Pontiac Repair: 02 grand prix, crank sensor, grand prix 3

Question
QUESTION: I have a 02 grand prix 3.8L and its not a supercharge. I was driving it the other day and all of a sudden it die. I pulled over and started it back up and drove again. Got 3 miles down the road and it died again. I went to start it again and it wouldn't start. I had a friend pull me the last few mins and about 5 hours later I went and tried to start it again. This time it started. So I drove it home and it was fine. The next time I drove it, it died again and would not start back up again. I turned around and pulled it home and the next day tried to start it again and it started right up. Now my question is why would it do that? I have talk to people about it and everyone says they don't know why and that if there is no code that they would have to change parts here and there to see if that fixes it. I have tested stuff and found nothing wrong yet. If you know what it could be or where I should look that I haven't yet it, Please let me know. Thank you John

ANSWER: Hi John:

wehn this dies out does it spit sputter and cough before it dies or is it just like someone turned the key off and it died? It makes a difference as to which way to look at the problem. It's either a fuel deliver issue or lack of spark. Let me know.


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

QUESTION: it dies like you turn the key off. We checked for fuel and there is fuel. Then we checked for spark and there was no spark. I was told it maybe a crackshaft sensor. I don't see how it is when it will start up again later on.

Answer
Chnace are that is what the issue is with it. 9 our of 10 times if indeed you loose spark when it's hot it's a crank sensor that is bad. The other 10% it's an ignition module or a connection at or to the module. when the crank sensor heat up the circitry in it goes bad. once it cools down it starts to work again. It's a pretty common issue with that part on that engine.