3300 v6 not firing right help please!!!

I have gone though everything i can think of anything my dad can think of anything any one of my friends and mechanics can think of, im stumped. my 93 grand am gt with the 3.3 v6 and 167,789 miles on it 60,xxx on the engine, had the head gasket go out first it was leaking oil and that did not bug me so much then it failed between compression and the water jacket and the blew out my heater core. also when i was running it overheated without warning my heating gauge would just jump out of no where and i would have white smoke coming out of my hood that tells me water but idk what to try. so i went though all the trouble of replacing my head gasket, intake gasket and every other gasket in the car, i replaced everything with brand new (spark plugs, wires, everything) now cylinders 1 and 4 are not firing or backfiring or something i cant tell i remove the plug wires from the coil when the car is on and there is spark and i know everything is ok there are sparks coming from the coil pack, why are cylinders not firing! i replaced the coil pack to the car with one from the salvage yard and same problem with only thoughs two cylinders im completely puzzled i need help i have gone without my car for close to 3 months now, it does run but only on 4 out of 6 so if someone can give me something i can try i would greatly appreciate it. could it be a sensor or the computer any idea im desprate to have my car run again please help someone.

Thank you for taking your time to read this :)

Welcome to AF!

Sounds odd they are getting spark but not firing the 1-4 plugs. Try swapping this coil with one that works.

Could be your ignition control module- ICM, or possibly your crank sensor is going out.

I'd double check all your connections/wiring to-from the ICM and crank sensor and ECM.

Hope that helps

Thank you for welcoming me :smile:

I did replace the ICM and coil packs i also heard that the ICM in grand am's go out if you have to jump the car or if you recharge and discharge the battery allot is this true???? but the ones i replaced the ICM with was another used one... i also played musical coils with my 6 coil packs and 2 ICM's nothing changes... I dont know where the crack sensor is and ECM is the computer in the car right and if thats bad its going to cost allot of money. on top of everything else i was told that the 3.3 v6 is one of GM's worst engines i really love my grand am but if it is going to cost me more to repair it then what i bought it for i guess im going to have to cut my losses :(. I dont want to go though this every year replaceing the head gaskets... :runaround: I will try all of thoughs things you told me again and the new ones i did not think of and if that dosent work my dad said he will pay for the diognostic fee at the local GM dealer.

THANK YOU for your help! :iceslolan

Used parts are sketchy to use, they to could be worse off then the one you started with. Mainly from sitting and not being used.

The crank sensor is behind the crank shaft pulley. You should be able to see the sensor wires running up to the ICM. The ECM isnt as expensive as you might think, probly under $100 but we wont jump to conclusions just yet.

And the 3.3 is actualy one of the best motors out there, as far as V6's go. Its the same 90 degree V6 engine as the 3.8 which is a great engine IMO.

Have you checked the plugs that arent firing right ?
If they are fouled out you could just have an injector stuck open flooding those cylinders.

Also you can probly check the trouble codes and see if the crank sensor or if something else is going wrong.

Keep us posted if you figure it out!

well i found out what was wrong sigh and its not fun at all ..... :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: one of the rocker arms on cylinder 1 broke and killed the houseing broke a valve and idk if the piston got damaged so idk what to do atm but the GM dealer told me that it would cost 4 to 5k to fix it and i payed 1600$ for my car so what should i do? do i cut my loses or do i try and fix it? im so mad about this! :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: :banghead::banghead:

Ouch!!

That does blow !!

I'd say F%$# the stealership, thats way to damn high! :disappoin
Though it is worth fixing IMO, and if you realy like the car.

I'd bet your piston(s) are ok. If so, the most you need is a set of heads , push rod(s) and some gaskets.
Probley $400-500 tops for parts.
I'd try and find a smaller shop that does good work or you can do it your self.

Not sure on your location, but here are a couple places to look up parts in your area(by zip code)should be able to find some heads..
http://www.rockauto.com/
http://www.cherry-auto.com/

I found this one right off at rockauto;
1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE 3.3L 204cid V6 MFI (N) : Engine : Cylinder Head MARSHALL Part # H4041 {Reman}
CAST 0619 4250, (*)2136; D-SHAPED EX PORTS; 7 BOLT INT ONLY, HAS 3/8" ROCKER STUD BOLT HOLES
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 7 business days
price core total
$254.89 $75.00 $329.89

That's remanufactored and ready for use.

Hope that helps and Good Hunting ! :thumbsup:


well i found out what was wrong sigh and its not fun at all ..... :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: one of the rocker arms on cylinder 1 broke and killed the houseing broke a valve and idk if the piston got damaged so idk what to do atm but the GM dealer told me that it would cost 4 to 5k to fix it and i payed 1600$ for my car so what should i do? do i cut my loses or do i try and fix it? im so mad about this! :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: :banghead::banghead:

Thank you so much for all your help if the piston is not messed up then it is worth fixing to me but im not paying the crazy price the GM dealer wants!!! I really do appreciate everything You have done for me :grinyes: THANK YOU!!!

You are Welcome hyorinmaru !

Keep us posted and let us know how it goes! :cheers: