Pontiac Repair: 2001 Grand Prix cranks but wont start, rubber mallet, 3800 engine

Question
Hi Todd, hope you might have some ideas.  Yesterday my daughter called and her 2001 Grand Prix would not start.  She pulled into a quickstop and car running fine.  Came out a few minutes later and the car would just crank and not even try to start.  I went the few miles to help her and found the same thing...plenty of cranking, but not even trying to start.  Called a towtruck and when it got there, the driver tried and the car started right up and ran fine.  The car has a 3800 engine and runs like brand new. This is the first time it happened and today is starting fine. The check engine is not on. Any ideas....I was thinking maybe something with the fuel pump or if the key has a chip could there be anything with that key not being sensed.  Is it possible something got hot and then cooled down the 45 minutes waiting for the tow started working again? Any help would be really appreciated...I assume this will happen again and she will be stranded.  Thanks

Answer
Hi Jerry:

well you need to get it to act up for you again and see what it's missing. either fuel or spark. when it doesn't start you can check for spark with a simple cheap spark cheker you can get tah the parts store. when you crank it it should have spark. the fuel part is a bit harder. without a pressure guage it's just a guess but you can take the cap of the pressure tap on the fuel injector rail and press on the schrader valve it should have plenty of fule pressure just don't stand over it or you get splashed with gas. see what it does after a key to run but don't start it that will "prime" the rail. see what the sporay outr the valve looks like. when it will not start try it again and see what happens.. If you have no spray the pump isn't running. try using a rubber mallet and tap on the bottom of the gas tank while someone cranks the car over that jaring from the mallet may get the motor off a dead spot and then start to run and produce pressure. If I had to guess I would lean more towards a fuel issue more so then a spark issue. When was the last time the fuel filter was replaced? chances are it plugged up solid and that is what has caused the pump issue. The pump works too hard and (burns) out.. Good luck :-}