88 grand prix not starting....
#1
08-08-07, 03:48 PM
88 grand prix not starting....
Here's my dilema. I have an 88 pontiac grand prix with a 2.8L motor. Turns over but will not start.
I have:
checked for fuel. seems to be good. squirts alot out of purge valve. Sounds like fuel pump primes before car starts.
Replaced the Ignition Control module and all coils.
seems to be getting spark.(checked a plug wire on motor mount)
Checked spark plugs. (they were a little white on the ends. Plus wire ends were a little corroded so i cleaned them with steel wool)
Checked all the fuses and relays
the only other thing i could think of that COULD be wrong i would think would be the ECU(brain). Any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated!
I have:
checked for fuel. seems to be good. squirts alot out of purge valve. Sounds like fuel pump primes before car starts.
Replaced the Ignition Control module and all coils.
seems to be getting spark.(checked a plug wire on motor mount)
Checked spark plugs. (they were a little white on the ends. Plus wire ends were a little corroded so i cleaned them with steel wool)
Checked all the fuses and relays
the only other thing i could think of that COULD be wrong i would think would be the ECU(brain). Any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated!
#2
08-08-07, 05:51 PM
Do you have throttle body injection? If so, spray starting fluid into it while having it cranked to see if it goes, to rule out gas/injector/electrical feed to TBI.
#5
08-08-07, 07:03 PM
no. it turns over normal. But. It was all the sudden. We Parked the car and went to the fair and when we can back to the car to start it, it would just turn over and not start. Everything was fine before that happened.
#6
08-09-07, 08:36 AM
I would go get some new spark plugs.
It is probably not the problem but used plugs compound the problem when it is a bit harder to start.
Put new plugs in and try to start the car after cycling the key from OFF to IGNITION 3 or 4 times.
It likely wont start so go under the hood and pull out a couple of the new spark plugs and see if they are wet with the smell and looks of gas or if the spark plugs are dry as a bone in the desert.
I would guess that the plugs will be wet.
Get back to us when you find out and we can go from there.
It is probably not the problem but used plugs compound the problem when it is a bit harder to start.
Put new plugs in and try to start the car after cycling the key from OFF to IGNITION 3 or 4 times.
It likely wont start so go under the hood and pull out a couple of the new spark plugs and see if they are wet with the smell and looks of gas or if the spark plugs are dry as a bone in the desert.
I would guess that the plugs will be wet.
Get back to us when you find out and we can go from there.
#8
08-09-07, 04:38 PM
It is electrical related then. Directly speaking. It could be something like crank position sensor went perhaps. Someone else with actual experience about this may want to weigh in.
Also if something like an auto shutdown relay comes on for whatever reason, like if the pickup to the distributor went out, it will also shut down electrical and fuel.
But your problem is not JUST your fuel, as primary problem, because if the electrical things were good, you would have gotten the car to fire up on starting fluid.
(Another thing that shuts down the auto shutdown relay, from my understanding, are crashes where the air bag is deployed, but that did not happen.)
[Off hand I can't think of any other sensor that will shut down the electrical if it knows the cars FUEL delivery system is not working. If I am wrong about this, someone else can straighten this out. At least MY car does not have such a feature, otherwise MY car would not have briefly fired up on starting fluid when I ran out of gas.]
Also if something like an auto shutdown relay comes on for whatever reason, like if the pickup to the distributor went out, it will also shut down electrical and fuel.
But your problem is not JUST your fuel, as primary problem, because if the electrical things were good, you would have gotten the car to fire up on starting fluid.
(Another thing that shuts down the auto shutdown relay, from my understanding, are crashes where the air bag is deployed, but that did not happen.)
[Off hand I can't think of any other sensor that will shut down the electrical if it knows the cars FUEL delivery system is not working. If I am wrong about this, someone else can straighten this out. At least MY car does not have such a feature, otherwise MY car would not have briefly fired up on starting fluid when I ran out of gas.]
#9
08-09-07, 10:52 PM
sounds like i might just need to take it to a real mechanic. I know some about these new cars but all these sensors and electronic diagostics and stuff I have no clue about. Worst part it the car is 45 min from my house now and probably am going to have to get it towed
can you say expensive!!!!
If anyone else has any input on this PLEASE HELP!!!!
can you say expensive!!!! If anyone else has any input on this PLEASE HELP!!!!
#10
08-10-07, 06:22 AM
DO you have throttle body injection (which looks like a carburetor) or the individual port injecton (which has this rigid tube that leads to the different cylinders)? Then I'd know if you could have done the test I suggested.
Yes. All those sensors. But they aren't going back to leaded gas, points in the distributor, carburetors, and mechanical fuel pumps anytime soon. So the more you can learn about all these things that pertain to your car, the better off you will be.
Yes. All those sensors. But they aren't going back to leaded gas, points in the distributor, carburetors, and mechanical fuel pumps anytime soon. So the more you can learn about all these things that pertain to your car, the better off you will be.
#12
08-10-07, 11:13 AM
Seems as if you've done everything except change the fuel filter and a clogged fuel filter will stop you dead in your tracks, make sure all the simple stuff is working before getting into exotic fixes. How old are your plug wires especially the one going to the distributor?
