What The Hell?!?!?!

[columbusaleroman87]

Ok well here is the scoop, Got in the Alero today to go to work, got about 200 yards up the road and the car just died. Dead, flat out died. Put the car in park and tried to start it back up, crank crank crank etc. It will just sit and crank but nothing fires. AHHHHHH lol

Well anyone had this happen and what was it or does anyone just know what it may be? I'm in the process of calling around trying to get my warranty work moving but if I can give them a heads up as to what it may be I might be able to get my car back sooner or something. GRR. Thanks guys.

[Molson]

fuel pump.

(Out of gas?)

[columbusaleroman87]

Nope 3/4 full. Would the fuel pump have shown any adverse signs before it went out? Everything has seemed very normal until it just died this morning.

[Molson]

its possible it can just die. 2.4 or 3.4?

If 3.4 turn the key to on, listen to see if it primes. then open the schrader valve and see if you have fuel pressure.

[jamcllw]

I would guess fuel pump too.

[RoninKouga]

you can hear the fuel pump in the first second after turning your key from "off" to "on"? listen carefully it makes some specific sound and its bout .. lemme guess.. half a second length.

[ptrudel]

jim, he'll hear it in either car...i know on my 2.4 i can hear it loud and clear...its about a 2second buzzing coming from the tank...if you can hear that, then the pump is more the likely fine

could be anything from a clogged filter(killed my car), bad gas(also killed my car) or even the coils malfunctioning(this also killed my car)

so, there's lots to look for...

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

heh...sounds like when my car died in January...combination of shorted pump and caked filter (much worse than clogged...lol, they showed me)

take it to a shop you trust, keep all the receipts and bills, and then take those to the dealer to reimburse you, if your warranty is still active and valid. the dealership took almost a week to do mine, when it's really a 3 hour job (when experienced people take their time)

[AftermathAlero]

actually when my car fuel pump went out, It still made the priming noise, but it was really weak and didn't pump at all. New ones is around 300 bucks for a new pump. Easy to install if u have a couple of people holding up the gas tank while you bolt on the 2 straps back on. Dropping the tank is the easiest thing.

[Molson]

Originally posted by 2000_olds_alero@Jul 13 2005, 10:21 AM
jim, he'll hear it in either car...i know on my 2.4 i can hear it loud and clear...its about a 2second buzzing coming from the tank...if you can hear that, then the pump is more the likely fine

could be anything from a clogged filter(killed my car), bad gas(also killed my car) or even the coils malfunctioning(this also killed my car)

so, there's lots to look for...
Quoted post



Yeah I know, but the 2.4 doesn't have a schrader valve so checking fuel pressure is a little more difficult. :D

[columbusaleroman87]

Been awhile but I was out of town and thought I would give everyone an update on my car.

So I had it towed to the local dealership and told them that I thought it could be the fuel pump so I left and they called me back telling me that it was infact the pump and that while I was trying to get it to start again apparently I had burnt out the ignition module and that would need to be replaced also. Fine whatever it is all under warranty just do it.

Get a call Friday that they installed the new module and pump, went to turn on the car and it cranked once and locked. Apparently it is deadlocked, not moving, won't go anywhere. I authorize them to start dismantiling the top-end to see if they can get it to crank by hand and they can't. Guys at the dealership tell me that they have never seen this before and they have no idea why it is happening and why it won't crank.

Call my warranty place and tell them what is going on, they look up my warranty and see that all of this is covered so they authorize the whole top-end to be taken apart to find the problem and fix it. The whole top-end gets taken apart and nothing seems to be wrong. Not losing fluids, everything appears normal except that it is locked.

They call me yesterday to tell me all this and they want my permission to drop the oil pan and start taking apart the bottom-end hoping to find the problem. All the guys at the dealership and everyone I've talked to at the warranty company has never heard or seen this happen and its so far unexplainable. They are closed today so I will hopefully have more news on this tomorrow.

Luckily I talked to my insurance company and they told me that it looks like whatever the problem is it will be covered and even if they need to ship me an entire new engine that will all be covered. So it looks like I am on the path to a new engine only paying my $50 deductible and a lifetime of headaches.

Thanks for all the help guys and gals and I'll keep you posted.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

heh...my dad got a brand new engine in his Intrepid for $50 too! He "forgot" to change the oil for 12k miles, and the thing ceased up bad. But he knows a guy at the place and got it in on the warranty.

congrats on the new engine!

[Molson]

I've seen an engine seize from a failed fuel pump before. Rare, but it happens, had a Ford exploder at highway speeds lose its fuel pump, so the engine is rotating at 3000 RPM+ and loses fuel, so the intake valves overheated, expanded and struck a piston or two. Good to hear they're replacing it.

[cherrington17]

damn. hope they send you a good one. maybe they can make a mistake and get you the 3400. :lol:

[columbusaleroman87]

lol well since i have the 3400 they better get me another one!

[FormulaNERD]

Originally posted by Molson@Jul 24 2005, 01:44 PM
I've seen an engine seize from a failed fuel pump before. Rare, but it happens, had a Ford exploder at highway speeds lose its fuel pump, so the engine is rotating at 3000 RPM+ and loses fuel, so the intake valves overheated, expanded and struck a piston or two. Good to hear they're replacing it.
Quoted post


same happens when you lean out from too much boost or nos.

[-Alero-]

Originally posted by columbusaleroman87@Jul 24 2005, 04:38 PM
lol well since i have the 3400 they better get me another one!
Quoted post



ask them for the 3500, or you could tell your insurance company it always had a 3800 in it. :cool: