1989 Buick Electra/Park Avenue Hard to start/runs funny initially.

I have an '89 Electra T-Type that Has had the Camshaft position sensor error for a couple years since I don't want to spend the time/money/frustration to change the timing set. (I am only mentioning this because it might be related).

For the past few months the car has been slightly difficult to start, but would idle maybe a little high, but fine, when it started. The problem is, when I put the car in drive and give it gas, it lopes and sputters and eventually dies. If I rev it up a bit in neutral then drop it into drive, it will start out alright and will not stall, but continue to lope a bit if I stop or slow down. After a minute or so of driving, everything is fine.

Also, for several months it has made this sort of high pitched, barely audible whine/whistle that I can't seem to track down. It sounds as though it is coming from somewhere near the Alternator and it increases in pitch when I rev the engine. I'm not sure if it's a vacuum leak or not.

Any insight on what this might be, or someone who has had a similar problem and can give me some help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Nate

Many things can cause what you describe if the pcm does not recieve a cam signal it can be difficult to start as that function times the injectors. The noise can be anything, again we are not there to hear it, take off the belt see if it goes away. MAF sensors were particularly troublesome in those years, unplug it and see what happens.

Many things can cause what you describe if the pcm does not recieve a cam signal it can be difficult to start as that function times the injectors. The noise can be anything, again we are not there to hear it, take off the belt see if it goes away. MAF sensors were particularly troublesome in those years, unplug it and see what happens.

The car would start fine for about 6 months or so AFTER the camshaft position sensor problem arose. Im not sure if it is a problem that usually gets worse with time. If it is, I'll take more consideration into deciding whether or not to change the timing set. If not, I'd like to find out what else it may be. I will disconnect the MAF sensor and post the results.

Ok, I disconnected the MAF and started the car. The MAF seems to be doing it's job because the car ided extremely irratically and I started to smell sortof like aerosol paint. I'm not sure if that is what normally happens without the MAF connected, but that's what happened.

The car only idles and sometimes stalls when I put it in drive and attempt drive the car. It idles smoothly until then. It also only does it when I have left the car of for several hours. Once the car has started and I've driven it for a few minutes, all symptoms go away even when I start it again within maybe a couple of hours.

This leads me to believe that it MAY be a fuel problem. Maybe a leaky injector. I know nothing of these since I have never had to fix them before. If an injector is leaking, how can I tell? Is it the O-ring that leaks, or the injector itself? How can I tell which one is the culprit?

It may not be the injectors, so if anyone else has any more insight, please share it with me.

Thanks again,
Nate