92 Lumina Z34 3.4 Wants to start, won't

[gaitch32]

My daughter has a 92 Z34 with the 3.4 engine in it. It has been running flawlessly for years. She brought it home at night and then next morning, it wouldn't start. It pops every once in a while, but won't really start. The engine has about 120,000 mile on it and the timing belt was replaced about 20,000 miles ago...the second one, so I am hoping to rule that out. It seems to have spark although not ruling out that it could be weak and fuel pressure is good.

If someone can send me some ideas on the more commom problems, especially electrical that can send me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated.

[jeffcoslacker]

Shoot it with ether yet, see if it's a fuel problem?

Was the tensioner replaced with the belt?

If you have a spark plug laying around, pull a wire off and put that plug in it, ground it on the engine and have someone crank it and see if the spark is white, fat and regular or yellow-orange and random...

[gaitch32]

Ya, tried the ether. It acted exactly the same. I am not sure about the Idler being replaced. Do you know if this is an interference engine?

The spark looks good, but I wouldn't call it white hot. Would I be able to find anything out by getting the codes?

[mjtr21]

same thing with my car that will not start. had 2 coil packs replaced and ignition module. still no start. havent tried checking for spark your way yet jeffcoslacker. i will try tomorrow. do you think a faulty IAC valve would cause no start. I look at mine and its all black but i can tell if its doing anything. do you know how i can test it? thanks and i hope we can get these z34 running again.

[gaitch32]

Follow up.....I checked the codes. Grounded B to A on the ALDL and got the 12 welcome code and a 32 and then back to 12, which I found out is EGR. I am gussing that is another problem that is unrelated but not sure if it has been going on for a while if it could cause other problems that won't show up in codes. Asked my daughter and she said the check engine light came on once on the freeway but went away. It passed the last emission test and I am guessing that it would start if that was the only problem but just not pass or run bad. BTW, I am learning this out of a book, so if I am full of it, let me know.

[mjtr21]

i also checked codes by the paperclip method and i got EGR code also. If my EGR valve failed would that cause the engine to not start?? I think it also contributed to the stalling i would get at stoplights. sometimes it would stall and i could start it right back up. but now i am stranded with no start at all. thanks for any advice and help.

[tblake]

Just go rent a compression tester and rule out the timing belt.

[richtazz]

How long has it been since it was tuned up? Many no-start/hard start issues can be traced back to neglected spark plugs, wires, and fuel filter. A code 32 is an EGR system fault. Your car has a 3 solenoid electronic valve which is expensive ($200+). If it is stuck open, it will allow too much air in the engine, causing hard starting when the engine is cold. Couple that with a bad IAC valve, and together they are most likely your issue if the car runs ok once it warms up (if you can get it to start at all).

[mjtr21]

i had changed all six plugs and wires in july so that cant be the problem. then when the no start problem came up i changed the fuel filter and now it still wont start. tblake: how would i use the compression tester, never used one before. also if i wanna check for spark i just connect an extra spark plug i have to an unhooked spark plug wire then grouond it to the engine? thanks for the help richtazz.

[gaitch32]

I check the compression and we are good on the front three so if it happens to be one isolated issue on one of the back, guessing I am OK on the timing belt. There was only about a 10% difference in the cylinders. I have new plugs and wires too. I did an ether shot to see if it would just kick over but acted the same. I pulled the EGR and put in a new gasket thinking of maybe a vacuum leak, but still the same. ERG looked good with very little carbon and it just passed emmisions about 2 months ago.

[mhester]

My 92 Z34 wouldn't start on two occassions.
First time it was the starter. When I turned the key and it would just click sometimes.

Second time the engine would turn but the car wouldn't start. I checked for spark and there was spark. I pulled the front plug wires and they were wet with oil from the engine. I changed all of the spark plugs and the car started right up.

Another possibility is that you're not getting fuel to the engine. When you turn on the ignition, do you hear the fuel pump start up?

Hope this helps.

The engine on my z34 is now dead.