very perplexed on this one

[jalero]

Day 1:
- Son calls me and tells me the 01 Alero (2.4L, 100k miles) is up on ramps in driveway.
- Tells me he was driving on I-State when a dump truck drops a piece of concrete
onto roadway, rolls into his lane and bangs under car a couple of times.
- No problems for 25 miles of start / stop driving. Same day.
- Arrives home and puts Alero on ramps to check for damage.
- No damage seen. Goes to start car. Turns over normal but does not start.
- Son pushes car off ramps.
- I arrive a couple of hours later to asess the situation.
- Same. No start. Notice 'security' light remains on when the ignition remains in the 'on/run' position.
- (I know now that is normal) I do the 10-15 min. 'key on' thing. No change.

Day 2:
- Leave for work and decide to give it a try. Battery completely dead.
- Key was pulled before fully in 'off' position. ie: acc was on.
- Return home from work. Throw jumpers onto Alero and let a running vehicle charge it for an hour.
- Give it a try. No go. Bang on fuel tank a couple of times with hammer. No go.
- Son comes home. We spray starting fluid into removed air filter cover. Engine runs.
- Suspect Fuel pump. All fuses, relays etc. check good.

Day 3:
- We jack up rear. Put stands under. Was going to check for voltage going to fuel pump harness.
- I climp under, pull the pump harness from the connector to inspect. All looks good.
- No damage from concrete other than small ding in exhaust pipe.
- Tell son to try to start while I bang the tank a couple of times.
- Car starts immediately. I did NOT bang the tank.
- He shuts of engine. He gets out, I climb out, both with a WTF look on face.
- I get in and start, runs, revs normally.
- Notice 'security' light is on while running. NOT flashing.
- Just for fun, did the 10-15 minute thing.
- Restart and runs normal. NO 'security' light.

To sum things up:
Kid runs over comcrete chunk
Drives up ramps
Car won't start
Jack up rear
Car starts
weird 'security' light thing ?

Ideas much appreciated !

thanks, jack


--------------- UPDATE ------------
Day 4
- Turns over today, no start !
and
- Noticed that steering wheel does NOT lock with key removed.

-------------- UPDATE 2 -------------
Day 5
- took some voltage measurements at fuel pump harness connectors
didn't have pin-outs but:
incoming voltages i saw made sense. 5 / 12
on the pump side of things lowest ohm reading was 315 Ω
didn't hear pump upon 'key to on'
hammer against tank on start attempt, engine started

- So, the motor in pump is shot. apparently
I'm planning on using a Delco 'rebuild kit'

pros / cons appreciated

Also, if anyone knows of another mechanical item within the pump module that may cause these symptoms, I would appreciate hearing of them.

thanks to all who responded

jack

[sleepyalero]

Is there gas in the car? Could be when up on ramps the fuel went to the back of the tank...

The pump is front center of tank. So it could have been starved.

Makes sense because when you raised the rear of the car the gas would then go to the front of the tank where the pump is and get the fuel needed to run.

[jalero]

thanks sleep,

tank at 7/8th

[sleepyalero]

Damn. Thats all i got....


Always have to question the easiest/dumbest parts that can stoop someone. Lol

[falloutboy]

that indeed is very strange

[Redog]

Yeah Fuel pump.

Don't buy an ACDelco brand