| 7-28-11 I'm glad i finally found a forum with a someone who knows a 3.8l series II if you can be so kind i have a 98 88 Olds 88 and it has driven me nuts... Just recently my olds 88 had the check engine light come on and as it did it flashed and car ran rough lack of acceleration, sluggish, and pulled code P0300 misfire so far below is what I have had done and replaced I've owned the car for going on 2 years had 62,500 miles 05/11 new radiator coolant 04/11 2nd new coil pack 06/2010 6 new Autolite spark plugs and wires 07/2010 new ac Delco PCV and o-ring 05/2010 new ICM and 1 new coil pack now not even 3,300 miles later my check engine light comes on intermittently as code p0300 misfire i brought it back to the shop who did the tune up he re-routed some wires and changed coil pack position on ICM i have one original coil pack left. The symptoms i feel when driving of driving at above 40 mph it feel sluggish and you would have to give it more gas to go and keep at 60 mph when on highway. Just few days ago check engine light went on and code was P0300, then a day later i started it went off and car drives fine with plenty of acceleration and 900 rpm idle and temp. I have gotten so many opinions as pull spark plug, bad spark plug wire, compression, valve cover leak, thats all the info i have now i was hoping if you had a chance you can review this maybe give your opinion on what might be causing the random trouble. |
| 7-9-11 Can't find the PCV valve on my 99 Buick park avenue 3800 series 2. Need picture or location. |
| As shown in the picture above, it is located in position #7. Remove the MAP sensor, and it is down in the passage. |
| 7-26-11 Is there a inside ambient sensor on 2003 Pontiac Bonneville ? |
| The word " Ambient" refers to outside temp. So technically- no. But the automatic air conditioning system does have in car air temperature sensors. |
| Yes, could be several things. Misfire under load at higher speeds is usually caused by a bad plug wire or plug. Try spraying water on the wires when engine running to see if you can get a plug wire to start arching - failing. #6 plug wire- int the back on drivers side is most common. Have also had a few valve springs break, but that will usually cause a constant misfire. |
| 10-13-11 I'm looking for the name of the part that goes connected to the intake manifold vacuum port next to the port for the brake booster vacuum port |
| 10-18-11 That depends on what year engine you are talking about. But if you are referring to the fitting that snaps into the back side of the upper intake manifold plenum, that has different names. Usually called the booster vacuum port "T". |
| Throttle position sensor voltage at rest should be about .45 volts. |
| 11-13-11 I have a 1995 Bonneville with a series 2 engine it keeps losing power while driving and also while parked. |
| Could be a crank sensor or ignition module going out, or a vacuum leak or PCV problem. Check to see if there are any trouble codes stored in the computer, as that will help in diagnosis and might lead you in the right direction. |
| 12-8-11 NEED HELP.....1999 Pontiac Bonneville runs great when cold but when it gets warm...if i let off the gas it will shut off |
| 12-14-11 Very very dumb question.. i have a 96 Buick Regal. My hazards work, but when i use blinker it doesn't blink. And i have looked for the little actual blinker to replace so it blinks no luck finding it and i have replaced the whole switch assembly 2 years ago so not that any help? |
| 12-12-11 i have a 1992 Buick Lesabre with a 3800 when it starts it will run good for the rest of the day then the next day it wont start in the morning and go a couple days or so itll start up and run and it has no spark |
| 12-19-11 What tool do i need to remove the idle air control valve? |
| 1-20-12 1999 Chevy Lumina with a 2005 Impala engine which i put in my self. It has been driven over a year with no problems by my daughter she started it at school and said on her way home it started making a noise took it in the shop and the change oil light is on and i just changed the oil 3 weeks ago and it is full but now i have a knock or tick that sounds like a lifter? My first thought is that the oil isn't getting to the top of the engine did these engines have issues with the oil pumps? And how big of a job is it to replace? This is my first go around with a 3800 any help would be great with what direction should i proceed. Also there was 95000 on the Impala engine that i put in. |
| You need a TORX socket. I believe it is # 20. |
| 1-20-12 i have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix gt. It has the 3800 series 2. I did a full rebuild on the engine and came to a stop because I dont know how to line up the gears to the crank to put the timing chain on. There are dots that indicate that it lined up but i dont know how to line them up correctly for the right timing |
| 1-21-12 Point the cam gear in the 6 o'clock position, the crank in the 12. Basically they line up to each other. |
| 1-21-12 Can you help w/torque specs and sequence for the lower and upper intake on a 2000 Buick 3.8. |
| 2-2-12 I have a 97 Bonneville SE and I wanted to know how do you remove the mass air flow sensor for replacement. |
More Car Questions
| Just remove the screws and remove the sensor. |
| 2-24-12 Need to replace oil pump in 1995 Buick Riviera. |
| 2-28-12 1994 LeSabre that will not start in cold ambient temperatures. I replaced ICM, Coil Pack, CTS, IAC, MAF, PCV, Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, Plugs, Wires. Ia also, pulled the Plenum and lower intake to replace the gaskets and clean the throttle body. However, my car still refuses to start when it is cold outside. Once the temperature warms up to 45-50 degrees, the car starts and runs fine, No CEL codes. Any help is appreciated. |
| Well, you sure have spent a lot of money guessing at parts. What is the fuel pressure when it is not starting? Did you check the fuel pressure regulator (FPR) ? Does it have spark and injector signal? |
| 2-28-12 Where is the oil pressure sensor located on 1998 Buick Regal GS? |
| 3-8-12 I have a 2003 3.8 supercharged Pontiac Bonneville I replace the upper and lower intake gaskets pressure tested my cylinders while the intake was off the #4 cyl leaks 35% on the intake valve. All other cyl where good. Put it all back together and now my coolant system if being pressurized. Could it be the 2 orings on the upper gasket didn't seat right and the supercharger is pressurizing the coolant system? |
| If the cylinder leak down shows 35% loss on intake valve, then you have a valve seat problem on that valve. Pressure on the cooling system is a blown head gasket. |
| 4-1-12 I keep getting the TPS code and I keep changing it because my car is idling high. I have a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. What do you think it can be? |
| If you keep replacing the sensor and still have the problem, then that is not the problem. Check for a broken wire at the connector. |
| 4-2-12 1991 Olds Delta 88 3800 engine 70,000 miles. Car was quitting at random times, usually going slower like coming up to stop signs and cornering. Drove this way for a year, nothing major always started again. Started running real rough with real hesitation when flooring it. Then started having trouble starting. Put in Mass Air Sensor and car started and ran OK, not great! Still no pick up on HWY. Parked in dark garage and watched sparks jumping from plug wires all over the place. Replaced plugs and wires, car I thought was running terrific, more power than I have had for quite a while. Drove around 15 minutes and pulled back in driveway and shut down and tried to start again. Starts and quits unless giving it a little gas and I thought I could smell gas. I am thinking Temp Sensor because it seems to me it may be sending to much fuel like it it is thinking its sending fuel for a cold start! Any Suggestions Greatly Appreciated |
| Check the fuel pressure regulator (FPR) for leaking. Pull off the vacuum hose when engine not running. If you see or small gas, replace it. |
| 4-18-12 My check engine light is on. Code says EVAP. Replaced the gas cap already. Where are the vacuum lines I should check? Or anything else I should check? |
| 4-21-12 I have a 1996 Oldsmobile Regency 98 3800 Series 2. The PITA has a no start when engine is warm. Can start car, run / drive for an hour. Make a stop turn off car. it will not restart until the engine compartment cools. Usually by popping the hood open. No CEL, No codes nothing. Had a garage check it over run the scanner on it. Good fuel pump pressure at the injectors, good ignition module and coils, crank sensor checks good. Tried to reproduce the issue with hood open continually and cannot,so definitively something that does not like getting hot. Only other clue was the scanner on it when it was acting up, was weak injector pulse, and also misfire cylinder # 5. Swapped coils around for the misfire and changed ICM and still the same bloody problem. PCM? |
| 4-22-12 P0401 Code (Insuff. Air Flow) on '01 LeSabre. Removed cleaned EGR Valve (which appears to be functioning normally i.e., no sticking valve piston) and EGR Valve is only about 2 years old. Removed EGR plenum cleaned all outlets and tubes. Still have code, and your site here says there is no DPFE sensor on GM engines to worry about. Don't know where to turn. Dealer wants a WHOLE lot of money to diagnose. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for the help. |
| There are many lines, hoses and seals that would need to be checked. Depending on your car make and model, it could be a bad vent valve, purge solenoid, gas tank module seal, etc. |
| 4-29-12 You have a bad EGR Valve, or the port in the upper plenum is plugged solid. |
| Either a bad ECM- because of the scanner problem and weak injector pulse, or a bad crank position sensor- even though it tests good. |
| Where is the climate control vacuum line on these motors? I have a 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo 3.8L N/A and was told its some where on the fire wall is that right and how to you remove to connect to a blower for a conversion kit. |
| If your system is vacuum controlled and not electric, it is located under the passenger side of the dash. It would be a large purple line. |