Wants to start...but doesnt

[holladay]

I have a 1995 Pontiac Trans sport...Got in it yesterday morning to take the kids to school, it wont start..it wants to start but just cant get turned over..Really flooding smell afterwards..Just had a new fuel pump, wires, distributor cap, plugs put on a couple of months ago..It has been running fine until now..the only other thing is a couple of days before yesterday, it was hesitating when starting..Someone said that it could have jumped time..Is this possible? I hope not..

Thanks alot
Holladay

[aamirmali]

You did not mention fuel filter. Common item that gets ignored a lot...

Since you are getting flooding smell, I will assume you have gas supply. How about spark? Have you checked to see if you have spark?

Is it throwing any engine codes?

[holladay]

I just had the fuel pump, filter, spark plugs, wires, distributor cap replaced..I dont know how to check for a spark..and engine codes, not sure how to do that either. My husband is not much of a mechanic but with a little instruction i can get it.

thanks...

[aamirmali]

How old is the battery?

To check spark, you have to remove a spark plug wire and insert a tool like this one http://toolprice.net/product/8312B?META=nextag-8312B

You don't have to have this tool but it's safer this way. You should be able to buys this or similar tool at any local car parts store.

If you don't want to buy this tool, you can always bring the wire close to a good ground and see if there is spark jumping to metal. I don't recommend this one unless you know what you are doing....for safety reasons.

[LMP]

Which engine is this? Both 3.8 and 3.1 can have ignition problem at that age. If the starter cranks the engine, no need to test that component (your other thread). I understand the engine will not fire up. Pull a spark plg wire, install a spare spark plug and let it rest on engine block and have someone start: you should see spark..or in fact, probably you will not . Obviously you have fuel.....
Spark problem usually come from the ignition module.. www.avigex.ca/xport/ignitionmodule31.gif and the crank sensor on 3.8
Bad timing can be ruled out..unless a 3.1 with a broken camshaft....
p.s. ahh..I just read you had the distributor cover changed...hence a 3.1.
Reading codes on '95 requires a scanner...Autozone will read for free, if you can start and go....

[holladay]

Yesterday i talked to a mechanic, i told him what was going on..He told me that he didnt think it was the starter because of how i was describing what was going on..So he said that it may be badly flooded, (it does this sometimes but never for a week without starting) anyway he told me to go home and unplug the fuel injectors and see if it would start, if it does then to plug the injectors back up and it should start again..I did this and it did start with the injectors unplugged. It ran for a few seconds..So i plug them back up and it started for a second but i guess it is flooding itself..Any new ideas?

[aamirmali]

Sounds like a leaking injector. Check the resistance for faulty ones.

[LMP]

Originally Posted by holladay

... unplug the fuel injectors and see if it would start, if it does then to plug the injectors back up and it should start again..I did this and it did start with the injectors unplugged. It ran for a few seconds..So i plug them back up and it started for a second but i guess it is flooding itself..

First it is a good practice to continue in the initial thread..I suggest you delete the other started with the above text.

It is possible to look inside the throttle body and see the injectors firing the initial 1 sec priming burst at key on..and then nothing should go out until the engine actually starts running. These injectors can block open..and the opposite as well. TO me it seems to run on this initial priming burst...and then no more fuel, instead of too much....so take a look ..

[aamirmali]

Any update?