Big Problem w/ 94 Grand Prix, please help!

[toast6977]

Well here's how it starts: My grandma was driving down the road, the dash lights came on, and the car quit.. That's been 4 days and it hasn't started since.

It's a 3.1L

We have checked everything we can think of, and running out of ideas. Cannot even diagnos the problem at this point..

Plugs are fine, they all have spark. After attempting to start it, it tries and tries to start, but just can't quit get there.

After trying, we remove the plugs to find them all wet. It's gas.

Fuel pressure reads between 44-45 and holds firm.

Checked the Crankshaft Sensor at autozone, tested fine.

Also tested the ICM (ignition control module). Tests fine.

Running a scanner on the computer turns up nothing related to this problem. (it does turn up 1 problem completely unrelated though, and its w/ the transmission, and actually was fixed but not cleared prior to this problem.. it's now cleared)

Also, we thought maybe there was water in the gas, so we've tried fuel additive, to see if maybe that would help, to no avail..

Ether won't even start this car.

Definately running out of ideas, and I thought I would turn here and ask if you good folks had any suggestions, or anything else we could possibly try, because it's always better to talk it over with a few other people.

Thanks a bunch!

[crazyinkc]

3.1 L ? If it is, try the cam position sensor. It is mounted in front below the powersteering pump. A real PITA to get out but might be the problem. Give it a look. Hope this helps.

[toast6977]

Cool, i appreciate your reply.. Something new to try, hadn't even thought of that one yet.

[y2kpa2]

you said it is getting spark and fuel but still does not fire? check your firing order that you can find in a chilton manual or www.autozone.com good luck!!

[toast6977]

firing order is correct. its just 1 2 3 4 5 6.

[troy1]

how about the mass air flow sensor?? bad gas?

[S13Sil40]

i think that my 94 3.1 grandprix is doing the SAME thing as yours. it died on the highway this morning and wont start now.
it tries and tries and tries, but doesnt run
this is after my dick of a brother left the accessories on all night and drained the battery. he jumped the car, and left in the morning to have it die. So, our alternator is prob bad, but now we cant even jump it.
Now, when i try to turn it over, it turns n turns, then just starts clicking.
if i find a solution, ill let you know.

feels like it could be lots of things.

[toast6977]

alright. well, we finally gave in (after 2 weeks), and took it to the local repair shop to have it diagnosed. will post back as soon as they tell us what the problem was, and maybe that will help you out too.. i appreciate the help from you all.
-toaster-

[GTPgirl]

Originally Posted by S13Sil40

i think that my 94 3.1 grandprix is doing the SAME thing as yours. it died on the highway this morning and wont start now.
it tries and tries and tries, but doesnt run
this is after my dick of a brother left the accessories on all night and drained the battery. he jumped the car, and left in the morning to have it die. So, our alternator is prob bad, but now we cant even jump it.
Now, when i try to turn it over, it turns n turns, then just starts clicking.
if i find a solution, ill let you know.

feels like it could be lots of things.

My '94 did that same thing once, turns out it was just my battery. My mom's Park Avenue did it, so we replaced the battery, and it died again, turns out hers WAS the alternator. So it could be either, because when my '94 did that, it was so dead it wouldn't even turn over.

Are your interior lights coming on, or can you turn the headlights on? Because turning over and over and over and making the clicking noise sounds like what my '97 did when the fuel pump went out...if the lights are coming on, it might not be the battery or the alternator. It might've jumped off on a fluke. Especially if it died on the highway like that.

[toast6977]

haha! No compression. That's the problem.

[S13Sil40]

no compression?
what caused that? how did they fix it?

my 94' will turn and turn and turn...It's getting gas (spark plugs get wet), and spark (friend shocked himself lol), but it just wont start.
We just changed the plugs wire and fuel filter (part of the fuel line too =/).
Because it doesnt run, i cant bring it to Autozone to check things with a computer.

but yours was compression huh?

[durrel]

I've seen this problem before. Wasn't good either. The problem that I had was on a lumina with a 3.1 and also on a pontiac 6000 with the same engine. What happened was the timing chain broke. The timing chain itself is not hard to change and doen't cost more than 40 dollars, but the real problem is the 3.1 IS an interference engine. When the timing chain breaks some of the valve usually come in contact with the pistions. This bends them, causing them not to close. No compression to that cylinder. So when this happens, you will need to change the cylinder heads. It is usally better to go used, and in a pair.

[bombergp]

Toast6977, please tell us at what odometer milage this happened! One other thing, I heard from few good mechanics to NEVER jump batteries as the connecting and disconnecting of jumper cables can send a static spike to the computer killing it! Only charge batteries with the car cables off, then rehook-up if battery IZ charged.