ENGINE STALL, SURGE, OR HESITATION, (REPLACE EVAP.. Buick Park Avenue 1998

THIS IS A MONTHLY SERVICE NEWSLETTER ARTICLE. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION.

SUBJECT: ENGINE STALL, SURGE, OR HESITATION (REPLACE EVAP CANISTER PURGE SOLENOID)

MODELS: 1998 BUICK REGAL 1998 BUICK RIVIERA 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE/ULTRA WITH 3.8L ENGINE (VINS K, 1 - RPOS L36, L67)

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, STALL, HESITATION, OR SURGE WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE MAY REQUIRE EXTENDED CRANK TIME AFTER STALLING BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. OTHER OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE ENGINE REQUIRES EXTENDED CRANKING AFTER REFUELING. THE MIL (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) MAY NOT BE ILLUMINATED AND NO DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE) SET. IN SOME CASES, HOWEVER, DTC P1441 MAY BE STORED IN HISTORY WITH NO MIL.

CAUSE:

THE EVAP PURGE SOLENOID IS A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE. IF THE SOLENOID IS STUCK IN AN OPEN POSITION, THEN THE EVAP SYSTEM PURGE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WILL NOT BE COMPLETED PROPERLY. WHEN TEST BEGINS TO RUN, THE EVAP VENT VALVE CLOSES AND A VACUUM IS DRAWN ON THE FUEL TANK AND LINES. THE PURGE SOLENOID SHOULD BE CLOSED DURING MOST OF THE TEST. IF IT IS STUCK OPEN, THEN THE ENGINE MAY HESITATE OR STALL BECAUSE EXCESS FUEL VAPORS CAN BE DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE.

CORRECTION:

DIAGNOSTICS -

1. SHUT ENGINE OFF.

2. OPEN THE HOOD AND REMOVE THE ENGINE COVER.

3. LOCATE THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER PURGE SOLENOID. ON 3800 VIN K (L36) ENGINES, THE SOLENOID IS LOCATED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE FRONT VALVE COVER. ON 3800 SUPERCHARGER VIN 1 (L67) ENGINES, THE SOLENOID IS LOCATED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE REAR VALVE COVER.

4. REMOVE THE ENGINE VACUUM SOURCE LINE FROM THE EVAP PURGE SOLENOID.

5. CONNECT A VACUUM HAND PUMP TO THE ENGINE VACUUM SIDE OF THE EVAP PURGE SOLENOID AND APPLY 15 IN HG VACUUM.

6. IF THE SOLENOID DOES HOLD THE VACUUM, THEN PROCEED WITH STANDARD DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES.

7. IF THE SOLENOID DOES NOT HOLD THE VACUUM, THEN REPLACE THE SOLENOID. TO VERIFY THE FIX, PARK THE VEHICLE IN AN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 40-86 F (4-30 C) WITH FUEL LEVEL BETWEEN 15 - 85 PERCENT FULL FOR ABOUT SIX HOURS. INSTALL A TECH 2 IN THE VEHICLE. START THE VEHICLE AFTER THE SIX HOUR COLD SOAK. MONITOR ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE. WHEN THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE APPROACHES 122 F (50 C), THE EVAP SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC WILL BEGIN TO RUN. FROM THE TECH 2 APPLICATION MENU, SELECT SYSTEM INFORMATION CATEGORY; THEN MIL/SYSTEM STATUS. VERIFY THAT THE EVAP PURGE DIAGNOSTIC HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR THIS IGNITION CYCLE. IF THE EVAP PURGE DIAGNOSTIC RUNS WITHOUT ANY DRIVEABILITY ISSUES, THEN RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE CUSTOMER.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE: LABOR OPERATION NUMBER: J6400 USE CURRENT PUBLISHED LABOR TIMES.

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 00

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.