2000 Grand Am will not start when wet.

[Tobydo55]

My wife has a 2000 Grand Am SE 4 door with the four cylinder and 100k miles. About two months ago she drove ten block to work in the rain. when she cam out two hours later the car would not start. The car would crank and you could smell fuel, but no fire. I came by later and started checking connections for corrosion. Being an ex farmer, I started tapping on all of the electrical boxes. After a few minutes it started.

About two weeks later, the same thing happened, except it was not raining, but had rained earlier in the day and the streets were still wet. This time, by the time the wife walked back home and got another vehicle the Grand Am started with no problem.

I took it to the dealer and they found nothing. It had just reached 100k miles so I had themservec the trans and coolant system as well as replace the plugs and wires.

the car would not start again this morning (the wife washed it last night). I am not sure what to do. I do not want to take it to the dealer for "exploratory surgury". A friend of mine told me it was the coil pack and changing it would fix the problem.

The car runs like a top. Even after one of these spells it runs great. Please offer advice if you can. Thanks, Toby

[rixGAphx]

I don't think the coilpack could possibly be affected by a simple wash job.
The water could get into the engine bay thru the cowl, but couldn't get onto that engine-top coil pack.
But to check, try just removing/reinstalling the unit and its connections several times. This often scapes away enough minor corrosion (on the pins and sockets) to allow adequate contact.

Splash water from a wet road could make it up into the engine bay, and rain can make it down the firewall if the rubber seal along the cowl is loose or cracked.
Check the front floor carpet for signs of wetness. Some of the firewall holes can leak.

Water on the firewall might short-out a wire or a device, but there really isn't anything in that area to be affected.

If you've examined those wire connectors, you know they are well-sealed against water. O-Rings and clips and whatnot.
* * * * * *

As with anything electrical on a GA, check the alt/batt/cables, especially INSIDE the molded rubber boots on the cable terminals.
Water gets inside there and invisibly corrodes the wire.
Cut the boot off, inspect/clean/repair, and protect with slip-on aftermarket boots that can be inspected.
Corrode connections usually work BETTER when they are damp, but who knows??
GA's do strange things when the electrical system isn't perfect.

The car's computers reside in the space behind the front passenger kick panel.
Open the panel, and inspect for wetness.

BEFORE you disconnect the battery, take the car to a parts store and borrow their OBD-II scanner (usually, it's a 'free rental' upon cash or CC deposit).
See if there are any stored codes in the PCM (Powertrain Control Module, the engine/tranny computer). These codes remain for about 30 'trip-cycles'. There's a possibility that the 'puter knows what went wrong.

Good luck.
-Rick

[Tobydo55]

I talked to the wife and she told me that since the car was new water leaked into on the floor of the passenger's side when ever it rained real hard or she went through a car wash. I will check everything that I can find for corrosion on that side. Thank you for the help. Toby

[Series #8217]

Originally posted by Tobydo55
I talked to the wife and she told me that since the car was new water leaked into on the floor of the passenger's side when ever it rained real hard or she went through a car wash. I will check everything that I can find for corrosion on that side. Thank you for the help. Toby

I dont know about the no start condition. However, getting water on the floor when it rains is generally caused by a blocked drain passage. Somewhere along the firewall or possibly even under the car, a rubber tube should exit. Water that collects in the area between the windshield and hood is supposed to drain through that tube; it can become blocked and send water through the HVAC ducts.

[04GASE1]

there is a gm technical service bulletin on this condition about a leak from the firewall area. I would take it to the dealer and see what they can do about it

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by 04GASE1
there is a gm technical service bulletin on this condition about a leak from the firewall area. I would take it to the dealer and see what they can do about it
You can read the TSB on numerous websites, sorry I don't have any links at this 'puter.

I *think* there's a 'sticky' in this forum for all TSB's.

Yeah a dealer will have the TSB at hand, which is merely a set of symptoms, tests, and the repair procedure if so diagnosed.
But they charge basic dealer hourly rates to perform, unless the vehicle is still under warranty.
TSB's are NOT no-cost repair orders from GM to the dealer.

Point being, it might be pretty simple so there would be no need to pay $$.

Good luck.
-Rick

[04GASE1]

yeah but this tsb involves removing the dash assembly and resealing the firewall, but if this is something you would like to attempt yourself then by all means go ahead