Pontiac Repair: 2002 sunfire wont start, fire hazzard, meatl

Question
QUESTION: It turns, I hear the fuel pump, spark plugs are new, fuel filter has been changed, air filter is clean, has fuel, battery is charged although not 100% - more like 50%.

Dash lights up, it sounds like it wants to start but i can't get past it cranking.

Any thoughts?

thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Carlos:

When it will not start if you leave the ignition in the on/run position is the security lamp on and flashing? If so the security system failed on this car and that is preventing it from running. Pretty common issue for this car.. If so more than likely the ignition lock housing has failed. that will need to be replaced. If the security lamp is not on and flashing the you need to look at the basics, spark,fuel pressure and fuel delivery into the engine and compression. It's missing one of these to kae the engine run. That is where I would start looking. Good luck :0


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

QUESTION: I looked at the dash and the security light is not on or flashing.
How would check for the remainder?
Spark:  Would i just pull the plug out, keep the wire connected, ground it to a metal engine part and turn the engine over?

Fuel pressure: I have an ODB scan tool, an open source one, but it doesn't list fuel pressure.  Any manual methods?

Fuel delivery:  The spark plugs smell like gas after a few times turning the engine over, and i can smell fuel in the cabin.

I suppose compression is beyond my abilities to diagnose.

Thanks!

-C


Answer
You can do that for checking spark but it's not real safe in case raw fuel is in the cylinder and it indeed has spark that is a fire hazzard! there is a tool called a spark check its' a spark plug with an aligator clip on it. attach the clip to any engine meatl and the wire to the tester and crank the car it should spark for each wire/cylinder. as for fuel pressure you need a gauge to see what the pump is putting out it should be at least 40 PSI. as for compression that is a long shot as it not having it or low but there is a tool called a compression tester you put that in the spark plug hole and crank the engine over all cylinders should be within 10% of each othere either hi or lo. that engine I would say should have over 120PSI but not sure how much over that.