On my way to school today, my car just started bogging down really bad for no reason, then died. Oil pressure dropped to nothing, but I'm not sure if that was while the car was still running, or just coasting. Now it just cranks and cranks but will not urn over.

...Yeah, so I'm guessing this is not a good thing, huh?

 

Fuel? Spark? Compression?

Which one of the 3 magic ingredients went away?

If you approach the situation with logic instead of fear, you might find that it's real cheap and easy to take care of.

First thing to do would be to spray some starting fluid into the intake and see if it tries to start. If it does, then you know you have a fuel problem.

If it doesn't, then you either lost spark (ignition) or compression (timing chain most likely). But, I'm guessing from your description that you'll find it's fuel related.

 

How can it crank and crank, but not turn over? It sounds like your fuel pump has **** the bed. It's not too bad of a job, just be smart and replace it with a GM pump and drop the tank to change it. My GTA did a similar thing about 2 years ago. I was going like 70 and everything was fine, then the next thing I know, engine is dead and I have to have the wife bring the trailer up and get me.

 

That makes sense now
I didn't even think, when I said it bogged down, it was just as if it was running out of gas. It's like the car isn't getting any gas.

Yeah, so anyways, how easy it it to change the fuel pump? And how much (on avg. ) would a normal shop charge to do it?

....my gas tank scares me. Gas + me = not good

 

BEFORE you pay $$ for a new pump.... before you even assume thats whats wrong..


test your theory.... if you dont, then you'll spend all your money just throwing parts on cars...

 

Always check the fuel pump relay before the pump itself

 

Ok, I'm not very knowledgable with mechanics, but I do know that the fuel pump is priming when I turn the car on (Accessories)
Would a bad fuel pump still prime?

Also, where is the fuel pump relay?

And by spraying starter fluid into the intake, you mean taking off that rubber "thing" and spraying it right in there, or is there another way? Also, how much would you spray in?

 

Oh yeah, my check engine light is on too, if that helps

 

yes. matter of fact, it may still run for a short peroid of time with a bad fuel pump too.
you need to test it with a pressure gauge... autozone rents them for free.. just put down a saftey deposit.


on the firewall, drivers side.. between the brake booster and fender.


that wont test the fuel pump, but it will test if you're getting fuel at all..
for TPI: take the rubber thing off the throttle body, open the throttle by hand and spray in there.
for TBI: remove the top of the air cleaner, open the throttle, and spray down there.

a half second to a second long shot will make it fire a couple times.. dont hose it down in there.

just open the throttle, spray, then walk around and start the car.
if you have a friend starting the car for you, DONT STAND OVER OR INFRONT OF THE THROTTLEBODY. there is a chance of backfire, and yea, it'll burn ya.

 

and check your ignition module before you get into a pump job...

 

Ok, I'm guessing I should just take it to a knowledgable mechanic for this one then, huh?

Obviously, I'm not very good with the mechanical aspect of cars. I mean, If I KNEW def. what was wrong, I am very good at following direcions, and I am cetain I could figure it out, but I don't want to spend a few hundred on changing the fuel pump, then to realize it was never the problem.

 

perhaps i'll jsut give a basic rundown of what i would do and why... just so we dont keep yelling out stuff.. lol.



car needs 3 things to run.

fuel
air
spark



first thing we're testing is fuel. we're going to spray a little starting fluid down the motor... if it fires over, then we know we have air and spark, and we can begin troubleshooting the fuel system.


if it has fuel but doest run still, next thing to do is pull a spark plug... i usually do #1 (drivers side front) because its the easiest to get to in these cars.

pull it off, is it wet with fuel?
spray it with some brake or carb cleaner, and after it drys, (a couple seconds if you blow on it) put it on the wire and set it someplace where it can get a good ground... have a friend crank that car, and while NOT TOUCHING IT, look to see if theres a spark..