Desperate for some advice, please do not reply with “take it a profession” or “take it to the shop” because that’s not going to happen. We cannot afford it! A few weeks ago we changed the fuel filter on our 2000 Pontiac Grand Am, we ran into a little bit of a problem with the retainer clip fitting and we broke the “blue clip” (even *after* watching videos on removing it!!!) . So we bought an “adapter” which I wasn’t too sure about to begin with. It was just a hollow tube that tapered at each end so it would fit tightly into the tubing – looking it up and trying to find a link to share, I see they are called “barbed” adapters. (Very similar to this http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J0Cb0sUsL._AA1024_.jpg ). Anyway, this is not my current issue but I’m trying to find out if it might be. We cannot get the car to start. We have checked all the fuses, checked the spark plugs, and used starter fluid. With the starter fluid it seems to advance, meaning it sounds a little better than before the starter fluid but doesn’t officially start (Like I was told it should). We have been debating with the fuel pump for a while now and I’m back and forth between believing that is the cause and not the cause. You can hear it but some say that’s a good sign and others say that’s a sign it’s louder and ‘bad.’ If you ever had one of those old cars with the antenna that goes up in the back of a car, that’s exactly what the fuel pump sounds like. We have a new fuel pump but I would hate to go through all that and that’s not the problem, I’m not so convinced it is. The only other thing we can do is get a fuel pressure gauge but if it won’t start then…I am desperate for some answers here. I’m trying to include everything I can think of but I’m sure I’ve missed something. Please HELP! Oh and I guess I should mention that it does try to turnover but doesn’t. I’m convinced it’s the fuel somewhere but I’m not sure how to tell where. Wondering if that stupid barbed adapter could have clogged that early, or what??? Feel free to probe for more information, thanks!
2000 Pontiac Grand Am will not start
- Thread starter brohdaw
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Silver Dak
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Can the fuel filter be installed backwards? If the car ran before the filter was replaced. Most likely that's the cause. I would buy another filter. What brand filter did you buy?
Silver Dak and melsg5 - no it was not running before the fuel filter was installed. We knew there was a specific way the filter was to be installed and I'm pretty sure we did not install it backwards but it wouldn't hurt to check. That's something we haven't checked yet. With all the frustration when we were changing it, it's at least a little possible we didn't think! But would it run for about a month if it was installed backwards? We did that about a month ago. I do not remember what brand it was but we got it at Advanced Auto and if you're asking because you think it might be a "lousy" one, yes we did buy a relatively cheap one - maybe mid-priced, at most.
Nevermind, one end was threaded and the other end was not so yes, we had only one option to how to install the fuel filter so that's not the case. ugh
Nevermind, one end was threaded and the other end was not so yes, we had only one option to how to install the fuel filter so that's not the case. ugh
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Kevlar
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The fuel filters have a threaded fitting on one end, quick disconnect fitting on the other so it's pretty hard to install them the wrong way unless modifications are made.
You need 3 basic things for an engine to run; 1. Fuel - 2. Ignition, - 3. Compression
Let's assume your engine is sound, ruling out lack of compression. It concerns me that you said it wont start/run with starting fluid unless you are bypassing the mass air flow sensor with the fluid. I don't expect the engine to run without the mass air flow sensor.
On my '96, the mass air flow is connected right to the air filter box. I pull it off the box and spray into the MAF when checking with starter fluid. If it's just starving for fuel then it should run with the starter fluid.
If you're spraying the starter fluid in the right place and it won't start then you need to check the ignition as well.
A pressure gage on the fuel rail will tell you if your pump is working or not. A noisy pump is better than a silent one!
Good luck!
You need 3 basic things for an engine to run; 1. Fuel - 2. Ignition, - 3. Compression
Let's assume your engine is sound, ruling out lack of compression. It concerns me that you said it wont start/run with starting fluid unless you are bypassing the mass air flow sensor with the fluid. I don't expect the engine to run without the mass air flow sensor.
On my '96, the mass air flow is connected right to the air filter box. I pull it off the box and spray into the MAF when checking with starter fluid. If it's just starving for fuel then it should run with the starter fluid.
If you're spraying the starter fluid in the right place and it won't start then you need to check the ignition as well.
A pressure gage on the fuel rail will tell you if your pump is working or not. A noisy pump is better than a silent one!
Good luck!
It's funny you should mention the MAF because we went through all that before finding out and changing the Fuel filter. We checked the "flap" and cleaned that and the throttle body sensor seemed fine too (still, maybe not). We're not pros, we are just DIYers. I was wondering earlier (even before reading this post if I could just remove the Throttle body sensor and spray the starter fluid in there) but where we have been spraying it is in the air tubing and yes, it is before the MAF. So any new suggestions from this? I'm afraid to spray anymore starter fluid, I'm sure sooner-or-later you can spray too much in the tubing. We went out and tried a few more things, like making sure the security light was on then off, switching the horn and fuel pump fuses - that are the same - and I'm just at a loss. Hate to drop the gas tank if that's not even it. I'm glad you said a loud fuel pump is better than a quiet one because someone told us that being too loud is another sign its broken (aside from not hearing it at all). I'd really like to keep you all interested in helping me as best I can so any further suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks