Thread: Cranks But Won't Start.

I have a 1999 Grand Prix GT, non-super. Last winter I had it parked outside for two weeks while I was on vacation and we had really bad ice storms and cold weather and when I got back, it wouldn't start. Would only crank. Before I left it was running just fine. The battery would die really easily, and a jump would let the car start up. So I figured it was a bad battery.

Since this was my backup car, I didn't do anything with it, just stored it until this fall. I wanted to get it running again, so I found out it was the terminal connection that was causing it not to start. So once I cleaned that up with a wire brush and made sure it was really tight, it ran good.

About 2 weeks ago, I drove it to get a new set of tires for the winter. Drove just fine and started easily. The next day I went to start it for work and it would just crank. It wouldn't start.

I replace the fuel filter, so it's getting fuel (I checked at the rail). I replaced all the vacuum lines I could see, so that's not the problem either. I checked for spark and it wasn't getting spark. So I replaced the coils (But not the bottom piece that they all sit on). Still won't start.

Should I replace the bottom part as well? Or is there something else you guys would suggest checking first.

Thanks.

under the coil packs is the icm. it can also go bad.

if its been sitting that long, look for chewed wires. mice like to make a home out of sitting cars. like in the air filter box. they could have chewed a wire to the pcm or something else.

I'll change the bottom then, too.

Cold air intake. So no air filter box. I'll check the PCM wires still, though.

Thanks!

id take a good look around for nests under the hood. little f'ers do some real damage.


you can take the icm off and have it tested for free at autozone part stores.

a junk yard would be the cheap way to get another one, as they aint cheap new. and they test good when bad still sometimes. odd little pos it is.

I'd start by checking spark and pulling a spark plug to see if it's wet. If you keep priming the system, then it should be wet. If it's not wet..then I'd unplug the maf and try starting it.

I've unplugged the MAF many times. I've replaced it 3 times on this car, so I know to check that first if anything is up. Still doesn't start with the MAF unplugged. Thanks though.

Well I have 3 GPs. I just bought a parts GP GT that was running but had a huge knock. So I'm going to take the ICM off that (where I took the coils off as well).

nice to have parts in the same driveway lol get to swapping.

Had to take the easy fix away from me. .....hmmmm

Check the bolt that holds the electrical to the ICM. If it's loose, you can get intermittent issues like this.

Icm ground can cause similar issues as well.. Bad ground was eating icm's on one of my cars

Changed the icm and made sure it was secure and had the wires tightened on it.

checked the vac line in the back and it was all good.

Still not starting. Changed the cold air intake filter as well.

Hmm, What if the IGN fuses in the fuse block have corrosion on the ends. Just thinking out loud here.

you check for spark at the plugs or coils yet?

if you prop a plug wire a inch over the coil, a large spark should jump to the wire then the car is cranked.

So I was gone for two weeks.

Changed the ICM and charged the battery to 100%. Crank really strong, but didn't try to start.

The fuel is a year old, if not older in the tank. Could this fuel be bad/separated? Tank is around 1/4 full.

I've started on old fuel too often to think so.

My dad is driving a 97 Olds 88. That car sat in a garage for over 5 years w/o moving once, never started, literally nothing. I went over after he filled the tires with only a battery. Dropped the battery in and it fired up on 3 cylinders.. worked it a moment and the other 3 fired up. To this day..it's one smooth running 3800. Dad thought I was nuts showing up with only a battery to start it. He was positive that I'd need a lot more to get it rolling.

Just tested for spark again after switching the ICM. Nothing. Most common reason for randomly losing spark?

Was doing a lot of reading and some of the symptoms of a bad Crank Position Sensor were symptoms I had been having beforehand. Randomly not starting. Stalling, and RPM issues.

Any good instructions on how to change the sensor? I saw a video where a guy had to use a few special tools. Are these needed? If so, can they be rented from autozone?

So I changed the CPS, and it started right up. Turned it off and on a few times. A day later I went to move it, and it has the same problem, cranks but no start. Ideas?

Anyone? Would love to be able to put this away for the winter. Need it to start though.