1994 Grand Am 3.1V6 Ocasional Stalling/Starting Problem?

Question

Recently, my 94' Grand Am V6 3.1 has been having a starting problem and or it cranks over but sputters and dies. When it sets overnight it sometimes takes a few times for the engine to turn over. Once i get it started it runs fine until i shut it off and start it back up a few times, then begins to stall out. I have to pump the accelerator until it starts to idle smooth then its fine. If i don't pump the accelerator when this occurs, the engine will stall like its out of gas. Then it will turn over but die until i let it sit for awhile, then it will start and run fine. I have replaced the plugs and plug wires, battery, altenator is good. I was told it may be the crank sensor so when i tried to replace the one in the engine, it didnt match the 3.1 V6 94grand am engine replacement. The one in the car was significantly smaller than the required replacement which would never match up. When the code where ran at my local shop, it read no rpms with engine running. Any suggestions

Since i posted b4, i removed the crank sensor that was in the engine which didnt match the replacement sensor for the 3.1 V6 94' Grand Am. A friend mechanic said that it might have a block off another 3.1 V6 and that might be why the replacement sensor didnt match the one i took out. Any Ideas of which car model 3.1 V6 Block would be compatible for the 1994 Grand Am 3.1 V6? The mechanic also ran a Under dash diagnostics test which gave many odd ball codes but also showed 0RPMs while the engine was running. So he assumed the test to be innacurate. While the engine is running, the car idles fine and has good exceleration and never stalls. I put the original crank sensor back in since a replacement was not found to match. The fuel filter is about 2 months old, and i have used injector cleaner more than once. The check engine light does pop on and off usually while braking from higher speeds, or stopping and excelerating. Check engine lights stays on till cars is turned off. Thanks, db.

Answer 1

You mention that this problem occurs after the car has been standing for a while or over night. There may be a problem with the cold start system i.e. thermistor, air bypass valve and if fitted cold start injector, failing this get the computer checked because if it is giving a code for 0 engine revs then it is not reading the signal properly from the crank angle sensor. If the crank angle sensor was faulty in any way your car would not start at all so rule that out.
Good Luck.

Answer 2

the only thing your crank sensor does is tells the engine computer WHEN to fire WHICH cylinder by telling it at what degree the engine crankshaft is positioned at.. your sesor for your Tach. should be positioned else where I am not sure exactly where it is on the 3.1. but if it's a fuel injected engine, the injectors might be clogged and by pumping the gas peddle your only wasting fuel. Fuel injected cars are run by a pressurized fuel system and already deliver enough fuel to the injectors to get the engine started. The only time you should pump a gas peddle is if you have a carborator and a couple pumps on cold mornings to get enough "primer" fuel dumped into the carborator is sufficient. You might also want to see about checking your "IN TANK" fuel pump... it may be clogged, or your fuel filter might be clogged also. Most manufaturers recommend that you change your fuel filter between every 50K to 100K miles.

Answer 3

Definitely sounds like fuel problem. Fuel pressure. dirty injectors, fuel filter, might even be an electrical short as those wires lie on hot surfaces and can eventually burn through causing a short.

Answer 4

Its the crank sensor. Get the casting #s off the block & take to the parts store, they can find what you got in there. (The #s are near the trans)

Answer 5

Sounds like fuel pressure is bleeding down.Maybe a fuel pressure regulator leaking fuel into your engine.When it does'nt want to start your engine is flooded with raw fuel.Crank sensor should turn your chk engine light on.Have a gm dealer look at it..Good luck

Answer 6

i think of YOU BROKE A PISTON ROD. once you LEFT THE TIRE shop, DID you notice THE ENGINE ..OIL easy...COME ON. DID you have THE OIL replaced, on the TIRE shop. some the place between THE TIRE shop, AND once you lost means, YOUR OIL stress DROPPED. in case you HAD A OIL exchange, THEY under no circumstances positioned THE OIL, OR the appropriate quantity back IN. YOU BLEW YOUR ENGINE. you're IN FOR a huge cost.

Answer 7

the car is telling you to get rid of it too old wore out junk i hope this helps

Answer 8

injecter may be clogged---put in some injecter cleaner and see what happens