98 3800 wont start
spire-32
05-29-2008, 09:14 PM
hi everyone-
here is my problem. last week my car lost coolant and heated up to almost red line while driving. i shut it off and later went to check the coolant after it cooled down. i tried starting the car and but it would not start. it turns over and i am getting spark to all plugs. the fuel pump does prime up when you turn the key on; but no start. i did my research on this forum and found the coolant loss was caused from a failed UIM and replaced it with a new one. i did a coolant pressure check after the new intake and it now holds 15psi all day.
But now the car still has the no start condition. it is not pulling any codes. i do not know what the fuel pressure is because i do not have that gage to read it. i did replace the crank sensor about 6 months ago and i did replace the coolant sensor because it looked like a bi#*# to get to later.
any help is greatly appreciated.
here is my problem. last week my car lost coolant and heated up to almost red line while driving. i shut it off and later went to check the coolant after it cooled down. i tried starting the car and but it would not start. it turns over and i am getting spark to all plugs. the fuel pump does prime up when you turn the key on; but no start. i did my research on this forum and found the coolant loss was caused from a failed UIM and replaced it with a new one. i did a coolant pressure check after the new intake and it now holds 15psi all day.
But now the car still has the no start condition. it is not pulling any codes. i do not know what the fuel pressure is because i do not have that gage to read it. i did replace the crank sensor about 6 months ago and i did replace the coolant sensor because it looked like a bi#*# to get to later.
any help is greatly appreciated.
LittleHoov
05-30-2008, 12:27 AM
Well. it probably wouldnt hurt to check the fuel pressure. Even if you had to rent a gauge for a few minutes, most places would probably refund your money.
Its got to be fuel related, or timing related.
Unrelated, but did you change out the LIM gaskets while you were in there? Theyre prone to failure too. I cant think of any reason why your UIM troubles would cause it not too start, if you were still getting coolant in the cylinders, it shouldnt even crank over.
Its got to be fuel related, or timing related.
Unrelated, but did you change out the LIM gaskets while you were in there? Theyre prone to failure too. I cant think of any reason why your UIM troubles would cause it not too start, if you were still getting coolant in the cylinders, it shouldnt even crank over.
spire-32
05-30-2008, 04:15 PM
i will check the fuel pressure and let you know. i got to thinking that the coolant might have spilled over into the cylinders. the coolant was at the top of the LIN runners. i am goint to try and turn the motor over with no plugs and blow the cyliners out as well. i will let you know what happens.
LittleHoov
05-30-2008, 10:18 PM
yeah, some coolant in there is a possibility, i had tons in mine when my Bonneville blew its UIM, mine was in a hydrolocked state though.
spire-32
06-02-2008, 03:56 PM
well it turned out to be the spark plugs fouled out. i guess the spark i saw was not enough to fire the engine up. dropped a new set in and it started on first crank. i must have shut the motor down before it hydrolocked itself but sucked enough in to foul out the plugs.
LittleHoov
06-02-2008, 04:22 PM
Cool, glad you got it fixed, and an easy fix to boot!
Mine hydrolocked because I tried to start it up a couple times. It began overheating and running rough while running down the highway. I pulled over and turned it off, then waited a few minutes and tried to crank it over. It struggled to crank then finally just seized up.
Did you burn off much coolant? Id keep an eye on your gas mileage, mine went south after that, Im talking 17-18mpg. I believe burning coolant finished off my oxygen sensor. I never got a chance to replace it, I wrapped it around a pole a few weeks later.
Mine hydrolocked because I tried to start it up a couple times. It began overheating and running rough while running down the highway. I pulled over and turned it off, then waited a few minutes and tried to crank it over. It struggled to crank then finally just seized up.
Did you burn off much coolant? Id keep an eye on your gas mileage, mine went south after that, Im talking 17-18mpg. I believe burning coolant finished off my oxygen sensor. I never got a chance to replace it, I wrapped it around a pole a few weeks later.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
