Interior and accessories problems
Top problems
A/C switching on and off randomly and car is overheating after running
Buick LeSabre 2004 91368 miles
The A/C is 'bipolar' it will switch on and off randomly and the car overheats after running for a while. We have checked the Freon with a gage and its good. We have replaced the thermostat so its new. We replaced the blower motor at an earlier time because the air stopped blowing completely so that's new. We are still going down the list of items to check but id like some info from others who may have this problem. The fans seem to work as they come on when it gets to hot and come on when the car is off but they might be shutting off randomly we just haven't confirmed that yet. Coolant is good… Read complete
CommentScared for my Nobel steed🥺
Buick LeSabre 2004 Custom 250000 miles
A/c went out last summer, however: ¹fan still blows ²went to charge freon but it was full ³ was at that point I realized fans in front of radiator are not moving.
Currently, it is trying to overheat. I smell it. the digital readout on dash tells me temp (180°-217°f) is "normal". Also, I have what appears to be rust stuck to the inside of coolant reservoir - but doesn't appear to be in fluid. I will post photos soon as it's daylight
Currently, it is trying to overheat. I smell it. the digital readout on dash tells me temp (180°-217°f) is "normal". Also, I have what appears to be rust stuck to the inside of coolant reservoir - but doesn't appear to be in fluid. I will post photos soon as it's daylight
1 report
More information is needing on this. You said the AC is not blowing but you checked it and it’s full. How did you check the Freon? You mentioned the radiator overflow has rust on it but it’s not in the fluid to be honest that’s pretty typical but you’re talking about two different systems there. Now the fans not working that’s good as depend upon when you were checking it if you turn the AC on the fan should come on Automatically. To properly check the Freon it really needs to be sucked down a vacuum pulled on the system and then charged with the right amount of Freon using gauges but you can’t just check the Freon to see if it’s full by looking when you turn the AC on look at the AC compressor the front of it is what you call the AC clutch. If the front piece is not turning then it’s not engaging , so you won’t get any cold air now if it’s empty, you won’t get any cold air even if that’s engaging which it probably won’t engage because it’s got to see a minimum pressure. So really a lot more information needs to be posted here before somebody could give you an accurate or somewhat of an accurate things to check. My guess is you don’t have any Freon and if you don’t have any Freon, you probably have a leak because it is a closed system.
1. JfreakinD’s 2004 LeSabre (Overheating & Frozen Fans)
Problem: Overheating (180°–217°F), A/C is out, and radiator fans are completely still. JfreakinD’s "Noble Steed" is suffering from a classic cooling fan failure. On the 2004 LeSabre, the A/C and the cooling fans are deeply linked—if the fans don't move, the A/C will quickly shut down due to high pressure. The Fan Circuit: There are three cooling fan relays (two 4-pin and one 5-pin) in the under-hood fuse box. If any of these fail, or if a fuse is blown, the fans will stay off, causing the engine to overheat and the A/C to cut out. The "Rust" in the Reservoir: Rust inside the coolant reservoir, even if the fluid looks clear, usually indicates that the internal protective additives in the antifreeze have broken down. This allows mineral deposits and surface rust from the engine block's water jackets to settle on the plastic walls of the tank. Temperature Reading: A readout of 217°F is actually on the high side of "normal" for these engines, as the high-speed fans are typically programmed to kick in around 220°F–225°F. If they aren't spinning at that point, the car is in danger. Recommendation for JfreakinD: "JfreakinD, your fans are the key. Check the Cooling Fan fuses and relays first. If the relays are good, the fan motors themselves may have failed. The 'rust' is likely a sign you need a full coolant flush and refill once the fans are fixed to prevent further corrosion inside the block. "
Problem: Overheating (180°–217°F), A/C is out, and radiator fans are completely still. JfreakinD’s "Noble Steed" is suffering from a classic cooling fan failure. On the 2004 LeSabre, the A/C and the cooling fans are deeply linked—if the fans don't move, the A/C will quickly shut down due to high pressure. The Fan Circuit: There are three cooling fan relays (two 4-pin and one 5-pin) in the under-hood fuse box. If any of these fail, or if a fuse is blown, the fans will stay off, causing the engine to overheat and the A/C to cut out. The "Rust" in the Reservoir: Rust inside the coolant reservoir, even if the fluid looks clear, usually indicates that the internal protective additives in the antifreeze have broken down. This allows mineral deposits and surface rust from the engine block's water jackets to settle on the plastic walls of the tank. Temperature Reading: A readout of 217°F is actually on the high side of "normal" for these engines, as the high-speed fans are typically programmed to kick in around 220°F–225°F. If they aren't spinning at that point, the car is in danger. Recommendation for JfreakinD: "JfreakinD, your fans are the key. Check the Cooling Fan fuses and relays first. If the relays are good, the fan motors themselves may have failed. The 'rust' is likely a sign you need a full coolant flush and refill once the fans are fixed to prevent further corrosion inside the block. "
CommentLights keep flashing no crank no start
Buick LeSabre 2000 150000 miles
Can't get the car to turn over it's lights come on flashlight and no radio no windows no no function at all
1 reply
CommentHeat fan doesn't blow
Buick LeSabre 2005 Sedan 70100 miles
The heater fan doesn't turn on. There is little heat.
1 report
CommentNo heat from heater
Buick LeSabre 2000 3800 series 2 198000 miles
No heat from the heater radiator full and hoses hot
4 reports
CommentHeater not blowing air
Buick LeSabre 2002 200000 miles
There is hot air coming out but it’s not blowing out
1 report
Heat not working
Buick LeSabre 2005 4. Door, 250000 miles
Heater not working, already replaced thermostat. What else could it be
Smelling gas in the back seat
Buick LeSabre 1997 Custom 245000 miles
When I turn on the air conditioner or heat I smell gas in the back seat
1 report
Heater blower issues
Buick LeSabre 1997 206049 miles
My heater will not turn off. I can literally press the off button and for some reason it's still sends heat through either the vents or through the defrost. Is there any way to fix or change this?
Problems with a LeSabre? Share them
Find what you needed?
Thank you!
The fact that the A/C behavior changes when Dominoxic uses the window switches, turns the steering wheel, or hits the brakes is a "smoking gun" for a bad ground connection. The Problem: These cars use several "grounding bus bars" (often located under the carpet or near the kick panels) that are notorious for corroding or getting wet. The Result: When one system (like the power windows) draws current, it "backfeeds" through other circuits (like the A/C clutch) because it can't find a clean path to the frame. Action Step: Check the ground wires near the battery and the grounding blocks inside the front passenger and driver-side kick panels. Look for corrosion or "green crust". 2. The Overheating and A/C Connection
The A/C and the cooling system are linked by the Engine Cooling Fans. The Fans: The A/C compressor requires the cooling fans to run to dissipate heat. If the fans are "shutting off randomly" as suspected, the A/C high-side pressure will spike, and the computer will force the compressor off to prevent it from exploding. The Overheating: If those same fans aren't staying on consistently, the car will overheat while idling or in stop-and-go traffic. The Likely Culprits: * Fan Relays: There are three relays in the under-hood fuse box that control low and high speeds. These often burn out. Fan Motor Connectors: Check the actual plugs going into the fans; they often melt or develop loose pins. 3. The PCM Safety Cut-off
On this 3.8L engine, the Power Control Module (PCM) will automatically disable the A/C compressor if the engine temperature exceeds a certain threshold (usually around 225°F–230°F) to reduce the load on the engine. The A/C switching off might not be a fault of the A/C itself, but a symptom of the overheating. Recommended Troubleshooting Steps for Dominoxic:
Clean the Battery Terminals and Main Grounds: This is the cheapest and most likely fix for the "window switch" weirdness. Test Fan Relays: Swap the fan relays with known good ones (like the horn relay) to see if the fans stay on consistently. Check for "Air Pockets": Since they replaced the thermostat, there might be air trapped in the system. These engines have a bleeder screw on top of the thermostat housing that must be opened to let air out while the engine is running. On the 2004 Buick LeSabre, there are two primary grounding bus bars (often called "splice packs") that are notorious for corroding due to moisture getting trapped under the carpet. These are the most likely cause of the "bipolar" electrical behavior Dominoxic is seeing. Primary Ground Bus Bar Locations:
Front Passenger Side: This is the most common failure point. It is located under the door sill plate or tucked just under the carpet near the bottom of the kick panel. Driver Side: A matching grounding block is located in the same position on the driver's side, under the door sill trim. Appearance: They look like small, black plastic rectangular blocks with a dozen or more black wires plugged into them. They are bolted directly to the metal floor pan or inner rocker panel.
Why this explains the symptoms:
Window Switches: The power window motors draw high current. If the ground bus bar is corroded, that current can't exit to the frame easily. It "backs up" and flows into other wires in that same block—like the ones for the A/C controls or the PCM—causing the A/C to glitch or surge when the windows are used. Steering and Brakes: Turning the wheel (Power Steering Pressure Switch) and hitting the brakes (Brake Lamp Switch) also send signals through these grounding points.
"Dominoxic, you need to pull up your door sill plates and peel back the carpet. Look for a small black plastic block with many black wires. If you see 'green crust' or white powder around it, that's your problem. Unbolt it, clean the metal on the car and the metal tab on the block with a wire brush, and re-secure it. This should stop the A/C from acting up when you use your windows or brakes. "
I also have a weird problem with my radio where I can only barely hear static and the faint sound of the radio even if it’s on full blast