Pontiac Repair: pontiac sunfire 2001 Crank no Start, ac delco, pontiac sunfire

Question
Thank you for taking the time to help me with my problem.  I have A 2001 Pontiac sunfire coupe SE 2.2.  I have replaced the wires
(cheap Napa, and I changed them like for like). How do I check for spark to make sure they have it. Plugs (AC Delco, that were
pre-gapped). Battery (Optima, Red Top, with 11.5 volts after charging). I have Changed the Starter, and the fuel filter as well

After I changed all of that OTHER than the fuel filter I started that car and it ran alright.  Mind you the gas that was it it
was probably 8 months old.  The car did run.  it ran kind of weird like it was mis-firing but I was told by a person who works
on cars that it probably was the gas that was in it.  I started the car a couple times a week and drove it around the block too.
Then one day I went out to start it and it sounded like the starter wasnt working or was spinning freely. So needless to say
I wasnt happy about that.  I didnt worry too much about the car until I moved to a new house and now I am trying to save gas and
I want the car to work.

The car sat for another 4 months after I moved with the same gas from earlier. I charged the battery, and sucked all the gas out of the car(which
wasnt much like 3/4 of a gallon). I went and got 6 gallons of gas and put some Slick 50 fuel treatment into the tank.  This is when I
changed the fuel filter and the gas didnt smell like gas really any more. I tried to start the car and all it would do was crank and
crank and crank!  

There is a Re-call for a faulty ignition which "could" catch on fire and all they would do is put another harness in there to replace the old one. My Buddy
is telling me this is why the car will not start. I dont thin that that is the problem.  That is just something that needs to be fixxed I agree.
 
This is what the recall states:  

1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH  Recall Number: 04V036000 Dates Manufactured: MAR 2000 to APR 2001  
Number of Vehicles Affected: 1415231 Date Owners Notified On: N/A  

Vehicle: 2001 Pontiac Sunfire
Defect Description:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD,
HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence of Defect:
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE
COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Corrective Action:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND
CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED
UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438,
PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE
ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

I have tried going to the website and putting in the VIN but it Says there is no record???

I have a feeling that there is a number of things that could be wrong with the car...

1: I think I have a bad fuel pump, because it cranks just dosent turn over. Do you think that could be a the problem? Is there
a way I can Check to see if It is pumping?  When i turn the key to the on position its sounds like the injectors are atleast tring to prime.
Can i get to the pump from removing my back seat and is there an access panel there?

2: Maybe I dont have spark. How do I check for that?

3: Compression.  How do I check for that?

If there is anything else that I can do or that you think might be the problem. I hope I have givin you enough detail.  

Thanks again for your time I really do appreciate it

Sincerely,
   Nicholas

Answer
Hey Nicholas:

That recall you have is more of a no crank issue more nad a no start. I have see the switches go bad and cause a lot of other issues though. Give me the last 8 digits of the VIN # and I can check the recall for you.

That engine doesn't have a pressure tap on it for the fule pressure so you need a tester that goes in line back at the filter to check the pressure. as for checking for spark you can get a "spark" tester at the auto parts store and see if you have spark on all for wires If not then you have to find out why EG bad coil or module or even a crank sensor. If you have all of that then the next step is checking for injector pulse for that you need a tool called a NOID light it plugs into the harness where the injector plugs in it should flash with the car is cranked. If not they you have to find out why It could be a bad ignition module again, Blown fuse or a bad computer. There are a lot of things that this could be but this gives you a starting point. good luck :}