Any mechanics familiar with Buicks?

[GagHalfrunt]

My father had a minor fender-bender in his mid-90's Buick Regal. The damage is all to the front drivers side corner and isn't severe, mostly all cosmetic and it didn't even break the glass of the headlights or turn signals. Since the car is older and higher mileage there's not really any reason to get it fixed as they plan to drive it until it dies and they don't care about some scratches small dents. But the impact did break loose a part I can't identify, it's a black plastic sphere about 6-8 inches in diameter. It was bolted between the fender and the engine compartment forward of the wheel well on the drivers side and the impact snapped off it's bracket. It's a sensor of some sort apparently as it's got that sort of single plug-in connection, but I have no idea what it's job is. It's very light and feels like hollow plastic.

Anyone know what the darn thing is and what it's monitoring? And most importantly, how critical is it? Can the car be operated safely with it gone temporarily or even better, will the car be okay if the thing stays off permanently? It's a busy week for them and they want to know if they can hold off getting it fixed while still being able to drive the car.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

From the general description, it's either his horn or a vacuum resivour. (depending on if it's a cable or hose connection)

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
From the general description, it's either his horn or a vacuum resivour. (depending on if it's a cable or hose connection)

That would be my guess as well. The first thing i thought of when you described it was a vacuum canister.

 

[Pepsi90919]

3800 right? is the check engine light on?

might be a relay or something.

 

[Pepsi90919]

sorry, missed the sphere part... yes sounds like a charcoal canister, this is where it would be on your car. if you look inside you will find an electrical connector loose and a few vacuum hoses. if the purge valve connected to the canister isn't responding to the computer then it will set the MIL.

 

[Thegonagle]

Probably a vacuum canister. Plug the hose up with a golf tee.

If it is a vacuum canister, they'll probably find that the the climate control switches airflow modes when they accelerate, and that the cruise control doesn't work properly, until they get it fixed.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

It's not a vacuum hose connection. There's a single lead that runs from the sphere through the wall of engine compartment. It a single prong connection, male plastic on the sphere to metal female on the hose/wire. There are no dash warning lights and all the climate controls seem to be working properly.

 

[Thegonagle]

Marlin1975 should be reading this shortly. I think he'll be able to tell us what it is, but it still sounds like a vacuum reservoir to me.

 

[Vette73]

Now when you say sphere, do you mean like a round ball or a coffe can?

If it is round like a ball and has a single vacuum line coming out of it then it is a vacuum reservoir.

If it is a coffee can shape and has anywhere from 2-4 lines and maybe a small sensor thing with 2 wires coming from it then that is a fuel evaparator and the sensor is a switch that opens and closes the line.


Either way make sure their are no cracks/leaks. If not just bolt it back up to something and make sure none of the lines/wires? are damaged or in bind.

 

[DurocShark]

pic?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

No pics, but it's a sphere, like a miniature bowling ball, not a coffee can.

It's going to be a pain in the butt as the bracket and sphere are all molded in a single piece and the impact broke the bracket part away from the sphere. But it looks like a clean break and the pieces are large enough that they can probably be fixed with some high-temp epoxy. I'll do that for them this afternoon so they can get the car back on the road by manana. Thanks all.

 

[stonecold3169]

as much as I hate to sound like an old man, being 20 and all that, those regals are quite nice... the 3800 is built strong and to last, and they have tons of great features stock. hope yours works out okay!

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

i like park avenues...really nice cars.