Pontiac Repair: 1996 grand am 3.1L, crankshaft position sensor, remote starters

Question
QUESTION:  my son has this car that runs fine 90% of the time. But there are times when he tries to start it and it tries to start but it wont. we cant find a code on it and we have taken it to a dealer and they thought it was the alarm system and unhooked it but it didnt solve the problem.
I think its a sensor somewhere but dont know which. any point in the right direction would be very helpful,

ANSWER: Hey Duane:

When the car will not start does the theft system lamp come on or start flashing? if so it's an issue with the theft system. if this car had an alarm or a remote starter on it. I would take a look at where is was connected/disconnected. it could have a loose or bad connection casuing your issue. if the theft light is on and flashing most of the time the issue was with the ignition lock housing. there is a sensor in the housing and that they had a tendency to go bad. If it is a theft system issue the car will start and then stall. If it just will not crank over I would look at the wiring where the alarm was. I have seen sooooooo many issues from poor/shotty instillations of alarms and remote starters...
good luck :}


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

QUESTION:  Ok this makes sence with the theft system being they disconnected it. I havn't had a chance to look at yet but I will tomorrow. Im going to run a fuel pressure check just to eliminate it from the equasion. I will then check to see if its getting fire. I just have a feeling that its a sensor somewhere. Could you tell me what the symptoms are when a crankshaft position sensor/camshaft position sensor goes bad? when they go out,do they sometimes go out intermittendly? i appriciate all the advise.
         Duane

Answer
A cam haft sensore will not make it not start. A crank shaft sensore on the other had will. Cranks sensore usually go bad they go bad it's not an intermittant issue. The sensor is in the block and the wires for it are attached to the ignition module. The wires are purple and yellow they are in ther own connctor on the left side of the module. You can chck the resistance of the senor and wiring. It should be say between 800-1500 Ohms.