2004 Grand Am wont start HELP!

[suzi]

My car wont start, it's the second time I've had this issue. The first time I unhooked the battery and checked the plugs. When I put it all back together it fired right up. Haven't had a problem til now. Theres no security system that im aware of. Although the light does come on a brief moment before starting, please help. Thanks

[carriedi]

if the security light comes on on the dash then you have a security system.

when you say your car won't start, what does that mean? Engine cranks over but won't start and run? Doesn't turn over? Click but doesn't turn over? turn the key to start and nothing happens at all?

[suzi]

It turns over, but wont start, it was running great when I parked it when I got home the other day. Already checked the fuel pump, plugs look good. Ive gone over pretty much all the simple stuff. The last time, I took the top of the intake off and the battery stayed unhooked for the most part of the day, didnt see anything wrong then and put it all back together and everything has worked fine for a couple months. But that didnt work this time.

[carriedi]

so what is the fuel pressure at? are you getting spark? do you have injector pulse?

is the security light on? If the security light comes on it will turn off your fuel injector pulse. so if you don't get an injector pulse, security protocols have probably been activated.

[suzi]

Fuel pressure is good, spark is good, the only time the security light comes on is when I turn the vehicle on it comes on for a brief moment the goes back out. Its never come on other than turning over the ignition

[carriedi]

what is your fuel pressure reading? spec for the 3.4L is 52 to 59 psi. do you have fuel injector pulse when cranking the engine?

[suzi]

Its a 2.2 and idk its sprayin pretty good out the rail and idk about the injectors im doing this in my driveway

[carriedi]

ok, you can get a powerful spray from the fuel line port even if the pressure is only 20 psi. 2.2L spec for fuel pressure is 50 to 60 psi. you need to verify that your minimum pressure is at least 50 psi. if you have a test light you can test for injector pulse. unplug any injector and use a test light going between the two connections in the wire harness in the connector and it should flash as someone cranks the engine. If you have spark but no injector pulse the security could be turning off the injectors.

[suzi]

So should i bypass the passlock? Would that be the cheapest and easiest thing to do to start out with? I tried that whole turn switch to on thing didnt work. I have an interview Thursday, hahaha I kinda need my car

[carriedi]

it's not easy to bypass the passlock. but you don't know if it is the passlock or not. you need to see if you have injector pulse when cranking to see if the passlock is shutting off the injectors or not. If you only have 30 psi in the fuel rail, the injectors may not feed enough gas to start your engine. Need at least 50 psi.

you could see if the engine will run on fuel fed manually through the intake system. if it will run on fuel fed manually then the fuel system is what you should concentrate on. Cars are very technical now days. Passlock data is available on the tech2 scanner but many aftermarket scanners don't have the ability to talk to passlock system. If the passlock sensor is unable to read your key your engine will not start. Even if you do a relearn, if it can't see your key it can't do a relearn. the passlock sends 5 volts to the sensor. your key changes that voltage to a lower voltage. The passlock needs to see that lower voltage to know there is a key inserted. If it sees the voltage it has been programmed to see, no problem, it start right up. If the memory has been erased or your key has a different voltage, it will need a relearn to see the new voltage. If one of the wires gets broken (common thing to happen) the passlock will not see any voltage for a key. No voltage means not start and no relearn

[suzi]

So, if it starts with ether into the intake then its a fuel problem and the fule is putting out less than 50psi..so pump or filter ect messed up correct?. And if it doesnt start after putting ether in then its ignition or passlaock problem? Maybe crank sensor?

[carriedi]

I would not recommend starting fluid. Use carb cleaner. starting fluid runs too hot if you use too much. Be careful! using a spray accelerant could cause a fire if the engine backfires.

if it starts with your manually added fuel then yes, it could be a fuel pressure problem, fuel regulator problem, plugged up fuel filter, clogged injectors, or no injector pulse. Have you checked power to the injectors? have you checked the injector pulse yet?

If you have spark you have a crank sensor signal.