DaPurpleRT Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Let me jsut give you the details. 2000 Regal, 3.8L. It does many weird things, likes bucks at random, where you have to let off and get back into it (I was thinking TPS here)..... Also, gas gauge is always full ro empty, no in between..... Key refuses to come out SOMETIMES unless you play with it, sometimes it comes right out...... IDEAS?? Thanks, Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89SupremeCutty Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 the gas gauge im going to guess is the fuel sending unit went bad. and the key not comming out could be a number of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runt Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Gas gauge is more than likely fuel sending unit as 89Supreme above me said. The key not coming out of the ignition could be the park/neutral safety switch. If you mess with the button on your gear selector you can hear a "click" come from under the dash. If you hear this "click" and suddenly your key lets loose, it's probably that. Sometimes mine is OK and other days it's not. I just deal with it because Im' not tearing out the dash for a cheap switch. I'm assuming that the key will shut the car off, but not turn the entire way back. There is also a small button under the tumbler that you'll have to feel for, that when pressed might release the key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boymeetspavement Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 I had my key lock in last night...freaked me out cause Id never had that happen before and the car was in park. I jerked the wheel back and forth and it let loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 For the fuel sender, you can try running a bottle of fuel system treatment in a full tank of Top tier fuel (Shell for sure, can't think of any others ATM) and you may get lucky and have it start functioning again. I had been running shell gas since I bought the car. I had switched to another brand and within 2 tanks, the gauge was horribly inaccurate. I ran a fuel system cleaner and went back to shell fuel and within about 2 tanks, it was reading normal again. I've stuck with shell and it has been good ever since. They fail due to sulfur contamination on the sender. Top tier fuels have very low sulfur content and cleaners to help prevent the gauge failure in the first place. AS for the key locking...the only think I could think of is that the steering wheel was in such a spot that is was causing the ignition to jam up when trying to turn to the lock position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 bucks at random, where you have to let off and get back into it (I was thinking TPS here)..... check your plugs and wires. if they check out, ohm your injectors. 1 or 2 is likely out of spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Get used to the key doing that. GM got creative and used some electric solenoid to lock/unlock the ignition. IIRC it has to do with the solenoid thats on the shifter assembly itself. I just popped the emergency access tab off the bottom of my column and used a pen to get the key out when it got stuck. Pushing the shifter button a few times usually got it to unlock, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaPurpleRT Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Thanks guys. On the key, def/ sounds like the issue, it's THE most annoying thing ever. Is it the NSS ont he tranny istelf that causes the issue? On the gas gauge, figured it was a sensor.... where's the secnding unit at, in tankm (ugh)? On the missing, I need to get to the plugs/wires, but the way it acts, it's random and it almost like when you have a horrible vacuum leak but a little more violent. Almost acts like fuel issue. Maybe a fuel filter? Though I'd think it'd be more random as far as when it missed, it's pretty standard to where if I'm coming up around certain rpms or speeds, I know it's gonna miss unless I mash the gas well past half. TIA for all ideas fellas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jman093 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 First off, you've got to use better grammar. Re-read your post before you submit it. It's hard to understand what you're saying. Unplug the TPS and go drive the car. See if it still bucks around after you do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaPurpleRT Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Hmm, wouldn't an unplugged TPS produce even worse issues? I'm typing at work, usually on calls, but it didn't seem too horrendously typed for me to understand? I'll try to improve in the future..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 The fuel sender is in the gas tank, however, there is an access panel in the trunk, so dropping the tank is not required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jman093 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Obviously the check engine light will come on. It probably will shift later than it normally does and it could possibly lock you out of overdrive. If you suddenly snap the throttle open or closed it will hesitate. But it will be fine just going down as a way to see if the bucking stops. Just this past weekend, I unplugged the TPS on my old Lumina that my little brother is driving so it would stop bucking around. It stopped and for a few days now he's been driving all around our small town where ever he needs to go in it just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaPurpleRT Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I unplugged the TPS, still jumps, and sits and surges the rpms, so guess that's not it.... Guess I need to check the injectors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted to eaton Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 my key did this too, I just took the plastic cover off of the wheel and took the solenoid out Good as new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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