Starting the Old Cold Forgotten Buick

[@1598hi]

I remember watching this on my Windows Xp laptop in 2007. I was in middle school! I'm 28 now and this makes me feel so old. It was nice to look back on the days of Bill & the Key Keeper the way I have always remembered them! Funny, this Buick to this day might be old & cold, but it is likely one of the least forgotten of them all.

[@DerAdventurer]

You know, its magic to hear that sound and see all lights blinking on the dashboard. Its life, trying to come back from the beyond! Awesome! Thanks for sharing it, dude!

[@mgrogian]

Kind of funny to think, I first watched this video when it first came out (I'm 21 now, to clarify). Back then this would've been just a junk car that you'd /expect/ to see parked on the side of the road and forgotten about. Nowadays, they're sort of a rare commodity. Never would've really thought about the possibility of this becoming a classic car, the times they are a-changin. Meanwhile, I'm driving a trashy little 08 Aveo from when this video came out and want one of these for my own. ;)

[@LMacNeill]

That 3.8L V6 was one of the best engines GM ever made. Powerful, yet fuel-efficient. Really enjoyed that engine in an '86 Olds Delta 88 that I used to own.

[@bluepov]

+LMacNeill They were good in the Holden Commodore too.

[@parteibonza]

+LMacNeill yep. had good power in the supercharged variety as well

[@kbmastery6194]

I agree wholeheartedly, these are some badass little luxury muscle cars!

[@uscar17]

you can go over 300'000 miles without any trouble with these 3.8 engines, they're (will never say it enouth)ones of the best engines ever. A friend of mine's got a '91 Bonneville which has the same engine and it's got 320'000 miles and the only thing he did was fill the clim compresser again.

[@Gurrusway]

Idk how I stumbled here but sure the glad Buick started up.. I work at Chevrolet and recently did an oil change on a Buick with 400k miles and still solid. Good old American quality workmanship.

[@MySpeed12]

I love those old speedometers

[@Vette31991]

my oldsmobile smoked just like that when I started it for the first time in 6 years. It's just a little bit of oil that was burning, I have no clue where it came from, but they both did the same thing! General Motors THE BEST!

[@saladfox]

I remember watching this in like 2010. Clean-running examples of these seem to be worth a fair bit now.

[@watcher206]

Somewhere around 2009 to 2011 for me I forgot exactly which year it was I first started watching uxwbill. I was barely even a teenager back then about 13, now I'm 27

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Oh how time has flown. The old cold forgotten Buick is gone, the Reliant is gone, the S10 is gone, and the truck you now have was essentially brand new when this was filmed.

[@jase4738]

I love your videos. The way you have the camera positioned the whole time REALLY puts the viewer in the FOV and same perspective you have. Good editing too. I was more excited as if I was really there with your commentaries than actually seeing the car start with over 250K on the dash!!!!

[@CubCadetMan71]

I first watched this video in 2010. Had to see it again after it’s been so long.

[@knaveofdarts]

I love videos like this! Warms my heart seeing a forgotten old car come back to life. Blasting "The Candyman" at the end really makes this video

[@adape0884frank]

My dad and my uncle were big fans of these cars and they were the best ones that they could ever own in all their entire life.

[@comgeek24]

I have a '91 LeSabre with the 3.8. I've had it for two years now, had over 200,000 miles on it when I got it. Changed the plugs. wires, and air filter and it started and ran like a top during some of the coldest winter mornings (negative double digits). I still need to change the fuel filters but it still runs silky smooth. The "Service Engine Soon" light is on on mine too (2 sensors out). I like your videos, very interesting. Please keep posting them!

[@uscar17]

and I'm sure they can go even farther away... I love these engines !

[@kbmastery6194]

I have an 1988 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, and she has the same problems. I love her to death, because she was one of the last true American cars

[@shinyam75]

I used to own an 86 Buick LeSabre, my very first car. Bought it for 3,000 about 20 years ago. The car would need repairs constantly, sometimes I was going to the mechanic weekly. However, it was a smooth ride, and very comfortable. The dash is exactly the same as the Electra in the video, and it brings back a lot of memories. Very nostaligic and brings back memories from my coillege years. Thanks for the video.

[@SeantronikBionik]

Man what a sweet ride! I love LeSabres my folks used to have a 2001 until it was wrecked. I love Caprices too. The generation that ended in 90 and also the 91-96 too.

[@wb6162]

You just can't beat General Motors. Best cars on the planet.

[@mentallyhandicappedpoptart2649]

wb6162 Lol anything now can beat GM

[@andrewps84]

Maybe in some other universe or lifetime…I won’t touch a GM product with a 10 foot pole; the one I had as well as the ones others had were nothing but headaches.

[@SuperWatson63]

You do very well bill. Keep up the good work. I am a fan. You are a great speaker. Very articulate and knowledgable with circuitry. I am studying electronics now.

[@MichaelFlatman]

that kickdown when you were accelerating was amazing!, its pretty damn fast for 165HP (the torque probably helped)

[@rockhouse90]

I still watch this all these years later lol. I remember showin my buddies this once a few years back and we still get a kick out of the excitement of this old car firing up. I think I mentioned this once before but honest to god, for my sake, the best thing that ever come out of gm was their 3800 V6s.

[@robertwynkoop68]

OS/2 operating system rocks dude.

[@randomrazr]

nice. my dad gave me his buick park avenue 1968 electra. its been sitting ina garage, concrete floor, im pretty its heat ( he sotrd it at a friends) and its been siting their for almost 5 years. what should i do befor ei try t strat it?

[@73GMC1500]

I love the part where you are going 80 while listening to 'the candyman'.

[@tomupward9012]

I thought this was a comedy sketch at first. Funny and interesting. Bravo!

[@OtnerNaut]

The inside of your trunk looks like the back room of our IT-department.

[@chloescat]

Dude, I am totally envious of you. I'm in China teaching. I'm from England and I drive back home but now I'd kill for a free motor. Thanks for the vid great to watch. :)

[@randomrazr]

is it better to use a used battery or jump strat the car with a dead battery in it (so i dont have to spend money on only seeing if the car runs or not lol)

[@randomrazr]

what happened to the electronic controls? i jsut noticed that lol

[@deliveryguyrx]

Nice find for a freebie!!You may want to address that power steering issue PRONTO to avoid long term tricep damage.I drove a '78 LTD with no power steering for almost two years.You had to really plan ahead to park anywhere.Those old GMs will run forever, just keep 'em fed (oil and antifreeze).Keep us updated on the progress of this vehicle!!

[@randomrazr]

hey man. i have a 1986 buick park avenue. i got it from my dad casue he passed away earlier this year. its been sitting in his friends garage for like, about 5 years now and im pretty sur ehe hasnt started it once. when i get my licence, i think i wan tto drive it, but, after 5 years, will it work and, their anythign should do before trying to start it? thanks man.

[@dathrilla07]

I have a 93 Buick Century, I love me those Buicks. Love the vid and commentary.

[@randomrazr]

so it wouldnt matter (just to get it running) if i changed the oil or not. is that what u ment?

[@MrMister1227]

Recommended after 12 years lol

[@uxwbill]

Such is the magic of KZbin.

[@randomrazr]

alright iil defineatly look into the oil. what should the oil look like when i pull the, uh, whats its call, its a long stick that goes into the oil. anywyas, what should i expect to be a decent or good enough oil for a short start up.

[@randomrazr]

oh, uh, noe mroe thing to add man, when i was little, i rmeber when ym dad started the buick up, their was a light that poped up int he dashboard that said "service engine", whats that mean?

[@randomrazr]

hey, thanks for the fast reply lol. umm, yeha the battery is probaly DEAD, before purchasing a new battery, is it alright to jump start it like u did in the video? anywyas, right now, im planning for, fiorst, to get it running lol. all the fluids are still in it, just o get it atleats running, would changing jsut the oil be fine? oh, i forgot, the gas. gas sitting for about 5 years. still usable? thanks again man. my dream this year is to get my dads old car to runn agahin lol

[@nica8487]

Of course it will starts its a Buick! Great vids. As a motorhead I find enjoyment in cold starting vehicles.. idk why. Just do.. good vid. Would like to see a turbobuick attempt to start in subzero temps with a modern turbotweak chip

[@Jaredsfarm]

GM 3800, damn fine engine. I have one in my 1988 Oldsmobile Toronado with 140k, still runs like a dream even after a high speed wreck

[@DonaldTaft]

Bill, you are the man! What great commentary. Great car, too.

[@jmurray01]

Wow, that acceleration was so smooth, yet powerful... I wish they still made cars like that.

[@randomrazr]

ah ok. thanks for the info. yeha i noticed u turned ur radio off in ur car. jjst curious, what happens when u leave the radio on?

[@Boot_185]

Cant blame the car for the bad battery. Buick is one of the best cars you can ever get. My 92 park ave had 276000 and still ran like it was new never burned oil leak anything and always started.

[@randomrazr]

hey man, i heard jump starting a car like yours may screw up the computer casue a surge may happen , etc. is this true?

[@ItsALoweNation]

We had a lot of these cars in our family. We had a nice red one since it was new, think it was from the early 90's late 80's, had nice red seats, anyway it was parked in 2006 when my great grandma could not drive anymore and refused to sell her. Sat behind her garage since 2011. She started up and ran like the day it did when we parked it. Just didn't have any brakes.

[@Boot_185]

Cant blame the car for the bad battery. Buick is one of the best cars you can ever get. My 92 park ave had 276000 and still ran like it was new never burned oil leak anything and always started. it had the 3800 to. Those are 400k mile engines. My nephew has a van with a 3800 and has 363000 miles and still runs great

[@randomrazr]

hey, i just got more recent info on my buick 86 park ave. the last time it has been started was 2 years ago. if i just wanted to see if it could run, without changing the liquids, cna i just throw in a new battery and see if it can start.?

[@yu-gi-ohconcajones2509]

I love the sound of those old staticky speakers...nothing like it... sooooo nostalgic... brings me back to 1994 :')

[@SBCBears]

Always good to rev the engine when first starting after it hasn't run in who knows how long.

[@tweelet]

I used to sell used cars, mostly the easy to work on 1980's up to 1992,that buick reminds me of the burgundy 1988 park ave. I paid too much for it, however seeing the low miles and cheap and easy to find junkyard parts, I couldn't turn it for much profit so I had fun driving it. I then sold it, I usually got a few cars here and there for $100 but darn I only got a few free cars. You were lucky.

[@Obsidian762]

3800 series...one of those engines that refuse to die.

[@randomrazr]

how have u been tkaing care of it?

[@Starbase89]

Glad to know I'm not the only one with car manuals and OS/2 in my trunk!

[@jacobcschick01]

makes me reminisce on my 1986 Buick Century, loved that little car even if it did have the iron duke in it, kinda makes me want another one

[@stevenking2980]

Good stuff. Those old 80's+ GM stuff is bulletproof usually. Mines got 270,000 too!

[@jhon2891]

I miss this car! This is the video that brought me to the channel years ago :)

[@arcadeuk]

BONG BONG BONG BONG. Oh my god that must drive people in America mad, every time I see a starting video in the US is BONG BONG BONG BONG when you put the keys in

[@caseycappoen251]

LOL

[@Silvertarian]

I personally hate it alot. The only way it could be worse is if there was a voice that was like "KEYS IN IGNITION. KEYS IN IGNITION."

[@Mulpti]

Not really.

[@SomeGuyWhoPlaysGames333]

Only if the driver's door is open.

[@SomeGuyWhoPlaysGames333]

Usually

[@eots44]

And this is why Buick has one of the biggest reputation for reliability in the business!

[@widsquard]

That was the most satisfying cold start

[@BossySwan]

Awesome! I have been trying to start an old Scimitar GTE today (I'm British, so you might not recognise car) that's been parked up for about 8 years... Hoping I have similar luck to you to see it back on the road!

[@randomrazr]

hey man, how long has ur buick been sitting before u tried t o start it?>

[@howdyyall3332]

anyone else notice the OS/2 book & old-style keyboard in the red car's trunk?

[@uxwbill]

+Zach Schenfelt A whole lot of people. Scroll through the comments.

[@LukeHodge]

+uxwbill I think you should get another Buick electra

[@kbmastery6194]

+Luke Hodge it's a free car, you can't get any better than $0

[@noway9880]

That's a mighty good looking turtle you got there!

[@pmdwashere]

Reminds me of the old Olds we used to have... I miss that car.

[@randomrazr]

ah ok. thanks man. i appreciate u for helping me. hows ur buick so far?

[@randomrazr]

anything ele si should know? and id defienatly try and make a vid and hopefulyl get the same reslts as you did, maybe better lol. agains man.

[@mpeters13]

This video was fun for watching. That os/2 book was a trip through time. Look at that classic dash. :)

[@ElectricBlakeGames]

I have one of those and I love it! 215000 miles and the most reliable car ever!

[@forterierocks]

89 Electra was my first car! Parents bought it new I got it in 07 with 337,000k and I drove it until 13 when the frame rotted out had 462,800 when I junked it and that 3800 still ran great.

[@ristube3319]

That GM 3.8L is a near bulletproof. There’s very little to cause real issues. Minimum amount of electronics outside of their fuel injector systems.

[@Purple__]

Holy shit, the old devices in the back of your car are worth more then the car itself!

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

That 3.8 3800 V6 was one of the best, durable engines of that time period. It was made for a very long time. The engine started in the "Buick Special" in 1961 and was made continuously until 2008 for the Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick LaCrosse and Buick Lucerne. Overhead camshafts were redesigned in 1977 and many changes occurred during its life, but with only 208 horsepower on the standard engine, its time was over with the advent of direct injection. Even with supercharging this engine could not do more than 240 horsepower. The new GM direct injection engine design made over 280 when it started and now makes over 310 horsepower today seen in Buick, Cadillac, and Chevy Models. GM's Ecotec 2.0 liter turbo engine made 210 horsepower back in 2003, so this was far from an advanced engine in its late years.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

***** Agreed, you can modify just about any engine as long as you don't exceed the specs on the parts you don't replace (e.g. too much pressure in the manifold if you turbocharge an engine). I guess GM went the new engine route. I do know with the 2.0 liter turbo my first generation Ecotec with 210 hp gets about 27 mpg in mixed driving (2006 Saab 9-3 with 136,000 miles - a baby compared to the cars you have). I hear that the Ecotec II with 259 horsepower can get the same gas mileage in my neighborhood on the new Buick Regal my neighbor has (essentially a modernized 9-3). Like the work you do on the old cars - keep it up!

[@schomminater]

That thing moves along very well.

[@jemerson722]

This vid takes me back to the days before I replaced my ignition coil on my 89 LeSabre.

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

I'm amazed that you didn't stop immediately and rush to install that OS/2 in the trunk of the red car....

[@Sanctimoniously]

I've always loved how the 3800 in my '04 LeSabre sounds.

[@johnhayden8470]

my 97 Buick has a 3100 in it seems to do fairly well

[@theLuigiFan0007Productions]

+uxwbill That's quite interesting.

[@ComfyShortz]

+Jonathan Hayden My 93 Buick Century has a 3300, a somewhat rare variant that was produced inbetween the 3800 and 3100 for a couple of years before being discontinued.

[@johnhayden8470]

That's cool

[@DaltonHenry]

That has to be the world's best out look on life that I've EVER seen. I could use some lessons, btw great video! some minor fixes and that will be a great car.

[@salemcripple]

From what i understand. An alternator doesn't vary all that much in output, no matter what the RPM. A DC generator on the other hand does. Which is why they switched from DC generators, to alternators. Because the DC generators of the time couldn't keep up with the increasing load of the (then) new cars, at the speeds they were being driven.

[@RetroPCUser]

Speaking of power steering, my spare car feels like driving a car that doesn't have power steering, and feels like The Beverly Hillbillies 1922 Oldsmobile without brakes. My main car has the Check Engine light on, rough idle, sometimes hard starts, and stalls. Auto zone says the car needs a tune up. Hopefully it's the spark plugs since I just replaced the engine air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, and put in complete fuel system cleaner, new fuel filter, and cabin air filter. My car has 91,812 original miles on it, and I replaced the filter and cleaned the MAF sensor at 91,811.8 miles. After I cleaned the MAF sensor, the car still has a rough idle (was really rough up to a point when the car was fluttering: idle RPM going up and down, repeating a few times, and stalled.

[@X-OR_]

This was a Fancy Car in it's Day.. I hope you fix it up and the old Girl Running.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

we had the rear wheel drive version of that engine in Australia until 2004

[@Shintsu2]

GMs, such great vehicles. You just can't kill them!

[@maplewoodsp]

I realize the boat I missed by not making a vid of my car starting adventures. You really need a big starter/charger on wheels. You often see one or two on a used car lot. My wife gifted one to me years ago. Cheers

[@Harmonlisa]

You need a larger gauge booster cables. I made mine our of welding cable 1/0 and 800 amp clamps. Relatively cheap and work like a damn.

[@poljana]

Those aren't jumper cables they're dental floss

[@shovelheezy]

Hell she scoots along pretty good yet! I hope my 2006 Grand Prix 3800 NA runs that good when its that car's age!

[@24paintballman]

instead of keeping the key keeper in the car put him in the brown truck and rev up the engine. it increases the power flow to the battery from the jumper cables. it works with me :)

[@jamesmoran8294]

I have an Electra-Park Avenue Definitely old & cold, not forgotten though.

[@yu-gi-ohconcajones2509]

3800,s are legendary... I sold one with 217,000 miles and the guy is still running it from San Antonio to houston

[@steinwaygrande3971]

Didnt think it would even start let alone drive seeing as the fuel in the tank was that old it may have gone off. At least its driveable and resorable. I have a `48 two door Dodge with the Fluid Drive gearbox and a four door Chrysler New Yorker. Both cars live in Western Australia and out of the humidity and damp salt air.

[@VinylToVideo]

Those Series I 3800s were really built to last; I had one with about 165,000 miles that ran great, when she decided to start (neutral safety switch issue I think). I own a car with the Series II now. The earlier one was better in a way. Less power but that's probably why it's more durable. I prefer a reliable V8 either way. I've had good luck with Ford's 5L and 4.6L V8s.

[@VinylToVideo]

Also the Cadillac 4.9 engine is good too.

[@f150man55]

nice videos man, if the power steering is leakin that bad you need a new pump and since it has not converter on it thats probably why the CEL is on

[@kylehinkel]

its fun to see these old cars start up

[@schomminater]

To answer the question when did they start making the supercharged 3800 I believe that was when they redid the park Avenue for 1991. It was the ultra.

[@burnout8393]

I think GM got most of their cars and trucks from the 80's very right. Dependable, good driving, decent styling, and overall great quality for your money. My 83 Camaro has 210,000+ miles on it, and to top that off it sat for 8 years before I had it, and yet in the midst of winter, in late December last year, I went out, replaced the belts, oil, and battery, and after priming the carburetor, fired it up with no problems. If that's not tried and true reliability, I don't know what is.

[@randomrazr]

the lectronic climate control was an "option" for all models. i was reading over the manul on my car and it said that lol, which oculd explain why some park aves have manual ones.

[@prayb4udie]

i love it when he opens it up