I still haven't gotten the Grand Am running yet. I finally got the new coild and ICM installed after waiting on them forever. I tried starting it and this is what happens.

Battery is dead. Going to get it charged one day this week.

-I hooked up my battery jumper and the starter turns and starts cranking the motor. Doesn't fire. It drains the charger really quickly and I don't think it's getting enough power to fire.

-I tried jumping off another car. When it's connected to the other car, then starter just sits there and clicks; click-click-click-click-click really fast. No cranking. Switch back to jumper, and it'll turn the crank. Back to car jump, and it just clicks.

Has anyone else had any problems like this on their cars? Need help very soon as it's been only in the 40s and STILL need this car up and running. Thanks

I actually had this issue with the Talon. Battery Charger wasn't doing the trick so hooked it up to the Cobalt and then it fired right up. Clicking doesn't sound too good for you though... Maybe try another battery?... Possibly a bad ground to the starter/motor?

Ok I charged my battery since it was dead. Battery is in good condition. It's cranking the motor perfectly fine. Here's what I found out this evening.

-When turning the power to on, you can hear the fuel pump supply pressure in the engine bay.

-When cranking, it's rotating the motor, and then makes a little click sound when it gets to a certain point on the rotation. When I took out the ICM fuse, it didn't make that noise then. This is my 2nd ICM, coil, and that whole top spark connection.

-When I disconnect the fuel pump fuse and start, it does the same thing as above, rotate with the little click.

-You can smell the fuel through the throttle body after cranking.

-Security light is constant on when power is on. No flashing though. CEL stays on while cranking.

-Lastly timing is right on. We redid it numerous times during the build to get perfect. 100% confident in that.

Security light is your problem. On newer cars it disables something in the ignition to prevent it from starting if being stolen... Have you looked into this for Grand Ams? I'm not sure exactly what it disables but it'll screw you over for a long time before you figure it out...

Can't you just deactivate the security by turning the key in the door or something as if your trying to unlock it?

Ya according to all the Grand Am material, if it's activated, it's supposed to flash when the key is On. I tried the procedural to do it (key in ignition for 11min, then off for 30 seconds and repeat or something similiar) with no luck before. Apparently the thing needs to be flashing. And also I hear it cuts out fuel if active. And I'm smelling fuel.

Last night I was working on this thing. I've read that you can cut a yellow secrutiy wire coming off the ignition. It keep the dash light on at all times then, but it bypasses the system. I dug in, found the wire, did what they said, and car still does the SAME exact thing.

I disconnected the Crank Position sensor to see if that would make any changes, and the car didn't even crank then. Had to reset the ECU then.

Still need ideas!

WTF man, this is a really stupid problem to be having. Wish I knew more about your issue to be helpful.

It throwing a CEL by any chance? Maybe you can pull some codes from it and get some more insight.

CEL is on when the car is on in the ON position. But so is every other light also. Maybe I should see if AZ rents the CEL testers and see if there's something there. It doesn't do the 'CEL dance' like our cars do, but then again it is newer.

Did it run when you got it? I know it had a bad hg but would it crank up at all?

Did it run when you got it? I know it had a bad hg but would it crank up at all?

No it didn't. Would crank and just not turn over. Like it would try harder than it is now. Also would shoot water out the HG.

Got a datalogger? OBDII. Plug that shit in and get some codes! ;)

Got a datalogger? OBDII. Plug that shit in and get some codes! ;)

I do... but its Palm based and you need the ISO or whatever of those cars. Was never able to get it work with anything else other than the Talon.

Drag that bitch down to Autozone, problem solved.

Drag that bitch down to Autozone, problem solved.

It's only a mile down the road... but I have to cross 2 pretty busy streets to get there and it's right on the corner where both streets intersect.See accidents happen there all the time. And then trt to make it back. Not the best plan. I'll try to find one.

You might be able to rent a scanner from AZ and then return it when your done and receive back your full amount. That's what I did with something... Just never returned it. lol :lol:

Was working on it today. I pulled out the FIs and rail to see if they are squirting at all. I did a quick crank, saw no fluid. So I cranked it again but longer. Cranked the motor to where the injectors fire that one time around the rotation and BOOM! They sprayed and the spark lit the whole stream in cylinder 1 in flames and set the top of the motor on fire. Good times. Long story short, I have spark and fuel.

Decided to replace the Coolant temp sensor since I read that it will cause problems with firing order if it's bad or something. I was also recommended to keep the car in the ON position for longer than 10min to see if the security light goes off and 20min later... no luck there. When I went to start after I replaced the sensor, battery was near dead and of course jumper is dead. So that's charging right now and then I'll try again.

Have you tried unhooking the battery overnight to see if the ECU will clear the security lock?

Have you tried unhooking the battery overnight to see if the ECU will clear the security lock?

Battery was out of the car for 2 months. Then was in and totally dead for another 2 weeks. Has nothing to do with the ECU.

No luck on the coolant temp replacement. Going to try to get a new ECU and see if that works. Damn