Question My 92 Buick La Sabre has a 3.8 and cuts out during acceleration. It acts like there is water in the fuel, or like it is running out of gas. The last time this happened was the worst yet. I thought the car was going to completely stall, but it didn't. I have changed the spark plugs, spark plug wires, fuel filter, & cleaned injectors. I was told it might be the coil packs. How do you check them? I was also told it was most likely the spark wires, and after changing them, it went away for a month or so, and then slowly came back. If I move the S.P. wires around, the cutting out stops for a short period of time, then slowly starts up again. When the engine is running, I hear a hissing, and it seems to be coming from the 2 tubs that are side by side located on top of the engine and end facing forward, but I am not 100% sure. They seem to be vacuum lines, and they connect to hoses with plastic clips that snap, locking the hose to the lines. When I wiggle the lines, the hissing pitch changes. Is this normal, or are they leaking, and could this be the problem?
AnswerHello Gary,
That is the typical sound of a vacuum leak, and is not normal. The hoses are probably cracked, and you are exagerating the leak when doing that.
Great find. That could be your sole problem.
I would recommend replacing all the hoses.
I have a Cutlass, and some of the hoses were plastic, and some were shaped special. I had to get them from a dealer as a kit, but they were reasonably priced, and much easier than trying to get pieces of different size hoses.
Van
