Wont Start

[biggflintmi]

I just bought a 93 Grand Am SE 2.3L Quad OHC with auto trans. Its getting gas i can hear the pump kick on and i sprayed starting fluid into the intake and nothing. I dont know a lot about this car yet im going to buy a book later today. My question is are there any common problems with these cars i should check first before i start messing with coil packs? I'm hoping its just a sensor or something simple.

[Scrapper]

have you checked at coil pack and see if it's getting spark to plugs? should be blue spark not yellow. if you get a maual for that get a haynes.

[biggflintmi]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

have you checked at coil pack and see if it's getting spark to plugs? should be blue spark not yellow. if you get a maual for that get a haynes.

I just got a Haynes manual but its dark now. Ill check the spark in the morning. I couldnt do much other than take the panel off with the coils on it due to the fact my tool bag was in the other car and it was gone all day. I'll keep you updated. ty for responding.

[biggflintmi]

I'm not getting spark. I called the auto store and they dont rent spark testers. i hooked the wires into it and pulled a plug and touched a screwdriver from the motor to the plug and im getting nothing.the book says to test the wires going to the IDI unit but it says its 11 wire and mines only 8 wire. I checked the book and all the pictures corespond to my motor. The plug looks like it was built that way so i dont think its missing wires. So now im not sure what to do. the book also says to use an injector harness test light and the advanced auto doesnt rent those either. I have a multimeter tester but i dont have the ones that lights up when you touch it. So why is my plug different and what should i test next??

[thephantom1492]

First, check for blew up fuses.

Then I suggest that you get your ECU scanned for code.

You might have a faulty crank sensor too...

As for the difference in wires, your manual is wrong, unless someone tampered with the wiring, but then it wouln't have worked... it's common to have errors in those kind of book, sadly.

Also, is the security light blinking when you put the key to run? If so the passlock protection has been tripped... and might be the issue.

[biggflintmi]

Originally Posted by thephantom1492

First, check for blew up fuses.

Then I suggest that you get your ECU scanned for code.

You might have a faulty crank sensor too...

As for the difference in wires, your manual is wrong, unless someone tampered with the wiring, but then it wouln't have worked... it's common to have errors in those kind of book, sadly.

Also, is the security light blinking when you put the key to run? If so the passlock protection has been tripped... and might be the issue.

I don't see a security light. I jumped it with a paper clip to get the code and it just keeps flashing 12. What does it mean if it wont give you a code?

[thephantom1492]

Code 12 mean that you entered diagnostic mode. If you only see that code it mean that there is no detected fault.

However, be sure that you don't see another code after it.

I'ld use a test lamp to see if there is any pulse at the coil connector.

If none, probably that the crankshaft position sensor is faulty. No sensor, no spark.

[biggflintmi]

So i just put a crankshaft sensor in and it still wont start. I read to only use digital multimeters or you can short out the system so im going to get one since mine isnt digital.im going to get a test lamp too.

[biggflintmi]

Turns out Advance Auto lied to me because you can have the icm tested. I just went to Auto Zone and my icm and my coils are fine. I'm pretty much stumped now. I tested to make sure the crank sensor wires were getting power at the icu plug so i know the wires aren't broken between there. Do you guys think i might need a new computer?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by biggflintmi

Turns out Advance Auto lied to me because you can have the icm tested. I just went to Auto Zone and my icm and my coils are fine. I'm pretty much stumped now. I tested to make sure the crank sensor wires were getting power at the icu plug so i know the wires aren't broken between there. Do you guys think i might need a new computer?

so your still not getting spark? about all that can be done is new computer if all fuses are good. now i did run into a problem on a 4 cyl. probe and it was a wire on the hot side of battery cable.

[biggflintmi]

I tried spraying ether into it again but this time i had my girlfriend in there with the pedal to the floor.It acted like it might start then it shot a fireball out of the air filter box and burnt the hair off my knuckles. So i got the fire put out and called it a day lol. So maybe i'm not getting gas after all and i didn't spark test it right? How do you test fuel pressure when there isn't a valve on there? Can i rent a pressure tester or will i have to buy one?

[thephantom1492]

first of, do you hear the fuel pump when you turn the car on? it should turn on for 2 seconds then stop, to prime the line.

You will have a test port somewhere on the engine fuel lines (metal), covered with a plastic cap...

if you don't hear any noise from the pump, take a rubber hammer, bang on the underside of the fuel tank, with a bit of luck it will make the pump turn a bit, causing it to not be on the dead spot anymore. That would confirm that your pump is shot

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by biggflintmi

I tried spraying ether into it again but this time i had my girlfriend in there with the pedal to the floor.It acted like it might start then it shot a fireball out of the air filter box and burnt the hair off my knuckles. So i got the fire put out and called it a day lol. So maybe i'm not getting gas after all and i didn't spark test it right? How do you test fuel pressure when there isn't a valve on there? Can i rent a pressure tester or will i have to buy one?

well then your getting spark if it shot fireball out it's just not getting gas up there and there is a cap to check your fuel pressure on the rail you can rent a guage from autozone when you take it back you get your money back.

[biggflintmi]

There is no valve (schrader valve i think). I looked for it but its not on there. I took the fuel line off at the rail and stuck it in a bottle and its pumping. However i decided to test the circuit of the wires again on the crank sensor and the ground wouldn't light up. I checked it at the ICM plug. So far i've only seen one ground by the crankshaft on the block in front are there any other spots i should look. The ground in front looks clean but i will clean it anyway. If that doesn't work then what? Run new wires to the sensor?

[dro83]

Well I'm no mechanic, just a lady trying to find out why my car keeps blowing what I think is the ignition fuse...2002 grand am 104k just purchase last Monday...runs perfect then I go to start it up ...turns over but won't start
Problem is the blown fuse...try checking that...starts back up no problem about 10 times then fuse blows again

If that's your problem at least you'll have that out of the way and you can join me in my quest to figure out why it keeps blowing in the first place