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1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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tiorunder
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Oct 31, 2008, 7:48 PM
Post #1 of 9
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1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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 My daughter broke down on the hiway with her 1998 Pontiac grand prix 3800 II. She said it was running fine and then suddenly started misfiring and running "crappy" (her words). She pulled over. The motor stalled and now it will not start. It cranks good and strong, but won't start. Plenty of fuel. I suspect a problem with ignition. Whaddya think ?? Thank you in advance. John Carroll
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 31, 2008, 10:39 PM
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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Ah - do you have the car back off the highway now? Can you check for LACK of spark or fuel now?
*Listen for fuel pump priming when key turned to just "run" - hard to hear on side of busy road of course.
*Can you check for spark where you are?
T
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tiorunder
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Nov 1, 2008, 8:51 AM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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Car is at my daughter's apartment now, still won't start. She is about 130 miles from where I am. I am going out there this afternoon to check for spark and fuel pump sound as you have suggested. If it turns out to be a crank position sensor or cam position sensor I will have to remove the dampener which I have read is a real pain, but my bigger concern is:
Do I need a special tool to adjust the spacing of the crank position sensor ?
Hopefully I won't need to get this involved, but in either case I appreciate your reply and will thank you again as you have helped me out in the past on this forum. I believe it may have been the same car! Thanks again.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 1, 2008, 9:33 AM
Post #4 of 9
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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Your call and it's always nice to visit family but is a round trip of 260 miles just to find whether fuel or spark is the issue worth it alone? You may not be able to get parts or have equipment for whatever is found either. A code reading might be helpful especially if non responsive to priming with fuel or starting fluid if fuel issue is possible and could need a fuel pump - tank down and out in many cars.
If you hear fuel pump and still a no go - taking fuel pressure would be informative too.
Let us know what you find if you do in fact make the trip,
T
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tiorunder
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Nov 1, 2008, 10:21 AM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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Will I need a special tool to adjust the crank position sensor if that turns out to be the problem? The car is a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3800 series 2. Thanks again. John
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 1, 2008, 12:42 PM
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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http://www.autozone.com/...eId=0900c15280090ea3
I didn't see a special tool listed at the link above which was quite lengthy on the subject.
Would still help if you could get a code reading which I know means a tow if not running to help isolate the trouble if ignition based at all - still to find out,
T
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tiorunder
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Nov 1, 2008, 3:59 PM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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Thanks for the info. I'll keep you posted. John.
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tiorunder
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Nov 2, 2008, 6:47 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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Greenleaf,
Got out there today (Sunday) and tested the car for spark and fuel and had plenty of both. Pulled out a spark plug and it was soaking wet and smelled of gas as did the others. New set of plugs and wires and it fired right up, - sort of. The motor was running really rough and TONS of white smoke (smelled like coolant) began to billow from the exhaust as the engine ran worse and worse until I shut it off.
Head gasket?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 2, 2008, 8:49 PM
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Re: 1998 grand prix 3800 II won't start
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Unfortunately that's probably a head gasket as you suspect. Do as many tests as you can now with it all together to rule out any other possibilities but........ smells like coolant, white smoke out exhaust, fouled plugs - with coolant I suspect? is getting to be a finished diagnosis.
If you can pressure check it that would help too. Did this car seriously overheat when this first happened?
T
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