Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting What causes pausing?

Got a 1986 Buick ( I think) also it is a diesel engine, ( not mine buddy at school) he goes to start it up and it always starts but after cranking it goes silent for like 2 seconds then starts, what the heck is the deal?

Diesel? Could be the glow plugs warming up before the engine fires. In a diesel, you need to turn the key to the start position, but not start the car until a light in the dash goes out to tell you the glow plugs are hot enough to ignite the fuel. If there is no light, you need to wait about 5 seconds before you turn the key all the way.

GM diesels in cars, man that's WAY back!!

i never even seen a diesel engine in a GM car specially a buick

Buick with diesel? What type of buick? I Have never seen one and Ive seen alot of GM cars... Our school has quite a few for the Autos class

Yes, they put deisel V8's in several models but they were special order. That's right after the gas crunch started getting better, good timing. They require two matched heavy duty batteries to start well. Fuel condition in cold weather can also cause weird problems.

They had them. My best friend's dad had an Olds with a diesel. Floor it and it smoked like a semi!

Since Olds had it, I'm sure Buick did to. They were crap however, and I'm amazed one still runs today!

Reminds me how he was always on the losing side of things. He bought a diesel car when they have all but died out here. He also had a Beta VCR when they came out....

yes, he might have even been on the loosing end with his son also???? how about the sons friend???

Well, aside from being waaay off topic - I can confirm
that GM put diesels in cars. Couple of years later,
the gas-engine retrofit became a hot item in the after-
market world. They really stunk, 'cause GM used a gas
engine lower end, then re-pistoned and re-headed it.
The poor bottom end just couldn't take the (much) higher
compression of a diesel, and the diesel was junk. If
you want to hear owner DISloyalty, talk to a (probably
former) owner of a GM diesel.
Interestingly, the original VW Rabbit, Scirocco, and
Jetta engines (1.6, 1.7, and 1.8L) had the lower end of
the diesel, whether it was a diesel motor or not. Thus,
those engines held up okay. (I put 250K on my gas Jetta,
and it ran fine when I sold it.) VW also OEM'ed motors
to Volvo (the 1.6L diesel) and Chrysler (1.7L gas for the
Omni and Horizon).
...trivia from an old guy...

I have a 81 Buick Electra with the diesel 350. I like the fact you can drive a big luxury car, with the economy of a Toyota, and the smell of a bus. ha haha

Blaze