no start!

[jimbo79gt00']

MY car does not start. I own a 2000 Pontiac Grand AM GT with 90,000mi. There is spark, it turns, fuses are good and the pump seems to work and fuel filter was changed over the summer, so it acts just like there is no gas. In november i got an viper remote starter installed @ tweeter. i just had original keyless entry before. Maybe a month after i got it my car did not start and i thought i had no gas. So the next day i got a gas can put gas it in and it started and i looked at the gauge and it was 3/4 full. (i drive a company mechanical van back and forth to work so i forget how much gas i usually have in it) so i thought that was strange. about 3 weeks ago it did the same thing but hasn't started since.
I've been reading alot abought passlock and all that but not realy understanding if it is added when the starter is installed or it is already there from the factory. I am assuming my problem has somthing to do because of the remote starter. i called tweeter and they told me that if i use the key that it will bypass the remote but it does not work either way so in there case they say it is not the starter. There installer said to hit unlock a few times before starting it and that does not work and that is all they suggested to me.
I tried turning the key to on and let it sit there 10 min and did not work. I don't have an alarm on it nor have i seen an security light turn on ever. So if anyone can straighten me out here I would greatly appriate it. I''m tring to avoid the mechanic shop as long as possible because it seems to be hopefully somthing easy that can be done my self or returned back to tweeter.!!!!
thankyou

[pokesmot]

the viper alarm system more than likely has a fuel pump cutoff relay to immobilize the car.

if it was wired improperly or the relay / alarm module is deffective, it can cause your problem.

verify that the car does in fact have a fuel starvation problem by turn the ignition to the on position and listen for a temporary "hum" sound. that would be the fuel pump priming the lines assuming it works as its supposed to.

if you dont hear the hum, move on to step 2.

step 2 would be to spray the inside of the throttle body with quickstart (or remove each plug from each cylinder and spray soem quickstart)

if you try and crank the car, and it sputters then dies you do in fact have a fuel delivery problem.

[jimbo79gt00']

so where do i go form there then if it sputters ...my viper system is a remote starter with out an alarm wich i don't think has a fuel cut off just a tach senor and a puch switch fo the hood..

[jimbo79gt00']

i will add that they both do there jobs and the pump works!....

[pokesmot]

if it sputters only when you add the quickstart then it indicates you have a fuel delivery problem.

I'm not sure about the specifics for your car exactly, so im hoping other users will chime in and help.

you say that your fuel pump comes on, which is a good thing. next step is to verify that your fuel rail is pressureized. not sure exactly where the valve is on your car, but it should/might have a plastic cap over it (the one on my car is black) and when you remove the cap it should look somewhat similar to a tire valve.

a fuel pressure gauge would be handy, but if you dont have one I can suggest pressing the pin on the center of the valve.


gas should come out. keep pressing until no more gas comes out.

then dry it off and set the ignition in the on position (all the way clockwise but not actually crank the engine) this should prime the fuel system.

check the valve once more by pressing the center pin. if no fuel comes out there is a blockage in your fuel line or your fuel pump isnt functioning as it should.

if it regains pressure, and fuel does come out then you have an injector problem.. which is a lot more complex.

let us know what you find

standing by.

[mrjoecanadian]

I wish I could help, I have installed my own command start but I got a good old GA, sorry

[gicts]

Originally posted by mrjoecanadian
I wish I could help, I have installed my own command start but I got a good old GA, sorry

[jimbo79gt00']

thats ok guys , thanks for checking it out!.....thanks for the advice shaun, i didn't realize there's a valve on the gas line....i did squirt some quick start and it did sputter so i'll check for pressure.....so do you think or anyone else might know if the valve is by the injectors side of the gas line or probably near the gas tank?

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by jimbo79gt00'
thats ok guys , thanks for checking it out!.....thanks for the advice shaun, i didn't realize there's a valve on the gas line....i did squirt some quick start and it did sputter so i'll check for pressure.....so do you think or anyone else might know if the valve is by the injectors side of the gas line or probably near the gas tank?

It's not a 'valve' as such that affects fuel delivery.

It's a 'Fuel Pressure Test Port' that merely *looks* like a tire valve ('Schreader Valve').

It's on the end of the rear fuel rail, just forward of and below the back of the alternator.

The mechanic screws-on a fuel pressure gage hose to read the pressure.
Like Poksmot says, you can just remove the protective cap (like from a tire valve) and depress the center pin (like a tire valve).
CAUTION!!! Raw gasoline WILL stream out, about 1/4 cupful (30 ml?); a rag can catch *most* of it, but there better not be any hot surfaces, cigarettes, or electrical sparks around or you'll have a few more problems.
Disconnect the NEG/red/ground battery cable first to avoid sparks.

Hope this helps.
-Rick

Before you do anything, just disconnect the battery NEG cable for 10 minutes.
This *may* cancel the stored computer code that is disabling your injectors.

[jimbo79gt00']

Yes thanks, i ddd find a schrader there...and there was alittle bit of fuel that poored out but just a pressureless squirt for the most part then i turned key to on and primed it but no gas when i pushed in the schrader ....then i checked it while the engine was cranking and no gas niether....i do still hear the pump

Yes i did disconnected the batt for 2 days pretty much that first week it did not start and unfortunatly did not work....

Hmmmmm so now what ..... is there a secondary pump or fuel filter possibly?
Can any sensors cause this effect?

[bolt]

I am watching this thread closely. I am haveing the exact same problem. I have full spark and full fuel pressure (tested with gages). When I crank it it may fire one cylinder as a coff or it may not. Usualy not. I have a Bulldog remote starter on mine. I'm in the processes of removing that. My feeling is that it has something to do with the passlock system. How can this be tested or bypassed?

This problem just shut down the car. For the last year I would have occurances of cranking and not starting but would eventualy it would start. This time it finaly died.

[bolt]

Update. If I turn my key on and let all the dash lights settel down the security light keeps blinking. This again may be pointing to the paslock system. What should I do now?

[bolt]

I found this and may help us:

Question
i have a 2002 grand am se, the car started to act up last week, went to turn the key, all power is there , it wont start and woukdnt start for two days.I had it towed to the local garage, when it came off the flat bed, i got in to put it in gear and it started!!!! The local garage ran a scan on it and did some trouble shooting and told me i needed a new battery!, i know the difference. so i drove it home after a $100.00 garage bill, let it sit for a while,overnight actually, next day the car wont start, so today i had it towed again, but this time before he left my drive way i tried to start it once more and yup it starts...
so i drove to the garage and they told me basically they culdnt help me because it would take too long and i would have to pay a big bill. and they said it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack...
So i drove it home and a couple hours later i tried to start it and no go, the mechanic suggested i leave the key forward for 10 minutes to try and reset the security system. well it worked stared 4/5 times and then i turned it off, and hour later i tried to start it and no go i had to wait 10 mins with the key forward, now its been running for two hours and im afraid to shut it off.

im at my witts end with this car, can you help???


Answer
I am aware of one common problem and I am not saying that is what is wrong, but this operation has fixed many a PASS LOCK systems.
Contact your local automotive locksmith. Have the ignition lock removed. Use brake cleaner on the lock assembly. Then have him clean the ignition lock housing real good. Re install the ignition lock cylinder.
When these locks are assembled new they have graphite grease. After a period of time rotating the lock, the grease sprays onto the inside of the housing covering the magnetic field needed for the vehicle's computer to sense the rotation of the lock for the engine to start.
This problem rarely shows a code and yet, I have seen this situation many times.

Good luck and I hope this fixes the problem.

[bolt]

I found the problem. I will post detail soon. I will also include pictures.

The problem is the Ignition key barrel with paslock switch attatched. $157 from Autozone. The switch is pulled into position by the magnet in the barrel. The switch contacts get old and burnt and teh magnet is not strong enought to allow the contacts to make a strong contact. This is why this is an intermiting problem.

[bolt]

The first pictures shows the hard way to do this. I took my full ignition switch out of the dash. This does not have to be done. The later pictures shows how this can be done in the dash. To reinstall just insert the key assembly and the latch will snap into place/

I did not mean to hijack this topic. I hope this will help more people in the future.

















THIS FULL ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE REPLACED.





As mentioned earlyer. The grease mixes with the metal as it wares and the magnetic field gets defused. Cleaning it is a temporary measure. The ignition key with passlock realy needs to be replaced.


Posted March 11th, 2006
By Zubrickie

[bolt]

Here is a link to more good reading on this.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=454520

[jimbo79gt00']

does a 2000 have passloock?

[inferno]

it should. and now im wondering wether this may infact be my problem with my car as i have to bypass the ignition lock to remove my key

did your guys remote starts stop working too? i know mine has and thats when i started having problems

[dcheitel]

I have a 2002 grand am and have the flashing security light and car wont start. everybody tells me that when the car wont start that the fuel is cut off, but in my case, if the security light is flashing, the starter doesnt engage either until I do the 10 minute wait and reset.

any ideas?

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by dcheitel
I have a 2002 grand am and have the flashing security light and car wont start. everybody tells me that when the car wont start that the fuel is cut off, but in my case, if the security light is flashing, the starter doesn't engage either until I do the 10 minute wait and reset.
any ideas?

Yes, it disables the fuel on all cars.

We have nothing from the factory indicating that the starter should be disengaged by Passlock for any GA of any year.

But it was proven by a member here, about 3 or 4 months ago, that at least for HIS model GA (and I think his was also a 2002) the starter motor WAS, in fact, disabled by the Passlock.
We had a spirited argument for a couple days, and finally agreed he knew what he was talking about.

So, yours would be our second confirmed case.

Hope this helps,
-Rick