Pontiac Repair: 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, pontiac grand prix, rubber mallet

Question
QUESTION: Hi
2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 118,000 miles 3.8 V6. Drove car this past 4th of July 25 miles. Stopped for a soda and car would not start.  Cranked fine. Very hot that day. Removed gas cap to ck for vapor lock, checked fuel pump/ injector fuses. Could not hear fuel pump energizing. Car did start but ran very rough. Shut off and no start period. Towed car 30 miles to garage. Tried to start car when got to garage no start.  Dropped off keys Tuesday morning and car fired right up. Garage had car 4 days ran errands etc and fine everytime.  They checked fuel pressure and was fine. No codes were in computer.  Have been having problem with key stuck in ignition but it didn't stick when this problem arose.  Have been using under column release door to remove key so as not to drain battery. Just throwing that in there because you never know! Anyway can hear fuel pump energizing now and it's running good. However, afraid to drive car any distance. Can't find problem if it's not doing it! Any ideas, suggestions, etc? Don't really need to continue to pay towing bills.  Have car back and am driving it locally. What do you think?

ANSWER: Hi Tim:

sounds like you did a lot of prolimanary checks before you had it taken to a garage for repair. If you couldn't hear the pump running that is a good place to start looking at. The fuel pumps of that vinatge were noted for having issues of overheat. and then they will not run. When was the last time the fuel filter was replaced? usuallu the chain of events are the fuel filter plugs up and it restricts the pump and it overworks and over heats the pump and in cases of extreme heat the fuel gets hot aloso which sppeds up the event and the pump quits running. when it happens some times you can tap on the bottom of the gas tank with a rubber mallet while someone cranks the car and the jaring from the taping on the tank make the pump catch and run. So I would look at the pump fisrt and foremost. As for the key issue when you can't get the key out of the ignition take not of the PRNDLL lamps on the dash cluster and see is the light do not work or not. If they cut out then I would look at a ignition switch issue and when it happens use a test light and see if you are loosing power to the fuse box behind the glove box. all the fuses that are on in accy position the light light BRIGHT if it's dim the siatch is bad. If that is not the case and the PRNDLL lamps are on then the issue is with either the shifter it's self or a broken wire aty the connector going into the shifter. I'm assuming this is a floor shift car with a center console and not a column shift car.. good luck :)


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

QUESTION: Fuel filter replaced 20,000 miles ago.  Will be doing asap again.  What should I do in the mean time?  I had thought about the old coil ignition systems that when the coil got hot the car would run but then wouldn't start until it cooled down. Possible coil pack going or maybe the computer under coil packs?  Probably can't get pump replaced for a week or two but am going to drive it locally.  Thought about the gas tank banging thing but was on tow truck for thirty miles and still no start. Probably would have started had I waited for pump to cool. As far as ignition key, new cylinder put in 2 years ago.  Car would lock in drive and not come out.  Was wire on transmission loose.  Lights in dash for park, drive, etc are on when this happens. Pain to use trap door to get key out, but no big deal. Will I hurt anything by continuing to do this? Yes floor shift car.  Garage said that they would come if car quit again to check for fuel pressure and spark, but only if I'm near by. So you are betting on fuel pump? My guess too, but I would like to be sure before putting in a $300.00 pump! Thank GM though for putting a trap door in the trunk! Thanks, Todd

Tim

Answer
your not hurting anything by driving it with the bad shifter it'd just a pain! as for the pump If you don't hear it run chances are it;s the pump it's self not much else goes bad with these. it could be a fuel pump relay in the underhood fuse box but those are pretty tough even if the pump was going bad and causing a heavy draw! if it quits on you use a key and push on the pressure schrader valve with a key and see if there is ample pressure there is it just spits and sutters out you have a pressure issue. If there is heavy steady stream it's not a fule pressure issue. I would not do this is the engine is smoking hot!!!!!!