

Start it up

Get yourself a spray bottle of some sort and fill it with warm water.

Pop the hood and CAREFULLY (that fan is spinning you know) spritz some water on the coils and wires one by one. You'll be able to physically see the arc from the bad coil/wire, the car may also start to sputter when you get the one that's giving you problems.

This tecnique can help narrow down your problem. Just be mindful of moving parts.

BIll

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Weird car problem

Don't touch the car with the other hand (or lean on it, or contact it at all) while you're spraying the wires down......... what may happen won't kill you but it won't be pleasant either.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Weird car problem

If im right the cam pickup on the back of the engine was a problem spot on the chev V6s.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Weird car problem

Right PJ ...aka crank sensor

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Weird car problem

My parents also had a problem with the crank position sensor on that same exact engine.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Weird car problem

OK crank sensor

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Weird car problem

Have you tried to get an engine code? Most all the parts store do it for free. A code 41 is the crank sensor code that is being mentioned. Good luck

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Weird car problem

My dodge van when you turn the key 3 times on and off will bring the code up on the dash.