Dumb girl has GTP that won't start

[cjaj123]

Hi everyone. I am new to this so bear with me. I have a 2000 GTP that wouldn't start when I left work a couple of months ago. It had to sit there for a week until I could get it towed as I work about 40 miles from home. Anyway I tried to start it everyday for that week with no luck. I could not hear the fuel pump run. Turned over just fine, seems like it's not getting gas. Spent $100 to tow it to a mechanics house and guess what. It started of course. He checked fuel pump pressure and it was fine. So anyway, car has started just fine ever since until I left work last night. Same deal. Turns over fine, won't start. Again I do not hear the fuel pump. I have read about bad resistors etc., but was wondering if this could be the problem. If it was something like that would it work, stop working then work for a while again?? Could it be something with the 2 step pump? I really wish something would have been found the first time this happened, because I have no idea if it will start or if I need to pay for another tow. Any thoughts anyone has would be greatly appreciated especially since the car is in the middle of a hospital parking lot. I don't even know where to start.

Thank you!!!

[GTP Dad]

I don't know if this will help but the fuel pump resistor is located on the passenger side near the headlight. The URL from another forum should help you out in locating it. The fuel pump resistor controls the low speed pump and can cause a number of issues. I hope this will help you out. One thing you may want to try is to replace the fuel pump relay. This is easy to do and is located in the power control center under the hood. Get a new relay and plug it in.

http://rmcgp.clubgp.com/fpresistor.html

By the way Welcome to AF!!

[GT3800 Guy]

I've seen this before,

Car would be parked and shut off then when return would not start. Wait a few hours and pump would cool down then restart sometimes, sometimes not, depending on home much the brushes were worn. One thing was for certain that it would get worse and worse, fail more often and take longer to get it started again.

Replace the pump, if it were the resistors I think it wouldn't go period. After all a resistor is either good or bad no in between. And it certainly doesn't repair itself whereas the pump can jam and become free or heat up and cool down.

[richtazz]

Replace the pump, if it were the resistors I think it wouldn't go period. After all a resistor is either good or bad no in between. And it certainly doesn't repair itself whereas the pump can jam and become free or heat up and cool down.

Not so. The GTP has a 2 speed fuel pump assembly that uses a resistor at low boost to reduce fuel pump output. This was done to keep the tank from developing a whirlpool effect from the rapidly returning fuel that could/would cause fuel cavitation issues. The resistor can heat-sink and intermittently fail, it's a known issue. The classic symptom of a failed resistor is a no start, or 3-5 sec start/stall situation (the key on prime bypasses the resistor). There is a bypass proceedure in the tips and maintenance sub-forum at the top of the GP forums that you can use to determine if the resistor is at fault.

here's the link: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=658282

I would not suggest leaving it bypassed, as it could cause premature failure of the pump as well as the aformentioned fuel cavitation problems.

BTW, I don't believe you're a dumb girl cjaj123, as you were smart enough to search for an answer before "trusting" a possibly shady mechanic.

[cjaj123]

Thank you all for your suggestions, and quick response also! I am going to try bypassing the resistor today and am gonna cross my fingers that it is indeed the problem. I am worried that I will need to replace my fuel pump. I have already been told by the local dealer that a fuel pump will cost me about $600, not counting installation. Although I have found them online for about $300. I always have to worry when I take the car to a repair shop as I have been given ridiculous estimates before and always end up getting a male friend to take the car in for me. For some reason it always costs me less that way. I know not all repair shops take advantage, but, unfortunately I've had bad luck. Thank you again for all the help!!

[1gr869]

If you find it's not your fuel pump, check to see if the Security light on the dash stays on when it won't start. If there is something wrong with the security system on the car, it shuts down the fuel pump. I've heard it can also be something as simple (but not cheap) as the key not sending the proper signal to the computer, thus shutting things down.

My 95 GTP had intermittent start problems too and it ended up being the neutral safety switch on top of the tranny. It only took replacing the battery, cables, alternator, starter, and key lock cylinder to find that the bolts were barely in after the previous owner gave up trying to figure it out.

Good luck! And I hope it's not a spendy fix for ya.

[doctorhrdware]

When I replaced the fuel pump on my 97 Grand Prix, there was an access panel where the pump is, that is located in the trunk. I removed the pump from the back seat acess door to the trunk. Just rember to remove almost all of the gas from the tank. It will make it easier to put the new pump in the tank.