2000 Grand Am SE won't start problem

[wayne3946]

My 2000 Grand Am(87,000 miles) was running fine and then my son decided to use it to jump start his truck. I drove it one time after that and now it won't start. It tries to turn over and sometimes even catches for a second. I replaced the battery and tried the security reset, but it still won't crank. I can hear the fuel pump when I turn on the key. I also replaced one of the inside fuses that has to do with the battery. It was bad. Could any of the fuses under the hood have anything to do with the car not starting? Once when my son's truck would not start we took it in to the Toyota dealership and it was a fuse under the hood. I am not mechanically inclined so I can't do anything major, but any suggestions would be appreciated.

[grfnkl]

Is your car getting power when it won't crank (such as lights, radio, etc...)? If you are getting power throughout the car and the battery is fine, my guess would be that your starter is no good. It would cause teh car to have power but the engine won't crank at all. hope this helps good luck.

[wayne3946]

Originally Posted by grfnkl

Is your car getting power when it won't crank (such as lights, radio, etc...)? If you are getting power throughout the car and the battery is fine, my guess would be that your starter is no good. It would cause the car to have power but the engine won't crank at all. hope this helps good luck.

I am getting power. Also when I tried to start it this morning, it started for about 3 seconds and then quit, so could it still be the starter? If I can't get it fixed myself should I take it to the Pontiac dealership and get it put on the computer or take it to a mechanic in town who I've heard is very good (and reasonable)?

[xeroinfinity]

Did you get any SES or SVS lights on when you last drove it?

theres a few things it could be,
fuel filter,
injectors fuse,
crank shaft postion sensor,
faulty ignition coils,
dirty injectors,
faulty emisions system or damaged ignition system,
the starters toast or the wires are not tight,
and you could be out of gas, these fuel gauges do hav inaccurate readings from bad fuel level sending units.

Thiers a few things,
hope it helps !!
I know, the stealership would BE the Last resort

[wayne3946]

Just had to let you know of a strange solution to my car won't start problem. Yesterday I took all of the fuses to do with the electric system/fuel system out and checked them with my meter. They checked out okay-but car still would not start. Then I took out the relay for the fuel pump and replaced it with a new one--still would not start. This afternoon I decided to put my old relay in and just being curious I turned it upside down and put it in. I in the car and somehow the key had been left in the accessories position and started dinging when I got in. It almost cranked two times and I tried it one more time and it STARTED!!
It ran rough for a few minutes and then ran okay. I drove it around the block and came back. It turned it off and it started again. I did this twice more and it started okay each time. What Happened?!