Starting Troubles PLEASE HELP!

[e3gordon]

Hey Everyone,

So my car was running fine when I went into the store. when I came back out it would not start only crank and almost start then die. It did this to me once before but i had a friend push me up to a service station and when i got there it started and was fine for a few weeks. Anyway this time it wil not start.

Today I replaced the fuel filter and tried again no dice. I checked the fuel rail pressure and it has strong pressure as a lot of gas sprayed out when i depressed the needle. I also checked for spark which it has as well. Next I sprayed starting fluid in the airbox and BOOM it started. It will die quickliy when the spray is gone

So, it is not getting gas somehow, I hear the fuel pump going on and it is pressurinzing the fuel rail but will not run.

Could it be electrical? Fuel PRessure Regulator? It runs on starting fluid!

Please Help! Cannot aford to take to the stealership!

Eric

[e3gordon]

I should add it is a 2001 Grand am GT with 100k

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF.
What was the fuel pressure when you checked it?

Check your injector fuse first.
Then if its good rent or buy a noid light and test the injectors to see if they are pulsing/working.

When was the last tune up, plug & wires ???
That also might be the problem.

[e3gordon]

Hey thanks for your reply.

My pressure was high fourties on the fuel rail.

Where would I check my injector fuse at?

Have you heard of any problems with a crank shaft sensor?

E

[e3gordon]

Anyone out there?

[xeroinfinity]

No we all went home

J/K !

The injector fuse would probly be in your underhood fuse box. The lid has whats what diagram. But i'd also check the two fuse boxes in the cabin area too.

Crank sensor on your 01 isnt likely unless someone has been workin in that area and posibley damaged the wiring.
They dont typicaly go out so soon.

Also was that 40's psi on the fuel pressure while the car was running or off ?
I assume its off since the car isnt running, but you can check it while turning it over and see what it reads.
Should be about the same, 42-47 psi .

[e3gordon]

fuel pressure went up to 51 when the key went on the settled at 47 with the ignition at on. I have not cranked and checked? Do you think I should check that?

I have been planning to replace the plugs as they have 100k on them but I doubt they would just instantly quit like that.

When it first did this, i had a friend push me with their car and all of a sudden the car was fine again until now so it almost sounds like an electrical connection intermittent problem.

I wonder if a diagnostic scanner could help

[xeroinfinity]

Pressure sounds good!

Just because the plugs that are in your car say they are "supposed " to last for 100k miles doesnt mean they will or do.
About 90% of the cars I work on that use AC Delco Iridiums, they are used up by 75-80k miles, even my own cars.
Which is WAY better then cheap plug or other plugs from 5-10 years ago. AC's Iridiums are the best IMO.

Pushing your car isnot a good thing to do either
That can screw up your trany real fast.

... not to mention its pretty dangerous!
.... but who am I to say




A good scan might reveal something it never hurts to check anyway!

Good Luck

[e3gordon]

xeroinfinity

Thanks for your replys!

I just checked my fuel injector fuse and PCM fuses and they were fine.

I saw another post who had the same problems and he said the ground was bad on the PCM, could that be a possibility and how to check?

I am changing the plugs out tomorrow anyway. I hope that could be it. Could bad plugs trigger the computer to disable the ignition?

Also I live and work near the ocean, i wonder if the salt could have corroded anything.

Thanks,

E

[e3gordon]

Hey all,

I replaced the plugs and wires and now everything is running!

Even though I was getting spark at the coil pack, I was not at the plug.

Thanks for the help