QuestionQUESTION: 1997 Pontiac Bonneville will not start
Engine 3.8L V6 OHV 12V
History
Has leak that gets back floor board wet when it rains, this has never caused any problems.
Have had issue where security system shut car down and would not start until 3-5 min passed but then key would not do anythign'
2 days ago it started smelling like fuel when I started it and was rough idling, but after that it ran fine.
It smelled and acted like it was flooding.
This morning it would not start.
Turns over great but does not even act like it is firing
Put in new spark plugs and air filter, still won’t start
Checked spark by putting plug in wire and turned over, had good spark
Old plugs were not wet, did not show signs of being fouled
Pulled cap on fuel pressure gauge hook up valve and have fuel there. Pushed needle while turning over.
Checked vacuum line on fuel diaphragm, no sigh of fuel in vacuum line
Did the finger check for compression and it blew by.
I can hear the fuel pump come on when I turn ignition on.
What I have not done
have not Checked fuel pressure, do not have pressure gauge.
have not Checked compression, do not have pressure gauge.
I have basic auto electrical ohm meter tester but have not tested anything.
any help on what my next step would be is greatly appriciated!!!
ANSWER: Hey Rob:
looks lime you have the basics covered. But at the bottom of the question you already know hwta you need to check next. that engine needs aroinf 45 PSI of fuel pressure to run propely. As for the compression I'm not sure what the spec is on that engine I would say somewhere between 130-150PSI and no cylinder should be more the 10% lower the the average. Even if you had one low cylinder as long as it's not a broken intake valve spring or bad intake valve it should'nt effect the starting it should run on 5 cylinders. You need a 12 Volt computer safe test lamp usually an LED test lamp will work okay. unplug one of the injectors and use the tste lap across the injector terminals and the lamp should flash while the engine is cranking If not your loosing injetor pulse and that can be due to a bad engine computer a bad ignition module or the wiring between the module and the computer. You need to check the engine grounds too. ther are a few on the engine to transmission mounting bolts and there I believe is one on the back of the engine by the power steering pump. Usuauuly that one is okay it's the engine to transmission studs that break off. give them a tug and see what happens. good luck.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: changed fuel fileter, old did not appear dirty
checked injectors, had pulse
checked pressure, it was 15 will the key on and engine not turning
it did sound like it was trying to fire now but still will not start.
did not find any loose grounds
Answer15 is way too low. being that this has a water leak in the car the ground splice pack in the car may be corroded. it is under the l/f sill plate and under the carper. they are all black wires. and it's taped the the harness that runs under the carpet. it's a splice comb. remove the cover on the comb and pull the splice block out of the connector and clean all the contacts/terminals and see what happens. usually when that ground is bad the power windows will not work. if all is well there then it could be a bad fuel pump relay swap that relay with a like relay in the relay block and see what happens if still nothing the pump is more then likely bad.
