Auto Parts: Car Stalled and Never Started back up, throttle position sensor, pontiac grandam

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1994 Pontiac Grandam SE (4 cycl. Quad Engine, 2.3L, 2 door) I was driving down the road 4 weeks ago and pulled over for a moment to do something (car was still running, but in park) when to my surprise the car stalled and wouldn't start back up. Didn't notice any warning signs. Purchased starter w/seliniod in April 2007 and then a new battery next day after car died (end of June this year). When try to start it, serpentine belt is not turning but appears to be in good shape. In past have had to replace serpentine belt about 5 times alone this year. Unsure if this is related to car not starting now or not. Parts Replaced last year = 5/32 & 7/32 vacum hose, oxygen sensor, throttle position sensor (TPS), map sensor and catilac converter-muffler. I've spoke to 3-4 people and all have given me a different answer on what they think it is.  I've heard it's the alternator, the timing belt etc. I just don't want to keep buyig parts like I did last year.
Any suggestions? I am terrible at trouble shooting but can
fix most if I know what's wrong, just don't have the money to keep putting all the wrong parts in.

Also power door locks will automatically lock me out of the car. Passanger side door lock works. Driver side doesn't. Any suggestions on this?

ANSWER: Hi Paula,

Wow, it sounds like you've really had a time with this car!
Ok I have a few questions first- does the car roll at all and just not turn over, or is it not rolling at all? Are you getting power to everything? Is the check engine light on?
Why on earth have you had to replace the belt 5 times this year?? It's only July! Do you keep snapping it? If that's the case there's a lot more going on than just snapping the belt-you've got a tensioner pulley messed up or something- that's just nuts. Are you really so attached to this problematic vehicle that you can't just replace the vehicle, it would probably cost you about the same as all the parts you've had to replace, lol.

Let me know, christina

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Lights are working. Check light enginge has always been on. One of those deals where car would run fine but have check engine light on all the time.Car is turning over but not starting. Can hear the ding sound when you open the door, Can hear the fuel pump come on when you try to start it. Get that rrr, rrr, rrr  sound when trying to start it.
Can see the timing belt turning no problem but other side of motor where serpentine belt is, isn't turning when trying to start it. Had to change it so many times because belt would literally shred into pieces.

I am definetly not attached to the car. LOL. I bought another vehicle but was hoping to get this running so I could sell it and recover some of the money back. My car, washer machine and cell phone all died this month. LOL. If it's one of the pulley's, how do I know which one it is. What's the proces like in changing one of those?

Answer
Hi Paula,
The rrr, rrr, rrr sound with power usually means the starter is bad.... I believe you can get it tested at Auto Zone, did you buy new or remanufactured? Even still, April-you 'should' still have a warranty on it. If the alternator was bad you wouldn't have power. Do yourself a quick favor and check the spark plug wires and plugs-make sure that none of the wires are burnt open, melted, or frayed, and check the plugs to make sure the tips aren't all burnt up. Sometimes it's as easy as that when the engine won't fire (and that would be a much less expensive fix, lol).
As far as the pulley's go, that's a harder troubleshoot- you'll have to wait until you get the engine running and watch it run for a while- look for one that wobbles or the belt moves side to side on, or one that might be rubbbing on something- are you sure you're re-threading the belt correctly when you replace it?? (Please don't take offense to that question, I'm just trying to figure out why on earth you'd have such a problem out of a belt you should only have to change once MAYBE twice in the lifetime of a vehicle) As far as changing the pulley, it's not that hard, it's just hard to get off and make sure you get it back on tight enough.

oh and for the door locks, read my other quetion about the GEM module- your car may have one and need repaced.

Did you ever have a diagnostics run to check your check engine light?

Christina