Buick Lesabre Blowing Smoke - Engine Noise

Engine 3800 V6. Check engine light blinking. Just bought it on July 3rd, used. My check engine light is blinking, a white cloud of smoke came out the back, and now it won't start at all.

Answer: A flashing check engine light is an indication of an engine misfire that is bad enough to cause catalytic converter failure. This is different from a solid light. The fact that there was smoke, and now it wont start leads me to believe that your problem is with what is called the Upper Intake Manifold Plenum. These fail internally and let coolant enter the intake system, causing misfire, engine light, and worst case- the engine wont turn over or start.

A way to check is to have the cooling system pressure tested, or remove the spark plugs and look for a cylinder / cylinders that are full of coolant. A cylinder that is full of coolant will not allow the engine to turn over- it is called "Hydrostatic Lock" and can be confused with a totally locked up engine that needs to be replaced.

Question:
2003 Buick LeSabre V-6 Service Stability Control warning light on. I have a 2003 Buick LeSabre with 170K miles. In the last month the Service Stability light has come on more often, BUT more importantly there is a loud humming sound when the vehicle is turned left and right during driving.

Also, there is a small leak (not oil). The stability light has been coming on/off for over a year...so I'm not worried. I NEED TO KNOW WHY THERE IS A LOUD HUMMING WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT. ALSO, is the humming and leak (not oil) related?

Answer:
The two problems could have a common factor, or be completely different. Just saying the leak is not oil doesn't give much idea to what else it could be. A likely problem that would cause your humming noise while turning would be a power steering leak. Depending on the age of the power steering fluid, it could be clear to very dark. It does have the same consistency as oil, though. A leak there would lower the level in the power steering pump reservoir and would result in a humming/whine type noise when turning the wheel. If the noise only happens while the car is moving, or at speed, it is most likely a wheel hub bearing that making the noise. That would also set the service stability light on. Either problem would need checking into.

Question:
2003 Buick Lesabre. 3800 engine. Bought used and think it sat unused for a while. Runs excellent. Engine randomly decelerates at various speeds. Gas pedal has no effect until normal rpm’s return. Have replaced MAF SENSOR. Engine has never stopped and goes back to normal behavior within minute.

Answer:
Did you have the PCM scan codes? That would be the place to start. A possibility is that you are loosing fuel pressure because of a failing fuel pump, loss or innacurate MAP sensor signal.

Question:
2200 Buick LeSabre. Am I to understand that the 3800V6 engine does not have a valve adjustment? I have a slight tapping noise in the engine. First starting the engine in the morning there is no tapping noise, but after driving about 2 miles the tapping starts. The engine never misfires, has all the power it ever had, and still gets 22 mpg in the city. The tapping noise is a lot like the tapping noise of the old cars when a valve adjustment was needed. Thank you.

Answer:
Correct, no valve adjustment. You will have to run engine and determine what cylinder is causing the tapping. Possible worn rocker arm or bad lifter.