Trac Off Light

[adamcw]

My wife and I were driving home last night and the TRAC OFF light came on. I noticed the car started to skip and sputter over the next 5-7 minutes and then lost all engine power. My power steering was gone but the lights, radio, air were all still working. I tried to press the ETS button on the dash but got no response. When I try to crank the car it turns over but spits and sputters like it is out of gas and goes off. Any ideas??

[adamcw]

I was advised by a mechanic friend to check the pressure valve on the fuel line on top of the engine. I have no pressure. Guessing this means possibly a bad fuel pump. How hard is it to replace this? Could a diy mechanic do this or are special tools required?

[3100]

turn ignition key to on position do not try to start the engine listen for the sound of your fuel pump you should hear zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz do that twice and then check pressure on the fuel rail. You said you checked what was your psi reading?

[adamcw]

I didn't check with gauge. I checked just by depressing the needle. I had no gas or air coming out. This is how I was told to check. I'm going to try the old trick of banging on the gas tank with a rubber mallet tonight to test. Should I try to replace the fuel filter before I replace the fuel pump?

[adamcw]

I took a rubber mallet and banged on the bottom of the fuel tank. While I was doing this my brother tried to start the car. It cranked right up. As soon as I quit banging the car sputtered and cut off. Does this still sound like a fuel pump problem?

[3100]

Check all the wires going to the fuel pump and connectors make sure they are not rusted inside, if all are good I would replace pump, also make sure fuel pump rely is plugged in good (under the hood in the corner by the alternator. One of them is for fuel pump.

[adamcw]

Is there any way to check the relay to make sure this is not bad. I checked to make sure that it was plugged in good and it seemed to be.

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF adamcw !

Sounds like you might have a couple issues going on here...
What year and engine is your Grand Am ???

When you loose traction your trac off light might flash if its spinning. When you are spinning the PCM controls engine rpms to keep it from spinnin.
If the lights stay on then you have something wrong that would require an ABS capable scan tool to read the codes.

On the spit and sputter, you need to figure out if its getting fuel and then if its getting spark. I would also check the fuel pressure with the key "on".

If its the fuel pump thiers usualy a couple options.
Change just the pump for around $100, or the entire module(pump, level float)assembly around $300.

Fuel filters can cause problems if they are clogged. And a bad relay can too, both are fairly inexpensive and easy to change.

[adamcw]

2002 Pontiac Grand Am with a 4cyl 2.2l. This is a rebuilt engine. I had to replace it about 2 years ago when the timing chain broke while my wife was driving home from work.