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Car Forum / GMC Cars / April 2006

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96 GRAND AM SE WONT START!!

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harberjohn@gmail.com - 30 Mar 2006 17:05 GMT
My g/f has a 96 Grand AM SE with a 2.4 and 137,000 mi. and it won't
start. She had the starter and altenator replaced last year. The
battery was drained, took it to AutoZone and the batter was bad. They
replaced it for free because it was still under warranty. Still
wouldn't start. I replaced the coils this past weekend along with the
plugs and the battery was drained again. I jumped it, and all it does
it cranks. I didn't replace the "coil housing" or whatever its called,
could this be the problem? I'm not sure if it has a timing belt or
chain, could that be the problem? She needs her car by the middle of
April because she's leaving town to visit her mother who is having
surgery and I can't take her. Help please with any suggestions. Thanks.
HLS@nospam.nix - 30 Mar 2006 18:35 GMT
First, you need to isolate what is really happening here.  Guessing,
and throwing parts at it,  is a losing strategy.

You indicate it will crank over but will not fire.  But, it seems the
battery
is still draining.  Does it drain because you are cranking it, or because
there
is a basic problem here??  Charge it up, clean battery cables and make sure
all connections and grounds are tight and electrically making good
connection.
Make sure there is no parasitic drain on the battery, like a trunk or glove
light
that isnt turning off, etc.

You  need to see if you are getting ignition voltage.
Take off one of the spark plug cables and attach it to an old spark plug,
and lay
the spark plug on a grounded surface under the hood.  Have gf crank again
while
you watch.  Do you have spark?  If not, you must find out why.  Typicals
causes
include bad ignition module, bad coil, bad wires, bad crankshaft sensor,
etc.

Now, with the battery having full charge,  get yourself a can of starting
fluid.
Don't putz around with gasoline.
Have your gf help you.  You read the instructions, and spray
the fluid into the intake while she cranks.  IF it tries to start, you
likely have
a fuel delivery problem.  It could be a bad fuel pump, a plugged fuel
filter,
water in the tank, or other.

The last thing you need to check is compression.  IF the belt or chain has
failed,
then the engine will not start.  But check it before you start trying to
replace a belt.

Let us know what you find, step by step.
harberjohn@gmail.com - 04 Apr 2006 03:57 GMT
Thanks for your help!! I got it started this weekend.  I first checked
all the fuses....AOK, checked for any interior lights left on...AOK,
checked the cruise control, wiper switch, radio etc....AOK. Checked for
spark, no spark!! Already changed the coils and battery....checked the
timing chain...AOK. Altenator new last year. Checked the
ignition.....gotcha!! It turned out the harness that plugs into the
ignition, on the bottom of the steering wheel, had burned and exposed
wires. There's my short. Fixed the problem, and still wouldn't start.
Went to the junk yard and pulled an ignition modulator off of a
Sunfire...replaced it...and she started right up!!
Thanks again for your help.
 
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