92 Grand Am won't start and then some

OK, since like March, I have had nothing but trouble out of this car....It started dying on me when it would get hot, replaced computer x2, and some other small stuff I can't remember....solved that by replacing the crank shaft position sensor and the fuel pump. Not long after the new fuel pump was put on, it started to run for way too long when you would first start the car, would have to crank and crank till it finally decided to start. Replaced the fuel pump relay and seemed to fix that. Now that it is gettin cooler here, the darned thing won't start when it gets cold, acts as if it isn't getting enough gas. I would have to give it gas constantly for like 10 minutes before it would act right without dying and making an awful noise. Noticed that the converter and manifold were glowing red by accident and figured that the converter was plugged....so I cut it off and gutted it and had it welded back on. Seemed to do fine the first day, except it seemed to hesitate a bit and didn't want to pull a hill. I assumed the plugs were fouled, so, I replaced them and the wires. Problem solved? Yeah, right!! Now it is doing the same thing, acting like it isn't getting enough gas to keep it running (when cold), but starting fine it the weather is warm enough, and when I do get it started, it kinda backfires a bit and makes awful noises. I think the fuel pump is bad and not working properly, but others have suggested that it may have jumped timing. I can't see it being the timing because it is only when it is cold......I'm ready to shoot this car!!! Oh, it has thrown off the serpentine belt twice, don't know why...and screwed up a harmonic balancer from doing this....hhmm, it may help if I tell you a littel more about the car....92 Grand Am SE, 3.3L V6, about 140,000 miles..........Oh yeah, throws codes 26 and 27 when I do the code key (same as when I had the fuel pump and crank shaft position senosor replaced) but nothing more specific. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

http://www.troublecodes.net/GM/92-93_33N_mfi.shtml

26 Quad-driver sense voltage shows a low voltage when battery voltage should be present or if the sense voltage shows battery voltage when a low voltage should be present.

27 3rd gear switch was closed or grounded for 10 seconds when vehicle was in 3rd gear, or drive gear was open when engine was first started.


have your alternator checked, check your battery with a load tester, my guess is you have something going on with your charging system and the car missed a shift sometime. Just guesses, but now you know what the codes mean.

My alternator is fine and I have a brand new battery. And the codes you gave are not correct, according to my book, both codes 26 and 27 are for the Quad driver module.....which even the Pontiac dealership can't tell me exactly what it is, just that it is in the computer........These are the same codes I got when the fuel pump and the crank shaft position sensor malfunctioned before, and is the reason I believe I have a bad/weak fuel pump (that and the symptoms displayed). But thanks for the input...........Anymore suggestions, Anyone????? PLEASE!!!!!!

OK, since it has gotten colder, I have developed yet another problem...I have trouble starting the car after it has been sitting for more than 8 or so hours (explained above).....Once I finally get it running it is fine, but to be on the safe side, I start it every couple of hours at work to keep it from getting cold. OK, here's the new problem....After about 10 minutes or so of driving in the cold, the car will jump a few times then die if I don't get pulled over quick enough. I have to sit and hold the gas to keep it running, while it is making that awful popping and backfiring sound. Finally after a few minutes, it is back to running normal....I JUST DON'T GET THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!! Is it something getting cold and causing this or what? I need help!! PLEASE!!!

had same problem my coil packs were cracked had them replaced now runs smooth checked them visual and check the plug wires also.

does sound like faulty spark. Most cracks are small, sometimes not even visable.

Unless you can test the coils , In the dark crank it over or hav someone crank it,(Running would show the best), and check out under the hood for blue sparks. I wouldnt try to touch them! IT will bite a reall good one. If you see blue sparks your coils are toast, time for new ones.

I admire your diligence and persistence. Do you really want to spend more frustrating time trying to find out what else is and could go wrong? Have you checked with a professional mechanic? Maybe it's time to throw in the towel after all the car has already 140K miles behind it. Unless you really love the car.

I replaced the coil pack back in like March.....new plugs and wires. And yes, I LOVE my car. I still think it isn't getting gas. To test the theory, I sprayed gas in the throtle body when it wouldn't start, fired right up. I have checked with several professional mechanics, they can't seem to tell me what the problem is because the codes 26 and 27 seem to throw everyone off. Since the gas trick seemed to work, I still say it is the fuel pump and am going to try to talk my regular mechanic into replacing it. But, any more suggestions are welcome! Thanks!!!!

fuel pressure regulator? Have you changed this out yet, its a cheap part you can try yourself. The other question I have for you goes back to a previous post you had, you "cleaned out the converter" because you seen it glowing red, on my quad 4 car I have a resinator pipe just behind the converter, when my converter went bad it broke apart and a big chunk of the converter made it thru the pipe to the resinator pipe, ran fine until one day that chunk closed off my exahust pipe, any chance this happened on yours?

If your car is a V6 it should have a valve to test the fuel pressure near the fuel rail, I would do that before you have the pump changed.

those are the only three ideas I have, and I find it hard to believe your fuel pump is bad again, but by all means possible. good luck, sounds like you've had a rough time with this one.

I replaced the coil pack back in like March.....new plugs and wires. And yes, I LOVE my car. I still think it isn't getting gas. To test the theory, I sprayed gas in the throtle body when it wouldn't start, fired right up. I have checked with several professional mechanics, they can't seem to tell me what the problem is because the codes 26 and 27 seem to throw everyone off. Since the gas trick seemed to work, I still say it is the fuel pump and am going to try to talk my regular mechanic into replacing it. But, any more suggestions are welcome! Thanks!!!!


check fuel pressure regulator
sound like good advise to me too
i would do this
before spending more time or money on parts