2001 grand am(Dead) Need help! Thanks

[sonar601]

2001 Pontiac grand am se v6

It won't start. I turn the key and nothing. It's dead as a door knob.

A little history on it

1. About a month ago had problems accelerating. Press the gas down and it would take about 20 seconds for it finally took off. Had someone check it out. He changed my fuel filter out. It had some build up in it. He said if my filter had build up in my fuel pump needed to be replaced. Just haven't have enough money to get it done.

2. Was at work like 2 weeks ago and car wouldn't start when I got off. Got a jump. Went got a battery and was ok (except for the accelerating problem).

3. Yesterday day when morning I went to start the car and my ABS, TRAC OFF, and BRAKE lights were on. Drove down the street to the store when I came out of the store car wouldn't start. Finally it started and I noticed my clock had reset to 12:00. While driving home pressing down on the gas and it start slowing down. Was able to make it home. Came out later in the morning to start my car and nothing. Turn the key and no noise, nothing at all. No lights working. Nothing.

Has my fuel pump gone all the way out? Would a bad fuel pump cause my car not to start at all?
Could it by my accelerator?
The battery is brand new and has power.


Thanks.

[skibum1111]

Sounds like an alternator problem. check the belt, if its tight have the alternator tested as the car started when you jumped it.

that is really odd..

[sonar601]

I will check the alternator

The car started when I had it jumped with the old battery.

I tried to get it jump this morning (new battery) it still wouldn't do anything. I put the jumpers on my battery and rub the other 2 ends together and got a spark, but when hooked to my buddies battery in his car it still wouldn't do anything. Dead as a door knob.

Any more ideas?
Thanks for any and all help.

[GTP Dad]

Check the battery leads to the starter and the ground. Sometimes these will go bad and you will not see any external problems. This sounds like you are not getting any power to the car from the battery and not actually an alternator or battery issue although the alternator may be going bad and not recharging the battery.

Try this trick. Take a jumper cable and jump the ground (black wire) from the battery to a good contact point on the block. If the car starts then the ground is bad and needs attention. If not then try jumpering across the starter terminals. It is possible you have an ignition switch issue.