Sometimes a car problem is just a car problem—and sometimes it turns into a whole saga. That’s what happened to Heaven (@defleshprincess), who went viral after documenting the latest round of issues with her Buick. In a recent video, she sets the tone right away: This isn’t her first time wondering whether her car will even turn on. "You guys want to see if my car will start with me?" she asks sarcastically in the TikTok. It didn’t. The engine made noise, but nothing actually kicked in. So she tried again, hoping the car would at least throw her a clue. "Let’s do this again and see if it will tell me what’s wrong with it," she says. This time, the Buick technically started—but everything immediately looked wrong. Every dashboard light lit up at once, and the speed and mileage gauges twitched back and forth like they were possessed. Then came a new worrying sound. OWNERSHIP STORIES Viral stories from across the web Our team of experts tracks what owners are saying about car-shopping, repairs, the daily driving experience and more on social media. "I’m kinda scared," she admits. "I don’t think I should even try to drive it." A moment later, a message popped up on her dashboard: "Engine power is reduced." "It’s like choking on gas or something," she says in the clip, which has racked up more than 65,500 views as of this writing. What Was Wrong With Her Buick? In follow-up videos, Heaven says she ended up buying a scanner to get to the bottom of the issue. Once she plugged it in, she says two problems popped up: something was off with the car’s "fuel pressure," and there was an issue with the crankshaft. According to Carr Chevrolet, when a car cranks but won’t start, even though it has fuel pressure, it usually means the fuel isn’t actually reaching the cylinders or something else in the mix is out of sync. In plain terms, the engine is trying, but one of the key ingredients—fuel, spark, air, or timing—isn’t showing up the way it should. Fuel delivery is often the first place things go sideways. Injectors can become clogged, which prevents the fuel from reaching the rail. Sometimes low engine compression is the problem. When it fails, the engine can receive too much fuel or not nearly enough, and either scenario can prevent it from starting. Ignition issues are another big category. A faulty crankshaft position sensor is a common cause of a crank no-start, as the engine timing becomes completely off. And as Carr Chevrolet notes, worn plugs can also stop the fuel-air mix from igniting. It notes, too, that even a glitchy security system can block the engine from starting, no matter how many times you try. There are a few simpler possibilities as well. Gowen’s Automotive Repair reports that a failing fuel pump relay can keep the pump from running. An inertia switch that’s been tripped after a bump can also shut everything off until it’s reset. And in some cases, a deeper internal engine issue can leave the car cranking indefinitely without ever starting. Gallery: Buick Electra GS concept Commenters Say Buicks Are Rife With Issues People who watched Heaven’s video had plenty to say about the car itself, with many joking that the real problem might be the brand. "I see the issue," one viewer quipped. "It’s a GM." "I’m fully convinced Buicks are cursed," another said. "It’s normal," a third chimed in. "It’s a Buick." Some tried to troubleshoot what they were hearing and argued the trouble was probably coming from the engine. "Yeah, no, girl, that engine you got in there … no bueno," one woman told her. "I loved my Regal until it started doing this [expletive]." "Engine knock sensors most likely," another suggested. "So it’s definitely in limp mode—this reduces engine power to stop any damage to the engine," a different commenter explained. "You could be having a cylinder misfire. I have seen Buicks have a better life when drivers use high octane fuel vs. regular." "Sounds like you flooded your engine," someone else added. "Mine sounded like this, and it was the crankshaft sensor," another person wrote, correctly guessing what was wrong with Heaven’s car. Others empathized, saying they were dealing with the same headaches. "Girl, my Chevy Malibu doing this exact thing," one viewer said. "The life of a Buick owner (I have an Envision)," another added. "I have a Buick Encore and only 10 months, I’ve put $2k into it so far," a third said. Motor1 has reached out to Heaven via Instagram direct message and a TikTok comment. Her TikTok account does not accept direct messages from people she does not follow. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
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