96 3.8 Firebird wont start

[nattydread]

Hi Guys. Greetings from a Firebird owner in the UK! Hoping someone will be able to help. Was driving along merrily in my 3.8 V6 with some bass hitting. Noticed that the bass seemed to be hitting harder at some points. All of a sudden the engine cut out dead. The dash lights were all all on but car had cut out. Managed to pull it over, but now car will not start at all. Starter turns as normal, but car will not fire up. ANy ideas or suggestions as to what it may be would be a great help!
Cheers mates! (told u im british!)

[BabyBlueBird]

Possibly a fuel pump maybe??

[ikeyballz]

how did the car die? did it hesitate as it died or did it die smoothly? if it died smoothly, its a electrical problem.. if it died hesitantly, its your fuel system..

if you have a spare spark plug, grab it, tossit on a spark plug wire, and get someone to crank the engine as you watch the plug..if it sparks, the elec is good..

im guessing thats a EFI, check if your fuel system is working by letting the pressure in ur rail out..there should be a little tab..be careful cuz gas comes flying out :P might wanna let it evaporate..then turn ign. key to on, if you dont hear fuel pump..thast ur prob... if thats not it, then you might not be getting any power to ur injectors to make em open...

just try the stuff first n get back to us... im usually on :]

[nattydread]

Originally Posted by ikeyballz

how did the car die? did it hesitate as it died or did it die smoothly? if it died smoothly, its a electrical problem.. if it died hesitantly, its your fuel system..

if you have a spare spark plug, grab it, tossit on a spark plug wire, and get someone to crank the engine as you watch the plug..if it sparks, the elec is good..

im guessing thats a EFI, check if your fuel system is working by letting the pressure in ur rail out..there should be a little tab..be careful cuz gas comes flying out :P might wanna let it evaporate..then turn ign. key to on, if you dont hear fuel pump..thast ur prob... if thats not it, then you might not be getting any power to ur injectors to make em open...

just try the stuff first n get back to us... im usually on :]

Hey thanks for getting back to me so quick. Car didnt really hesistate it just cut off kinda without warning (so i guess smoothly). Been having probs for months where it kinda skips and judders when accelerating. But i wasnt really pushing it or anything when it cut. NOt too familiar with some of the car terms and doing anything too technichal (im a newby) However when i turn the key to on i can hear the fuel pump turning (if that means anything) Will get one of my mechhy mates to try the fuel thing as if i attempt you may be reading of UK pontiac owner blowing himself up! Cheers!

[ikeyballz]

haha i see.. well i believe..that pretty much means its the electrical system..yeah, if you hear that buzz when u turn ur key, thats ur fuel pump..

if you get a manual it should be pretty easy to figure out just dont get urself shocked by the 40K volts...i shocked my dad once, while we were working on cars..he wasnt too happy
good luck!

[nattydread]

Dude! I got it. Can you believe it was a little fuse!! There is a fuse in the fusebox under the hood. Had a look and it wasnt even sitting in properly. When i pulled it, it had blown. Ran to shop baught a new one plugged it in and voilla!!! Engine is now purring away like a new borne kitty!!! Still have the problem with skippin and hesitating accelleration though... any ideas?

[ikeyballz]

haha thats awesome. simple things make the biggest difference... hmm skipping..hesitating..im not sure, actually my cars doing that also.. im thinking of checking all my spark plugs ..but im pretty sure thats not it..

[rather_b_boatin]

Hey Nat-Skipping/hesitation could be a number of things. 1st try the (inexpensive) basics-fuel fitler, plugs, wires, and some injector cleaner/drygas. If that does not do the trick then chase the coil packs. Buy one and try it on each cylender until you isolate the problem cylender. Is you CEL illuminated?

[Helmuth48]

Originally Posted by rather_b_boatin

Hey Nat-Skipping/hesitation could be a number of things. 1st try the (inexpensive) basics-fuel fitler, plugs, wires, and some injector cleaner/drygas. If that does not do the trick then chase the coil packs. Buy one and try it on each cylender until you isolate the problem cylender. Is you CEL illuminated?

I had a intermittent skip/miss with NO CEL....Look at plug wires....both my rear wires were burned due to the exhaust manifolld temps. Replaced them with new 8mm and used a heat shield cover over them....No issues for over a year !!!!

[nattydread]

hey guys thanks for all the help! The CEL is not illuminated, came on a few months back and had to change the coilpacks which sorted it out. Will look into the changing the leads... Had the sparks and leads changed in Feb, but i hear wats being said about the heat from the manifold possibly burning the leads. Will let y'all know how i get through

[nattydread]

Dudes, just had the bird serviced and found out what the skipping hesitating during accelartion was.. Basically i was a missfire on no 6 caused by some cowboy mechanic who had broken - yes broken - one of the sparks and rather than replacing it decided to just ram the lead onto the top of it!! Spark was having to jump an inch gap to fire!

Bird is now running sweet and leaving all the lil Uk 1.6 -2.0 in her flames!

[ikeyballz]

haha, love those mechanics, eh.

ive heard that some people try to double gap their spark plugs..it supposedly makes the plug fire more..has anone heard of that? well neways, congrats on a running bird.