It's dead Jim...or guess what's wrong with Gordy's GN

[gordyzx9r]

So, my GN is dead...actuall y it's been dead for a couple of months now but my father was convinced he could get it running again (remember, I live across the sea...).  Anyways, he drove it for it's weekly run to keep the juices flowing and everything was fine.  He put it back in the garage, and then remembered he needed to move it the opposite side...but it wouldn't start.  It would crank, but no fire.

First things he checked were for spark and fuel, and it has both of those.  It has all the dummy lights it's supposed to have.  It didn't throw any codes on the scan master.

Replaced the cam sensor and crankshaft sensor, still won't fire.  

So, off to Don Lee's with it and let's hope it won't cost me an arm and a leg.  I don't have time to wrench on it when I get there at the end of May, I need it to be running so I can put it in the trailer and haul ass to the East Coast.  

So, what do you think the malfunctioning piece is?  

To me, it's got to be something electrical, a sensor, a switch...somet hing like that, but now I have no clue as to which one.

[Recklessrob]

How did your dad check for fuel ? Does he know how to properly install a cam sensor ? I'm still guessing a fuel problem.
Did he check both fuel pressure and injector pulse ?
The cam sesor may have caused the injector pulse to go away, and subsequently
mis0installing it may have kept it away.
try giving it a shot of carb cleaner through a vac line with the cam sensor unplugged
and see if it starts.

[87natty]

I'm leaning towards MAF, if it wants to start and sputters out. And true, fuel pressure being there is always good, but how much PSI? Pulsewidth is a good idea, I always forget to check for that.

Hope it doesn't break the bank man. How far you towing that thing?

[gordyzx9r]

It's not sputtering.  It doesn't fire at all, the starter turns but that's it.  

He checked the fuel pressure at the rail and it was good.  

He did not check injector pulse, and to be honest I didn't even think of that so I'll go research that.  

I also have one of those limp home cam sensor plug in's from Casper's and same thing.  

I don't think it'll be too expensive, IMO it's something electrical and I have spares of most every electrical sensor in the engine bay.  

My trailer got into town, so he's using the trailer to move it, not tow it.

[Recklessrob]

Have him check for a blown fuse while hes looking.

[Ttype83]

Have him check for a blown fuse while hes looking.

My money is on this

[gordyzx9r]

Have him check for a blown fuse while hes looking.

My money is on this

which fuse?  The fusible links from the starter?  Or in the actual fuse box?

[DCEPTCN]

I'm on the fuse wagon as well. This once happened to me and I felt pretty dumb when I had to call some friends and admit what happened. My *first* stop on the hunt for why it wouldn't start was the fusebox, but I didn't find anything. Finally, after months of trying everything else, I opted to start all over again. Sure enough, there was a 20 amp (I think) with a *really* small fracture in it. Maybe it was the fuse for the injectors? I'll take a look, but in the meantime I vote with Jim and Rawb. My symptoms were the same.

[Ttype83]

If the car cranks over than it's not the fusible link to the start. If it was that it won't crank at all.

[DCEPTCN]

If the car cranks over than it's not the fusible link to the start. If it was that it won't crank at all.

You're right, huh? Isn't it something like, if your fusible link is shot, you have lights and nothing else or vice versa?

[Ttype83]

If the car cranks over than it's not the fusible link to the start. If it was that it won't crank at all.

You're right, huh? Isn't it something like, if your fusible link is shot, you have lights and nothing else or vice versa?

Crap now I can't remember for sure..
Steve's site should have the anwser tho http://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com/

[straycat990]

Could be the orange wire (I think not exactly sure on the color) on the ecm has come loose.  I have seen that problem on several GNs.  Just check the ecm plugs.  Whatever the problem is ... I would say it is something very simple.

[Recklessrob]

Could be the orange wire (I think not exactly sure on the color) on the ecm has come loose.

[gordyzx9r]

There was a short in the wiring harness at the ignition module.

While it was there, made sure that the crank shaft sensor my dad installed himself was done properly.

Replaced the cam sensor cap with that new LED one from Casper's since I had it sitting there in a box anyways.

Had them replace some hardware on the brakes since my dad said there was something worn out at the pedal which kept the brakes light on and had been killing my battery.   It wasn't the switch, it was something to do with what holds the switch in place...whatev er, nickel dime.

[Ttype83]

Glad to hear it was something small  :supz: