92 Grand am

[robgordon45]

I have a 92 Grand Am, blown head gasket, still ran, drove it up on the ramps, did the head job, lol, when I tried to start it all it does is turn over. So the checks start, compression? yep. fuel? yep. spark? nope. oh by the way it's the 2.3 quad four. Ok no spark start checking, control module checks out ok, has power coming to it. coil pack works in my other quad four car so know it's good. What next? Any ideas guys? or gals?

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome Robgordon45! sounds like maybe the crank position sensor loose or not working/unhooked or the Ignition module. The IGN MOD may have power to it but does it have power going out? Did you get the timimg marks dead on?
Maybe this will get u goin in the right direction, Hope this helps.

[robgordon45]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

Welcome Robgordon45! sounds like maybe the crank position sensor loose or not working/unhooked or the Ignition module. The IGN MOD may have power to it but does it have power going out? Did you get the timimg marks dead on?
Maybe this will get u goin in the right direction, Hope this helps.

Pulled it out and checked it looks good. Also checked for voltage and its almost 5 volts And yes the timing marks are dead on. I took the module in to Autozone and it checked out fine.. I've been a shadetree mechnic for 25 + years and this thing has me stumped. And actually it's the first thing I've ever worked on that didn't have some kind of a distrubtor.

[xeroinfinity]

Hey robgordon45, well it has me alittle stumped too. if u hav fuel and it would hav to be the Fire end. could be the PCM, but u drove it before, Hum..

You said, 'coil pack works in my other quad four car so know it's good'. is this quad 4 the same size engine?2.3 or 2.4 ? i has to be something in the line of the spark to getting to the plugs. Good Luck

[gmack221]

Does your check engine light come on when you turn the key on? If not then your PCM (computer) isn't coming on. Check this first, if it does come on then I would check your ICM (ignition control module) plug for bad connection (corroded or bent connectors) as this is a comon problem. My mechanic buddy says if you take a small paper clip and insert it into this connector and you don't feel a drag you have bent something in there. He also suggest rather then using a tester end in this connector you insert a paperclip and attach tester to the paper clip.

You said everything (coil packs, ICM, & coil housing) work when put on another quad 4 car, do the ones from that car work on this car? Sounds like a bent connector in the wire harness, take your time you can fix it.

If it isn't any of these things I would check a manual and see what each wire going to this plug does, then check to make sure you have everything it needs to start, that should help you figure out what it is.

[skibum1111]

When I changed the head gasket and head on my quad, it took about 5 minutes of continous cranking to get the car to start. The air has to bleed out of the fuel system and the computer has to figure things out. When it finally did fire it wouldn't idle, would just quit unless I kept my foot on the gas. Same thing, the computer has to relearn the idle settings. After about 5 minutes of running with my foot on the gas it would idle by itself, then I let it idle for about 45 minutes to make sure the air was out, nothing was leaking, and the damn thing wouldn't catch fire (had that happen on a different car and the fire extinguisher was close by). Since then no problems. Hope this helps.

[robgordon45]

Originally Posted by gmack221

Does your check engine light come on when you turn the key on? If not then your PCM (computer) isn't coming on. Check this first, if it does come on then I would check your ICM (ignition control module) plug for bad connection (corroded or bent connectors) as this is a comon problem. My mechanic buddy says if you take a small paper clip and insert it into this connector and you don't feel a drag you have bent something in there. He also suggest rather then using a tester end in this connector you insert a paperclip and attach tester to the paper clip.

You said everything (coil packs, ICM, & coil housing) work when put on another quad 4 car, do the ones from that car work on this car? Sounds like a bent connector in the wire harness, take your time you can fix it.

If it isn't any of these things I would check a manual and see what each wire going to this plug does, then check to make sure you have everything it needs to start, that should help you figure out what it is.

The icm's are different so they won't interchange but the coil packs do. I would assume the other one works as the other car starts and runs with either coil pack. Tried tightining the connectors no luck, anyone wanna buy a grand am cheap? lol and yes to the check engine /service engine light coming on.

[skibum1111]

When you first turn the ignition on, do you hear the fuel pump? If not, check the relay, you might have jiggled something loose when yanking on the head bolts.