Car died - need help

[munkheman]

I have a 95 Grand AM GT. While I was driving it died and I was unable to drive. I had to let the cars momentum carry to the nearest exit. I could not get the car started back up and I had to have it towed home. Right before the car died I heard a pop sound and then my oil and temperature gauge went all the way to zero. I was not able to accelerate and once my car stopped my brakes and my steering locked up. Prior to this happening my oil gauge was fluctuating more than normal. It would go down to close to zero when I stop and then back to normal range when I drove. I am kind of thinking that my oil pump went out but my engine will turn over but it just will not start.
I have already checked the alternator and the fuel pump, both of which are fine. I am going to check the ignition module tonight.
Any other ideas???

[Loopy]

Yikes, I was thinking belt at first, but now I have no idea.

[HeyDace]

Since your temp gauge went also, I would say you may have blown the main engine fuse (that would explain the POP you heard). If you had lost oil pressure the engine would lose power and sieze but the temp gauge would still be working and reading above normal (due to the excess heat caused by friction) But check your oil. Then check all the fuses.

[munkheman]

Ignition module checked out fine. The coil packs each were within normal resistance ranges. I'll check the fuse tonight. Thanx

[Stingray]

You might try checking your ground wires to your engine. Bad grounds can do a lot of strange things with your gauges. I had a bad ground wire on mine and the temperature gauge would jump all over the place and the fuel gauge did strange things also. Just follow the negative wire from the battery down to where it connects to the engine block above the starter and there are two wires coming out of the wiring harness that ground there. You might check and see if they are both hooked up good. A good way to test them is to leave the key turned on but not started and wiggle that wire and see if you can hear the fuel pump kick on.

Another thing to check on is when you turn the key on but not start it, does you service engine light come on. It should stay on until the engine starts. If it is not on I think that means you have a bad ground, at least that is what mine was doing.

Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions and I will try to help you if I can.

Stingray

[munkheman]

all the fuses checked out. the service engine light is staying on and the ground wires seem to be fine. i have a friend with a diagnostic code reader so hopefully that will work. if anyone still has any ideas, please let me know. thanx