95 Grand Am Won't Start

[dcorniffe]

HELLO I HAVE A 95 GRAND AM 3.1 THAT I JUST CHANGED THE HEAD GASKETS AND INTAKE GASKETS ON AND ONCE THE ENGIN WAS PUT TOGETER I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP WORKING AND I HAVE FUEL PRESURE. I HAVE SPARK AT ALL PLUGS AND I PUT BRAND NEW PLUGS IN. THE CAR WILL TY TO START BUT WILL NOT FIRE. I HAVE CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS ON THE CAR AND MADE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS HOOKED UP PROPERLY. I AM AT A LOOS AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING IT NOT TO START. HELP ME PLEASE BEFORE I BLOW THE DAMN THING UP. THANKS

[Northcat]

did you remember to plug your temp sensor back in?

are you sure your firing order is correct?

But your problem sounds like a temp sensor to me. The sensor is telling your computer your car is already running at a certain temperature, so the computer thins the fuel and expects some intake from the EGR valve, but you don't have any until the car fires.

My 2000 GA did the same thing earlier this winter. $7.00 at Autozone. GM mechanic told me EGR valve was bad...it was the temp sensor.

On my 3.4 the temp sensor is located on the lower intake manifold just under the thermostat on the right front of the engine behind the water neck.

[dcorniffe]

thanks i will try that and see if that works. if anyone else has any other suggestions please let me know

[dcorniffe]

ok well i tryed replacing the coolent temp sensor and the car still does not fire please help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Northcat]

well...

it's not a very complicated, if you have fuel, compression and spark...it should fire.

You didn't mess with the camshaft or timing chain when you replaced the heads did you? If it were a GM 350, timing is the first thing I would have said, but as we all know, nothing is as simple as it was in 1979.

Are you sure you got the whole wiring harness plugged back in?
All 3 leads into the coil pack?
Your injectors?

Did it run before you pulled the heads?

Also...and just a negative thought here...but you just replaced the head gaskets, are you sure the head(s) are not cracked and the pistons aren't pulling in too much coolant to fire? You could check that, just empty the coolant system and see if it starts.

I don't have an answer, if you replaced the head gaskets, then you are enough of a gear head to guess at your problem as much as I am.

[Slade901]

Make sure you have put back any relays that you may have removed during the process.
It could be that your fuel injector are not activating. Try using a starting fluid to see if that engine at least starts. Remove the intake hose going to the throttle body and spray some starting fluid (only a little though). It should at least start the engine for a few seconds. If the engine starts, it could be something related in fuel which might be the fuel injectors not working.

[dcorniffe]

i have checked the egine again and again. all relay, plug, senors are pluged in correctly. the heads are not cracked and i did not touch the timing chain or crank sensor. the car was running before i changed the head gaskets and will just turn over now but will not fire. again i can hear the fuel pump, i have fuel presure and spark to all plugs. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Northcat]

Trying to help you dude. When something doesn't work, it's time to trouble shoot.

If you're that irritated with it, then take the upper intake back off, pull the fuel rail and make sure all 6 injectors are working. If they are you have fuel.

Check the spark, make sure the firing order is correct and your gaps are right on your plugs. Make sure your plug wires aren't grounding out or jumping to ground. If plugs are good, and wires are good.

FIRING ORDER For your 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM:

FIRING ORDER 1-2-3-4-5-6

<<--front of car

|.....| |5|
|2-1| |2|
|.....|
|.....| |3|
|4-3| |6|
|.....|
|.....| |4|
|6-5| |1|

DISTRIBUTORLESS IGNITION - COIL ASSEMBLIES TO RIGHT ENGINE SHOWN TO LEFT



Go to autozone and borrow a compression gauge, test each cylinder's compression. If all cylinders are within specs.

then like I said: fuel + spark + compression = car fires.

Some other ideas:

clogged fuel filter maybe?
Fuel regulator?
maybe a cracked vaccuum line to the fuel regulator?

Since you've checked and rechecked the engine, perhaps your problems lie somewhere in the computer.

Why did you have to replace the head gaskets? How did you know you needed too? Did you have the heads resurfaced? Your heads weren't warped were they?

Did you have any parts left over after you got it all back together?

[dcorniffe]

Hey all i have finally figured out what was wrong with my car. it turns out that the push rods were not put in the correct spot. my question now is can anyone tell me the correct placement of the push rods? i know some are longer then the other and i need to know where exactly they go.
thanks.