Buick/Olds: starting problems, buick regal gs, buick riviera

Question
I have a 1994 Buick Regal GS with a 3.8L engine.  Sometimes when you shut the car off it will not start back up again.  It sounds as if it is not firing because it keeps turning over and you can hear the fuel pump click on.  You can let the car sit for about 30mins to 1 hour and then it will start again with no problems.  Sometimes after you start the car the service engine light is on and the car is missing and hesitating.  The car does not act like this all of the time and a mechanic needs to have the problem happen at the garage to find out what it is.  Do you know what might be causing this problem?  

Answer
It is probably your fuel pump or your ignition control module.  With you ICM, if it gets hot, when it's defective, it will not allow the system to restart.  The fuel pump may also allow gas to flow sometimes and other times it won't.  I had a buick riviera that had the same symptoms of your car.  The difference between my car and yours is that my fuel pump cost me $400 and yours is less that half of that.  The ICM is probably $100.  Try the ICM first.  You can take that back if it doesn't work.

Ray Barham

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