Question I have a 1992 buick lesabre 3.8L. the engine misses but i have replaced the spark plugs and it did not solve the problem. it has 147,000 miles on the car and it did not start doing it until a little while ago. The check engine light will come on and go back off a few seconds later. if there is any information that you can give me, it will be helpful. thanks
Answer The first step would to to get the trouble code(s) from the computer. You can do this with a paper clip or a small wire. Under the dash there is a connector called the ALDL (Assembly Line Data Link), which is a black rectangular plug and has about 20 holes in it for a pin connector. It will probably be located near the middle of the car on the driver side, most of the way to the back of the under side of the dash, otherwise it would be almost directly under the steering column somewhere. With the key off, use the paper clip to jump terminals A and B together (these are right next to each other inline the long way of the connector). You will know if you have the correct ones jumped when you turn the key on. Turn the key on, after about a second the check engine light should start to flash or flicker, if it doesn't, turn the key off and try the jumper in different terminals. When the light id flashing, it's telling you the codes. It will blink out each number, then pause and blink out the second number. Each code is a two digit number, and will be repeated three times before telling you the next code. Code 12 should be the first one it gives you, which simply means that the diagnostic circuit is working. Any code after that is a trouble code. Please get back to me when you get the code nuhbers. If you don't have access to their meanings, it will tell you what they are.
