93 cierra will not start

Here's my situation...
I have a 93 cutlass cierra with 3.3 V6. Last weekend I gave the car a complete tune-up: plugs, wires, PCV, air filter, fuel filter and cleaned some gunk from the mass air flow. The tune up was needed due to the car not running real well. Hesitation, lack of power and lack of smooth idle at initial, cold, startup. After tune-up ran like new again. Since the tune-up, approximately 300 miles, the car does not start. Monday morning the car started, went to breakfast one block away and the car would not restart. Initially it turned over and before I couldn't hit the gas and it died and did not restart. After sitting for an hour and a half it started and drove it home. Five minutes later it started right up. Still drives like new. Go to work, in another vehicle, come home and the car won't start. Tried to place fuel pressure tester on and shows 0 pressure. But if I'm not mistaken it will show 0 unless it's running. Fuel pressure works off of oil pressure? right. I turned the key on and even cranked it over, still no pressure. When I turn the key on, I can hear the fuel pump. The thing is, once it's starts, it runs great, just can't get it to start. Any ideas on the problem and any ideas on how to get it to start.

First, fuel pressure is not regulated by oil pressure. To properly check fuel pressure, connect gauge, and have helper turn on key to ON possition but do not start vehicle. The pump should turn on for 2 seconds and the gauge should rise to about 50psi or so. It should get there fairly quickly and stay there without dropping. Turn key off, wait ten seconds, and turn key back on if pressure does not reach 50psi the first time. If pressure does not hold, you could be looking at a new fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator. If the pressure is good, then try to start the car, pressure may drop slightly. If it still doesn't start, here are some other possibilities: The crankshaft position sensor is prone to high heat and will, over time, fail internally. This sensor is actually two sensors in one physical unit and is located behind the harmonic balencer pulley. Not a very expensive part, although you do need a impact gun and socket to remove the balencer pulley. The other sensor is a camshaft position sensor located just to the left of the water pump. Although this sensor may not be on your 3.3L, it may only be offered on the 3.8L V6. You may want to check for it anyway. It fails because of heat too. The last thing may be a faulty ignition control module, the most expensive part of the three. I went to www.partsamerica.com and got you these part numbers for reference. These parts are also sold at Advance Auto. I would replace them in the order I described. Crank Sensor "CSS30" ,Cam sensor (if so equipped) "CSS21", Ignition Module "EL183". There is one last thing, however. You mentioned cleaning some gunk from the Mass Air Flow, it's possible you could have damaged it. If you get it started, try tapping on it with the end of a screwdriver, if the car stalls, this means you could have a broken MAF. It's not to scientific of a test, but more often then not, it's broken internally. Hope some of this helps. Your engine is a very reliable motor, most people however get a little frustrated though because it does have a few more sensors that can cause real annoying problems. Tell me how it goes -Chris

Your cranshaft sensor and balancer is a whole different ballgame that the 3.8 l.....

on your 3.3L your crankshaft sensor is actually located behind your harmonic balancer and is inaccessable unless you remove your balancer but BEWARE: you need 3 jaw puller similiahttp://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/OTC-6267.htmlr to this:

and this $342 lovely tool to put sensor back on:
http://www.etoolcart.com/browseproducts/Crankshaft-Sensor-Checker-J-37089-B.HTML

I got a new sensor (ac delco), new balancer off of 'net, and had my local dealership do the labor (hour & half) for less then that $342 tool alone costed.

By the way have you checked your 15 amp fuel pump fuse under the hood? left side of compartment towards front of car (kind of by passenger headlamps) this may do wonders.

I would check the fuel pump fuse, then check firing order of your plug wires (you never know), do the screwdriver test on your MAF if those are all good then have your ignition control moduale tested.

If all the above are good then delve into the harmonic balancer and cs sensor arena of your 3.3l because this is an ugly repair. If you choose to buy the expensive tools alone and try to tackle this yourself this is not a normal harmonic balancer. This has to be placed back on car to .025 of and inch.

Lastly you could make sure your all your female pins are touching male in your dis ig mod. Read many a posting that said this was @ fault