2000 pontiac - no start: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Dec. 29, 2009 1:49 p.m. hotrodlarry Reader

2.4 twin cam 156,xxx miles.. won't start. Engine will turn over, but not fire. Battery is good, car will stumble on starting fluid. It would also happen with 1/4 tank of gas. Now the car has 1/2 a tank and it wouldn't start this morn( but it was freezing cold outside at 7 am , too). Same thing happen about a month ago and the IAC valve was replaced and the car ran fine. No CEL's and no codes were found with cheap-o hand held scanner.

I'm thinking the fuel pump is on it's way out, but I haven't looked at the spark plugs yet. Maybe the car needs a tune up, what do you guys think?
Dec. 29, 2009 1:55 p.m. mel_horn Dork

What's the fuel pressure and flow?

The fact that it started on starter fluid and/or gas in the tank (at it seems various levels) points to the fuel system ...I would say pump and/or filter. Does that system have a sock type filter or does it have a separate filter?
Dec. 29, 2009 1:58 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

Want to hear my horror story with my GM product?

try disconnecting the MAF and IAC
Dec. 29, 2009 1:59 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

Two things fail on these vehicles religiously:

1: Fuel Pumps

2: Ignition coil towers

Replace both
Dec. 29, 2009 2:00 p.m. 16vCorey SuperDork

They do have notoriously horrible fuel pumps, so I'd start there.
Dec. 29, 2009 2:50 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

Oh yeah and remember to change the fuel filter every ten miles.
Dec. 29, 2009 4:15 p.m. hotrodlarry Reader

There's an inline filter on the frame rail and a sock type at the bottom of the fuel pump. Neither one has been changed since we bought the car in Sept/Oct. I keep leaning towards the fuel pump, but the coil/DI is top of the list..cheaper and easier to replace at the moment.Sad part is, the car runs like a champ when it decides to start up.

If it was Ignition related, wouldn't it kick the CEL on?
Dec. 30, 2009 9:50 a.m. Wally SuperDork

Perhaps it's in mourning.
Dec. 30, 2009 8:50 p.m. hotrodlarry Reader

Heh... nice one.

I cleaned out the throttle body with some cleaner spray and changed out the plug wires. It started and ran after that, so that's a good thing.I did get a CEL(P0300), but maybe that was due to the new wires, I dunno. It flashed when the car was first running, then it went out. Car has run nice and smooth since then.
Dec. 31, 2009 2:11 p.m. Gearheadotaku HalfDork

plug wires? Isn't that thing coil on plug? sort of?
Dec. 31, 2009 8:31 p.m. hotrodlarry Reader

Yeah it's got a Ignition cassette type thing similar to the Saab's. Yesterday it ran fine and this morning I had to help it get runnin with some ether. I changed the plugs out this afternoon and it's been running fine since .

fingers crossed