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TurtleGirl
Guest
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 Posted:
Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:01 pm Post subject:
2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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Please help! Two months ago, my 2001 Pontiac Grand Am (14.3 gallon gas
tank) would crank but would not start. My gas gauge showed about 1/4 of a
tank of gas (about 3 1/2 gallons) and my tripometer showed 255 miles since
my last fill up. My car was towed to the dealership where they replaced a
clogged fuel filter and told me the car was out of gas. They said they
added 3 gallons to the tank in order to start it. I left the dealership
and immediately filled the tank at the nearest gas station but could only
put in 6 gallons of gas.
This morning I had the same problem. I’m down to 1/4 of a tank of gas and
the car would crank but not start. My tripometer shows 275.9 miles since
my last fill up. (I have a total of 51,785 miles on my car.) I replaced
the battery about a month ago and had the oil changed last week.
Are my calculations regarding gas mileage/tank capacity completely off?
Is it possible that my gas gauge is broken? Is there anything I should
check before taking it for repairs? Thanks in advance for any advice!
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Totaltully
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:12 pm Post subject:
Re: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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| Buy a Honda or a Toyota! |
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TurtleGirl
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:04 am Post subject:
Re: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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I was just looking at the new Civic online! ;-)
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Totaltully
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:07 am Post subject:
Re: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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Cant go wrong. Have had dealers try to sell me certified 2 yr old
Toyotas for more than the price of a new one.. |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:25 am Post subject:
Re: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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There is a filter 'sock' on the fuel pump inlet port. The pump is in
the fuel tank. The sock is either clogged or is twisted up and is
sucking air at low fuel tank (1/4 tank). You may want to get this
looked at. The 'sock' is available at most auto parts places without
having to buy a pump. This is not to say the pump is not
intermittent or there are dirty connections at the pump. Might be a
good time to jump the fuel pump test terminal with the fuel line off
at the engine and see if the pump is running (should be ble to hear it
at the fuel tank filler hole) and more importantly actually pumping.
You will of course, have the fuel line end in a container and not
spill fuel all over.
Pete |
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Dave in Columbus
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:12 am Post subject:
Re: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 19:25:04 GMT, cselby@mts.net wrote:
| Quote: | There is a filter 'sock' on the fuel pump inlet port. The pump is in
the fuel tank. The sock is either clogged or is twisted up and is
sucking air at low fuel tank (1/4 tank). You may want to get this
looked at. The 'sock' is available at most auto parts places without
having to buy a pump. This is not to say the pump is not
intermittent or there are dirty connections at the pump. Might be a
good time to jump the fuel pump test terminal with the fuel line off
at the engine and see if the pump is running (should be ble to hear it
at the fuel tank filler hole) and more importantly actually pumping.
You will of course, have the fuel line end in a container and not
spill fuel all over.
Pete
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It's good of you to try to help the guy with his car, but maybe he
shouldn't open up his fuel line and start spraying gas all over the place.
An experienced mechanic might use this method as part of his trouble
shooting procedure but I think suggesting this procedure to a novice is
very dangerous.
When dealing with a novice trying to fix his car on Usenet sometimes the
best advice you can offer is to have him take it to an experienced
mechanic.
--
Dave in Columbus |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:04 pm Post subject:
Re: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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| Quote: | When dealing with a novice trying to fix his car on Usenet sometimes the
best advice you can offer is to have him take it to an experienced
mechanic.
|
You are correct, Dave. One makes the assumption that if a person can
articulate a problem, then he (she) has a few mechanically inclined
clues, one being - "I have the clues and tools to do it or I don't".
The possible clues I was presenting was meant for those who have
mechanical skills or at least the common sense to take the car to a
mechanically inclined individual, armed with a little more info as to
the cause of the problem.
You will note that this person did take the car to a dealer shop. The
fact that the dealer shop added fuel to the 1/4 tank to get the car to
start should have been a major tip off that another problem exists.
Perhaps the experienced people at that dealership also need some clues
or large bottle of 'I care'.
You may also consider that this is a news group where people ask
questions about their cars and possible fixes to their problem or
otherwise exchange information. There is no requirement to add a line
that says - "I'm a highly experienced mechanic who can't quite get a
grip in this problem" or "I'm too stupid to be allowed to live, please
kill me". People should know their limitations. People who are too
stupid to own tools, but do, are dangerous and should be thinned from
the herd.
I have noted that there are quite a few people in this and other
groups who seem to have the time to respond to a question with less
than an answer and merely provide a smug dig, while they themselves
have no apparent clue, but feel compelled to take up space. Perhaps
this boosts their low selfworth and justifies their existence. It
is also interesting to read that you have predetermined the askers
level of competence. The asker wrote a nicely documented play by play
of events and asked a legitamate question, that deserves an better
response than "take it to a mechanic". (Re-read paragraph 2)
As an experienced mechanic, I have no problem sharing information to
anyone who knows how to ask the question. This is no different than
if I do this on the net, over the phone or face to face. It also helps
if I understand the stated question and unfortunately, that doesn't
alway happen. I am not claiming perfection. Information is only
useful if you know how ask for it and how to use it.
Pete Selby
Licensed Automotive mechanic (red seal)
Licensed Heavy Equipment mechanic (red seal) |
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Dave in Columbus
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:12 am Post subject:
Re: 2001 Pontiac Grand Am won't start |
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On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:04:02 GMT, cselby@mts.net wrote:
| Quote: |
When dealing with a novice trying to fix his car on Usenet sometimes the
best advice you can offer is to have him take it to an experienced
mechanic.
You are correct, Dave. One makes the assumption that if a person can
articulate a problem, then he (she) has a few mechanically inclined
clues, one being - "I have the clues and tools to do it or I don't".
The possible clues I was presenting was meant for those who have
mechanical skills or at least the common sense to take the car to a
mechanically inclined individual, armed with a little more info as to
the cause of the problem.
You will note that this person did take the car to a dealer shop. The
fact that the dealer shop added fuel to the 1/4 tank to get the car to
start should have been a major tip off that another problem exists.
Perhaps the experienced people at that dealership also need some clues
or large bottle of 'I care'.
You may also consider that this is a news group where people ask
questions about their cars and possible fixes to their problem or
otherwise exchange information. There is no requirement to add a line
that says - "I'm a highly experienced mechanic who can't quite get a
grip in this problem" or "I'm too stupid to be allowed to live, please
kill me". People should know their limitations. People who are too
stupid to own tools, but do, are dangerous and should be thinned from
the herd.
I have noted that there are quite a few people in this and other
groups who seem to have the time to respond to a question with less
than an answer and merely provide a smug dig, while they themselves
have no apparent clue, but feel compelled to take up space. Perhaps
this boosts their low selfworth and justifies their existence. It
is also interesting to read that you have predetermined the askers
level of competence. The asker wrote a nicely documented play by play
of events and asked a legitamate question, that deserves an better
response than "take it to a mechanic". (Re-read paragraph 2)
As an experienced mechanic, I have no problem sharing information to
anyone who knows how to ask the question. This is no different than
if I do this on the net, over the phone or face to face. It also helps
if I understand the stated question and unfortunately, that doesn't
alway happen. I am not claiming perfection. Information is only
useful if you know how ask for it and how to use it.
Pete Selby
Licensed Automotive mechanic (red seal)
Licensed Heavy Equipment mechanic (red seal)
|
I concede some of your points.
My point is that "loose" gasoline is extremely dangerous. Electric fuel
pumps create a good volume of fuel which can easily cause a fuel hose
placed into a container to flail around spraying gas everywhere. Any
source of ignition within the area can cause a catastrophe. There is no
worse injury than a severe burn.
An experienced person would take certain precautions such as securing the
hose, making sure no ignition sources exist anywhere in the working area,
etc. An inexperienced person might not.
In this case since a loss of fuel pressure is suspected, it might be a
better suggestion to use a fuel pressure gauge to trouble shoot the fuel
system. Even for an amateur this would be a safe and effective method on
the car in question since it has a Schrader valve in the fuel rail. No fuel
line need be disconnected.
As you say, there is no requirement for the poster to disclose his level of
expertise, but in many cases such disclosure would get the poster a more
appropriate answer to his question and maybe save him some regrets.
--
Dave in Columbus |
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