Expert: Todd Puccio - 11/2/2009

Question
I HAVE 1996 GRAND AM GT WITH 2.4 ENGINE, I HAVE REPLACED MODULE, PLUGS, IGNITION HOUSING,COILS. GENERAL TUNE UP. NOW IT IS HARD TO START, REPLACED CRANK AND CAM SENSORS, IAC, FUEL PRESS REG, MAP SENSOR, FUEL FILTER. TURN KEY TO ON YOU CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP. CONDITION HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS HOT OR COLD.FINALLY STARTS THEN DIES THEN SOMETIMES CRANKS RIGHT BACK UP.ONCE STARTED IT RUNS FINE,SOMETIMES GIVE IT A GOOD KICK IN WITH THE GAS AND IT WILL BUCK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. GETTING CODES FOR CRANK AND CAM SENSOR AND THE DOWN STREAM OXYGEN SENSOR. NEED HELP ANY IDEAS?

Answer
Hi Harry:

I would check your ground wire connections at the engein to transmission mounting bolts I have seen bad ground wires on these cars cause all kinds of wierd conditions. look at the wires and make sure they do not look green and corroded. grab each wire and give them a tug you may find one is just hanging on by a thread and causing your issue. If you have replaced the cam and crank sensors you need a scan tool (not a code reader) to relearn the cam/crank corolation. Make sure the engine throttle plate is clean and free of carbon build up along with the Idle control motor and the bore it moves in in the throttle body. Any secuirty lamp come on when it starts and stalls out right away Does the lamp flash? that would indicate an issue with the factory security system. what O2 sensor codes sets a heater code or a performance code? rich/lean code??