93 Bonniville intermittent will not start, then starts while troubleshooting

[jsaul]

Hi guys, I need help please.....
My Daughter has a 93 Bonneville SSE 3.8L (non supercharged)

Here is the quick history (At 14 years old, she purchased this car with a bad cylinder, we were going to rebuild it, when we found a 93 on ebay with a rebuilt motor that was totaled from the rear, so we picked that up for $400 and did the motor swap. Then the car sat for a year. When My Daughter got her license, I replaced most of the AC & ABS and got them working, put new tires on it, along with solving some minor issues, life was good. Then a month later the transmission burnt up 4th gear clutch so $1800 later she's got a rebuilt.... )

Now a month after the transmisson, it has started having intermittent not strating issues. Iu will cranking but not star, sometimes cold, somtimes hot. When it happens, my daughter calls me, I get there 10-20 minutes later, and either it starts when I try it, or while I am looking under the hood but haven't made any changes.
It's done this 5 or 6 times in the last month.
Yesterday was a bit of a breakthrough, I was there when it did not start. I pulled a plug and checked it, it was dry, and no spark. I pressed the valve on the fuel rail with my fingernail, and it sprayed the firewall good, so it's getting pressure.
I checked that the crank position sensor connector, but then the window of troubleshooting was over, and the car started.
When it does start, it starts normal, 123, it does not crank for a long time or idle poor, it runs great.
I've also ruled out weather, it has happened durring the rain as well as dry sunny days.
Any ideas, because at this point I'm all ready in this car for far money than it's worth and really don't want to take it to the dealer for an intermittent problem that's not easy to re-create.

Thanks - Jim

[Jrs3800]

I can't say for certain but I think you may need to replace the crank sensor, It hasn't failed yet but it sounds like its getting ready to...

Have you checked the codes to see if the PCM is having errors with any various sensors?

[jsaul]

The check engine light is not coming on, afraid I don't have a scanner to check to see if it is throwing a code with out tripping the check engine light.

[jsaul]

a friend of mine was also saying that it may be the cam sensor? Does this sould possibe? I did not check it because of having to remove the water pump to get to it....

Also, one other thought from googleing the probelm - could this be related to the factory security system?

[Jrs3800]

Even if the Cam sensor is bad the car will still run, but with lost performance and efficiency...

This car may have the Security system... But Its the VATS( PASSKey II ) System that will and can keep the car from starting, but once started the system will not cause the car to stall out..

I forget what pins you have to use, but being a 93 the PCM in this car has the Diagnostic Flash Feature... If there are any codes present it can be flashed through the SES Light... There are some codes that can be stored in the PCM without it setting the SES light..

[bookofnorman]

I had the same problem in the same car. it ended up being the coil pack, you can go have it tested but mine was intermittent as well but the problem was fixed when we replaced the pack. the reason it starts for you is that you usually touch the pack and ground it out, resetting it (it shocked me one time because I had my hand on it and tried to start it.)

[Scrapper]

i'd say coil pack also if not that i'd go with module under coil pack..good luck..