Winter car runs rough, then runs fine...

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96Firebird

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
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2003 Buick Park Ave, 3800 Series II motor, ~90k miles.

On my way home from work last night, I came to a stop near my house and I could feel the car running rough, like it was misfiring. Get to my driveway, continues to idle rough and sounds like its missing when I rev the motor. No service engine light. Go inside for a bit, checked the oil and it was low but above the fill line. Seems to be burning (or leaking) about a quart every 3k miles. I had to drive it someplace that night, so I get in and it starts rough and is still missing. Once I get going, it is either running fine or I can't tell its missing. About 5 minutes into my drive, I come to a stop again and it is fine. Has been fine since then.

I was thinking maybe it was bad gas, but would that cure itself? Was also thinking maybe a bad coil, but I how many misses do I need to get before the service engine light comes on? I do get a service engine light for P0442, small EVAP leak. I just turn it off and it stays off for about a month before coming back on. Could that be causing this problem? I last turned it off about 2 weeks ago.

The losing oil issue is also bothering me, I'm not sure if it is leaking or burning because I am also leaking PS fluid (probably a bad return line) so I can't really tell what fluids I am leaking. I just keep refilling the PS fluid till I get that fixed.

Any idea what could cause the car to run rough, then fix itself?
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
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I have a 2003 Buick Regal....same engine with 140k miles.

2 years ago when I was at 120k miles, my mass airflow sensor started to fail. The symptom was essentially rough idling. The computer is always taking data from the sensor and tweaking the air/fuel mix along with data from the oxygen sensor on the exhaust.

They make MAF Sensor cleaner and sell it for about $8-10 at Autozone/Advance Autoparts. It's basically an alcohol spray that will clean deposits off the wire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paidfR2A4t0

Buying the replacement online is much cheaper than locally. I think I found my replacement for $35 or 40...you just have to look. This part requires a few special torx drivers to replace it if I remember, so check the specifics and make sure you pick up those tools if you don't already own them.

Here's what google found without too much extra searching:
http://www.am-autoparts.com/Buick/R.../344950.html?gclid=CP_P-JPIr8ICFajm7Aod3g0A3g


There could potentially be other causes. This is just a common problem/solution on the 3800 Series II.
 
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