Sometimes it would start, sometimes not. I had to have it towed 4 times, to two different shops. Each shop suggested about 4 different solutions. So a total of 8 possible solutions "we think this "might" be wrong". Each solution would cost about $400.

At the second shop , the buick dealer, I let them do one "experiment". They tore out my third-party security system, thinking that was causing some sort of security cutoff of the engine during starting. For some reason, the car behaved OK for a couple of weeks after that. Then suddenly it wouldn't start again. So that "repair" was not the solution.

The reason there were so many possible solutions suggested was that the "Check Engine" light was lit on the dash. They checked the computer diagnostics, and it suggested all sorts of possible problems.

I was not going to allow experimentation. I told the dealer that if he had to , he could get the detroit engineers on the phone and figure it out. No more experimentation. Just figure out what is wrong, and fix it.

The next day the dealer called me to say they found the problem. The catalytic converter had collapsed inside, which blocks the exhaust coming from engine. Thus, the engine would start, then die.

The car has been starting OK since then. But I still have to try crank it a few times on cold mornings.