Engine won't start?

So do you have a digital multi meter? I would like to run a couple of tests one on the TPS.

Yes, I have one.

I unplugged the IAT and it has started fine since then?

Well if it runs better with that unpluged then I would replace it. It must be out of spec so it is sending a false reading. Let me know how it goes.

I have a 1996 Grand Am SE 3.1 V6. The car will run for about 10 minutes and then stall. After it stalls if you try to restart it, it simply cranks but will not turn over. Then if you wait some time it will start up fine but then stall after another 10 minutes or so. It is getting fuel, so it is not the fuel pump or filter. I replaced the coil pack with another used one and it has the same problem. I completely took out the auto start/anti theft system in the car and attached all the wires in the steering column back to how they should be before the auto start was put it, so that is not the problem either. I put a timing light on the coil pack and waited for it to stall again, then when it stalled I tried to start it with the light and see if the coil pack was getting power. Tried to start and no light. When the car is on the light is on, obviously, but upon turning the key when the car is cranking the coil doesnt get power. That is essentially where I am stuck. Where do I go from here?

That didnt work, if threw a code after 2 days. It acts like its flooded.

Next time it dies don't wait for nothing do below to catch it

Disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 in away from ground have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs,coil's resistances,cap and rotor /distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, ECM,Ignitor camshaft and crankshaft sensors- Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it

Ok so did it throw the same code or a different code or? Have you ohmed the Coolant Temp sensor yet? Let me know and we will take it from there.

When my 96 Grand Am gets warm or hot- (operating temp) and I shut it off- it will not start. The engine will
crank and crank but it will not even fire. Now if I leave it running it seems to be fine and reliable. Once it cools- 30 minutes to an hour- or longer depending on outside temp. , it will start right up and run beautifully. It almost acted as if it was the fuel filter- when I try and start it too soon before it has cooled sufficiently- it acts like it is not getting enough gas. I was wondering if it could be vapor locking or ??? and if so- how to fix it. The shop wants $200.00 just to put it on diagnostics. other than this- when it runs it runs great- thanks for your help

First thing you need to do is have the codes read, Autozone does it free, Post the results with the code number(s). Even if the service engine light is not on, there should be freeze frame data stored.
If it won't make it to Autozone, buy a cheap scanner, they can be had for 30-40 dollars, a good investment, since they cover all cars sold in the USA from 96 on...Start with the basics, and work your way up, Last tune up was? Wires plugs ALL filters? If all that is ok, check for a stuck EGR, then test fuel pump pressure, If it won't restart, determine what's missing, the engine needs three things to run, Spark at all plugs, gas to all cylinders, and compression in all cylinders, tho an engine may run lacking one in one cylinder, it won't run very well!
https://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_fuel_injection_pressure.htm
Go here and checkout our video.
https://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_engine_ignition_system.htm
and this one!

Other Category problem
1996 Pontiac Grand Am V6 Front Wheel Drive Automatic 180000 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
it started by the lights flashing on the dash then went to store now it wont start. it cranks but i cant get it out of park. its getting fuel is there a sensor that wont let it come out of park on the ignition and willl it keep it from starting

[quote:3115ca23ad="elmo7822"]Other Category problem
1996 Pontiac Grand Am V6 Front Wheel Drive Automatic 180000 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
it started by the lights flashing on the dash then went to store now it wont start. it cranks but i cant get it out of park. its getting fuel is there a sensor that wont let it come out of park on the ignition and willl it keep it from starting[/quote:3115ca23ad]


check for brake light and check the back of the ignition switch and key

I have a 96 grand am that wont start when its warm, when the engine is cool it starts fine, if it has been turned off of 10 mins or less it starts fine but when it sits for more than 10 mins it starts very rough than stalls and will not start again for 20-40 mins. It has a 4l 4 cyl engine, auto trans. What could be the cause of this?
Thanx
Perr

Check to make sure the Fuel pump fuse is securely in. My 87 did the same thing and it turned out to be a loose fuse. If it's good, check the wiring. Is your car throwing a check engine light?

Engine Mechanical problem
1996 Pontiac Grand Am 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic alot miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
Where is the relay switch on the fuel pump,I think this car is of the Debil ; /

heres a link to check fuel pressure

https://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_fuel_injection_pressure.htm

My 1996 grand am se has developed an issue. Sometimes when I go to start it, the fuel pump relay clicks before I even engage the starter, when I turn the key the engine turns over but it acts like it has no spark. I can hear the fuel pump kicking in, but it doesn't even try to start once, just cranks over and over. By time I go into the house to get anything to test the spark, or even to get a mallet to smack the fuel tank and make it back out it starts fine. It fires right up with no problems for a few days then does it again. I have replaced the fuel pump relay and hooked it up to a diagnostic and code reader and get nothing. When I have a mechanic come over it starts fine by time he gets here. I've been told it's the computer by some and the crankshaft position sensor by others. This wouldn't be a concern but it has left my fiance out in the cold in a minnesota winter too often for me to just ignore it for now. Any suggestions?

Really I don’t have a straight answer for you
all I can advise is to have the tech take it for a day or so and let them check fuel pressure and check for spark
or next time it happens check if you have a security light on and or blinking
and if so just leave the key on for about 10 min until security light goes out and than u should be able to start
and if so the ignition switch need to be checked and replaced

When i turn the key over forward to where the radio will turn on then try to start it it will generally fire and run fine most of the time. but when i turn the key completely forward then try and start it will just crank over and never fire, also the panel gauges will kinda go haywire and the door locks click back and forth..not sure if its just the ignition switch or what?

sounds like the ignition switch may be wearing. or the computer relay is not kicking in and priming the pump and redying the sensors to be ready for the crank.

i would just turn it to run then start.

lets the engine prime, and is easier on the engine and the starter to engage.

My son's Grand-Am won't start and hubby thinks it's the computer or switch and is just gonna buy a computer whether it's the actual problem or not!!! When you turn it on, it turns over like it's gonna start but then acts like it's not getting any fuel after the initial starting. Then, you have to turn the switch completely off before trying to start it again, otherwise it won't even act like it's gonna start. He's a pretty good problem solver and dianostic mechanic but this one's got him puzzled. When it was in our driveway, after getting it towed here, he got it going and drove it to work the next day and after work, nothing...not starting again and that's where it's been. Please help! Son needs his car and hubby needs some peace!
Thanks!
Leslie

Does it have spark? If so, try shooting a little carb cleaner in the throttle bore to see if it tries to start, if it does it is fuel related. Can you hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds when you first turn on the key?

The car will start just for a few seconds. When you turn the switch on, every warning light on the dash comes on and stays on. The fuel gage stays on empty but has plenty of gas. When he drove it to work, it was running fine but all the warning lights stayed lit, gas hand remained empty and RPM hand didn't work. It will start every time you try as long as you turn the switch completely off each time you retry but it only runs about 3 secs.
Hope this helps!
Leslie

considering the dash lighs stay lit, it could be an ignition switch.He drove it to work.... so it stays running?

When it first stopped on my son, we had it towed to our house and hubby tinkered with it for about a day, doing nothing specific, and it started up...so he drove it to work the next day in case it was to break down again but it did fine. Then when he came out at the end of the day and got in it to come home, it wouldn't start again and the parking lot is where it's been ever since. He went to work on it there the next day when he was off work and actually used a whole can of the starter stuff sprayed into it but it didin't help. It would rumble when being sprayed but when stopped, it would stop. When you turn the switch completely off and then try to start it, it rumbles like it's gonna start right up but then doesn't and all the warning lights on the dash come on but don't fade away like they're supposed to when you turn the switch on...and then to be able to try to start it again, you have to turn the switch completely off and then back on cause if you just try to turn it over again without 'resetting' it, you get nothing. 'Resetting' being referred to turning the switch to the full 'OFF' position. All the warning lights coming on is what made hubby think it's the computer and that it's also impeding a connection to keep it running once started...it's like the switch is starting it but there's nothing tied in between to keep it running,::if that makes any sense...my hubby said I'm just gonna confuse you guys and you'll never be able to help...if so, I do appoligize :-)
Leslie

LOL............ so it does run when carb cleaner is spraye dinto it? I fso, the fuel pumnp is most likely the problem. Check for power at the fuel pump when key is first turned on, it will go away after about 3 seconds. Does this car have a security system? if so try this also

GM PASS LOCK RELEARN- Ignition to "run" position, try to start and let key return to "run" position
Approx ten minutes security light will go off
Turn key "off" and wait 5 seconds
Repeat 2 more times for a total of 3 relearns.
Turn key off, then start it

The alarm had to be reset. Now it runs but no gauges work and all the warning lights on the dash stay on.

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 225k+ miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
sometimes when i get into my car and turn the key to the on position, ill hear a clicking noise from the passanger side close to the dash board. when this happens. the car will not start, it will turn over and sound like it wants to but does not. if i wait anywhere from 10 minutes to a day and try again, it will start perfectly. i have no clue what is wrong with it... i recently replaced the alternator and battery, and i did the head gaskets in the winter of 2006. any help would be great cause me and my father are dumbfounded....

Do you have anti-theft?

HAve you tried a different key or is it always the same one?

uhm... yeah i tryed a difrent key... today i took another look and it seems to be the fuel pump relay... so i tryed switching it for the a/c relay(because my a/c doesnt work neways.... and it started no problem.......so i got a quote for a new fuel pump relay at my local dealership and its 42$ WTF! lol...

Cool!!!

PArt prices can be just downright outrageous. Glad to hear you nailed it anyways...antitheft systems can be a real pita!

yeah thanks.... i mean im only a 17 year old teenager... so i dont know everything about my car... so im glad that i weas able to find the problem.... it seems to be running fine now...i just have to figure out how to adjust the idle now...lol... my dad sayd there is suposed to be a thing like on brakes for a bicycle to adjust it... but tis not there... lol... for now i have a pull strap around the throtle body keeping tention on the idle to make sure it doesnt stall while im driving lol

Don't feel bad...I'm 46 and don't know everything about them either. You sought out to fix and you suceeded, be proud of yourself.

Idle is computer controlled and shouldn't be played with. Does it stall all the time, just when it's warming up? Any other strange performance issues?

i have a 1996 v6 pontiac grand am that with start for a minute but won't stay running. the plugs were replaced a year or two ago and the plug wires were just replaced a week ago. i have replaced a few altanators in this car as well but im not sure if its another altanator or if the coil packs are bad in it. Any advice would be vary helpfull. Thank you.

Check fuel pressure with mechanical gauge and spark with spark tester. Most likely one or the other.

If OK then could be EGR or a bad sensor.

If you are not getting any error codes, then fuel pressure or spark would be most likely.

Hey thanks for any help you can give in advance. Ok I have a 96 Pontiac Grand Am GT 4 cylinder automatic with about 120,000 miles on it that will not start. It will turn over fine but will never start. I checked the plugs and I am getting fire, I cracked the fuel intake line at the motor and I am getting fuel to the motor when you turn the key switch on and the fuel pump turns on. I disconnected one of the fuel injector plugs and checked to see if I was getting a good ground and I was. I tried to see if I was getting power to my injectors and I was not but I am not sure if they pulse so fast I would get a signal on my fluke meter. I checked the air flow and I get plenty out the exhaust. Not sure where to go from here. Any help would help.

Thanks
Zach

How did the plugs look?

Can you get a fuel pressure gauge to find out the real fuel pressure spec is?

2.4?

The plugs did not look great but they were sparking when I grounded them to the chassis. I do not have a fuel pressure gauge all I could tell you is that it did have a pretty good flow when I cracked the fuel line. Do you think maybe it could be a clogged fuel filter or bad plugs? The fuel pump is only about 3 months old and the spark plugs are old but wouldn’t they fire at least every once in awhile even though they are old. Not sure of engine size will get it for you ASAP.

Thanks

Zach

[quote:d0aa0611b8="farmboy5582"]The plugs did not look great

I do not have a fuel pressure gauge all I could tell you is that it did have a pretty good flow when I cracked the fuel line.

Do you think maybe it could be a clogged fuel filter or bad plugs?

The fuel pump is only about 3 months old and the spark plugs are old but wouldn’t they fire at least every once in awhile even though they are old. [/quote:d0aa0611b8]

What I mean about the plugs are:
How is the gap compared to spec, Were they black and sooty, white, dry, wet with fuel?

The fuel pump pressure is critical, if it isn't in spec, it isn't good. This you have to verify. What brand pump?

The filter should have been replaced when the pump was done. HOw old is it? The plugs should be firing consistently and strong. If there is any question about them, replace them. I would use autolites, and go by the correct application.