Wont start??

[tblake]

2000 Alero, 3.4 V6, 104,000 miles.

Sat since october. Ran when it was parked. Went to start it last week and the battery was dead. Trickle charged it back up, a week later put it in, cranked and started, ran for a few seconds and died. Then it just cranked and cranked.

Fuel guage read a little less than a quarter, so the next day I dumped in a gallon of "winter" gas and some fuel line antifreeze stuff "heat". Turned the key, it started again for a second but died. Then it just cranked and cranked and cranked.

I tried flooring the accellerator for clear flood mode and even feathering it in case its an IAC issue. Nothing seems to work except leaving it sit over night and the first initial crank it will turn over and start for a few seconds.

Its freezing in MN, and the car is covered with snow, so I may just leave it until spring. I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas.

[BNaylor]

Tim, how's fuel pressure?

[tblake]

Hey Bob,

I dont have a guage, so I dont know. All I know is that there is fuel pressure at the rail and I can hear the pump.

What are you saying? That I have pump number 2 to replace? I hope the alero pump is cheaper than the GTP.

I have a question for you though, does the 2000 alrea have VATS or PK3 system? Because the key I have is a copy from a place like wal-mart. Its not the stock olds key. However the security light is not lit on the dash. Although knowing how the previous owner treated it, the bulb could have been removed or burnt out.

[tblake]

Also, if it does have a PK3 system, is there a way I could get a factory key, get it cut to match, and how do I program it to work with the car?

[BNaylor]

Its Passlock which is more like PK3. When I had a Passlock VATS/Immobilizer issue with our Alero the SECURITY light came on. It disables the starter and cuts off the pulse width modulation to the fuel injectors.

[BNaylor]

Also, check to see if the fuel filter was ever replaced. This fuel pump puts out some good PSI. I recall ours was around 58 psi at idle.

Bad news is the gas tank has to be dropped to replace the fuel pump.

[tblake]

Ok, thanks Bob. I may just leave it sit until spring though. Sounds like a PK3 issue since the key is defnatly a copy from wal-mart. Maybe the security light is burnt out so I dont know its on. Maybe I'll try and disable Pk3 with my powertuner and see if it starts.

And dropping the tank won't be a major issue. I've wrestled much larger tanks than the alero tank around. Plus its plastic and only has about an 8th of a tank of gas in it. Not to mention P0440 is on, so it maybe a good reason to insepct the o-ring anyways.

[BNaylor]

Could be a Passlock issue or not. When Passlock VATS sets in the engine won't start last time I checked. In other words "zero" volts to the starter solenoid. Is ignition spark good?

We'll wait for the Spring for your reply.

[tblake]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

...We'll wait for the Spring for your reply.

Thats about how it is over here on the alero side of AF. Slow moving!

Might be a week or so before I have a chance to go poke around with it.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by tblake

Thats about how it is over here on the alero side of AF. Slow moving!

All of AF is slow moving compared to the past.

Good luck with it.

[kingcamus]

well if it starts its either air or fuel stoppage to stop the engine...unless you lose fuel pressure from a leak or half frozen or fuel filter..... or airfilter is completely clogged...more likely a fuel problem

[tblake]

Hey Bob,

0 fuel pressure. Voltage at the pump but its not running.

You know what that means.

Autovalue has a carter pump I will probably pick up. They are good units, arent they?

[BNaylor]

Not sure about Carter fuel pumps today but they were good in the old days and so are the carburetors.

Have fun dropping the tank. I wrote up a tech procedure on it. Someplace in old threads here.

Click here

[tblake]

Sounds good. The Carter pump at autovalue is about 280.00 and 150.00 with my discount so not too bad. Plus it comes with a lifetime warrenty if you buy a fuel filter and its on the same reciept, so that looks like the way I am going to go.

The tank shouldn't be too terrible to get out providing we dont get a foot of snow in MN tomorrow. Its plastic and only has a couple gallons of gas in it at the moment. Plus I was getting the EVAP system leak DTC and after reviewing the TSP about the sending unit o-ring, I was planning on dropping the tank anyways. Just not this soon.

Funny thing was, when I bought the car, the back seat bottom half was removed and just sitting there. I thought it was odd, but whatever. Now it makes me wonder if the pump was acting up for the previous owner and they removed the bottom of the back seat to check for an access cover. Upon not finding one, put it up for auction. Who knows.

Where is the fuel filter located on this one?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by tblake

Where is the fuel filter located on this one?

Tim, in front of the gas tank (under rear passenger area) by the evap emissions charcoal cannister.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.