1991 Grand Am starting problem

[damsel38d]

I have a 1991 Pontiac Grand Am Quad 4 DOHC 138 cid that I am having quite a bit of trouble with. Originally it would stall as I was driving down the road though it never lost power steering or brakes. The tach would spin up to 5 or 6 and die. It always started right up but now it will only start for three seconds and then shut right down and it will not start at all now. I have replaced the coils(both of them), the ignition control module, the ignition coil cover, the fuel filter, the knock sensor, the spark plugs. The engine would run and shimmy just before it broke down though once you got it above 50 it settled right down. Prior to this the engine had a lot of power and was no real trouble except for the stalling problem. It is getting gas because I can smell it very strongly and the fuel ressure regulator is pumping the fuel with a lot of pressure. I can hear the fuel pump whirring. Help????????

[fluffybunny]

well start by double checking.... make sure you have spark across all four plugs....sure your plugs are good? if youre getting fuel in pull the vaccum hose on top of the fuel pressure regulator and if there is fuel in the hose, you may be dumping too much fuel...have the regulator changed. if youve got good spark and fuel seems to be working properly, do a compression check make sure you didnt jump time or lose your time. hope that helps some...keep us updated

[1991grandamle]

I had a 1986 camaro with a standard hei distributor and i had the same tachometer behavior and i would be driving and the car would just die it would start sometimes and not others. After many headaches and 3! different "new" distributors i found that the tach was bad and some how shorted out a module on the inside of the distributor so maybe unhook the tach and replace module??

[adrenalin2k4]

Also check your crack shaft position sensor. I almost the same thing wrong with mine. i replaced and it works great now.