96 grand am

Laurie Kirkenda · 08-21-2007, 11:06 AM

I have a 96 pontiac grand am and it will turn over and immediately shut off. Any thoughts? Also, when it is outside and we have alot of rain, the front floorboards each get soaked. We cannot find where the water is getting in. This may have something to do with the car not staying started because we did have alot of rain yesterday. Thanks!

**qldit** · 08-22-2007, 01:38 AM

Good Afternoon Laurie Kirkenda, I am not familiar with that vehicle so this is guesswork.
If the vehicle is EFI and cranking and starts while the key is in the start position but dies a second or so after the key returns to the run position I would closely inspect the airbox sensing comonent plugs and items in that area.

If no airflow is being sensed it will shutdown as a consequence.

If the machine is a standard ignition system and uses a standard type of ignition coil there would be a good chance it is powered by a series resistor and this is a symptom of that resistor failing.
Under start conditions there is usually a different voltage feed that bypasses the resistor.
(I am assuming it is actually starting but dies when the key returns to the run position.)

Water on the floor of vehicles generally enters either through the windsceen and runs under the trim at the sides through rusted holes or the windsceen sealing may have a problem.
It used to be the "plenum" for the air intake having rusted out, but vehicles normally don't use that system these days.

I somehow would expect the machine to remain running regardless of water unless it is getting in the high-voltage ignition areas. (Plugs, leads and Distributor)

These are guesses, somone with one of those machines may have better info.

Cheers, qldit.

**jaggerwild** · 08-22-2007, 07:18 PM

Hey Laurie Kirkenda!
When it dies, does the theft light come on? If so this could be a faulty ignition module, I would think more than not this is the problem. Then again it could be anything, hard to say without more insight.
Could also be a dieing fuel pump, one way to check this is to hit the fuel tank with a rubber mallet several times then start the car if it stays running then you found your suspect.
When a car will not run, it's either no fuel or no spark.
Hope we helped you, if so let us know.

Laurie Kirkenda · 08-22-2007, 07:50 PM

Thankyou so much for your thoughts.

Laurie Kirkenda · 08-22-2007, 07:50 PM

Thankyou for your response.

08-21-2007, 11:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Laurie Kirkenda Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3 OS: xp	96 grand am I have a 96 pontiac grand am and it will turn over and immediately shut off. Any thoughts? Also, when it is outside and we have alot of rain, the front floorboards each get soaked. We cannot find where the water is getting in. This may have something to do with the car not staying started because we did have alot of rain yesterday. Thanks!

08-22-2007, 01:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
qldit TSF Gearhead Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brisbane Australia. Posts: 592 OS: All Systems, mainly Linux	Re: 96 grand am Good Afternoon Laurie Kirkenda, I am not familiar with that vehicle so this is guesswork. If the vehicle is EFI and cranking and starts while the key is in the start position but dies a second or so after the key returns to the run position I would closely inspect the airbox sensing comonent plugs and items in that area. If no airflow is being sensed it will shutdown as a consequence. If the machine is a standard ignition system and uses a standard type of ignition coil there would be a good chance it is powered by a series resistor and this is a symptom of that resistor failing. Under start conditions there is usually a different voltage feed that bypasses the resistor. (I am assuming it is actually starting but dies when the key returns to the run position.) Water on the floor of vehicles generally enters either through the windsceen and runs under the trim at the sides through rusted holes or the windsceen sealing may have a problem. It used to be the "plenum" for the air intake having rusted out, but vehicles normally don't use that system these days. I somehow would expect the machine to remain running regardless of water unless it is getting in the high-voltage ignition areas. (Plugs, leads and Distributor) These are guesses, somone with one of those machines may have better info. Cheers, qldit.

08-22-2007, 07:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
jaggerwild TSF Gearhead (Audio) Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 849 OS: Windows XP32 bit/Vista HB 64bit My System	Re: 96 grand am Hey Laurie Kirkenda! When it dies, does the theft light come on? If so this could be a faulty ignition module, I would think more than not this is the problem. Then again it could be anything, hard to say without more insight. Could also be a dieing fuel pump, one way to check this is to hit the fuel tank with a rubber mallet several times then start the car if it stays running then you found your suspect. When a car will not run, it's either no fuel or no spark. Hope we helped you, if so let us know. __________________ Please if you need help, start a new thread with questions only after reading the first few sticky's up top. http://www.techsupportforum.com/auto...ter/car-audio/ A Link for Viper alarm owners http://www.directed.com/Support/Prod...es/Owners.aspx

08-22-2007, 07:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Laurie Kirkenda Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: 96 grand am Thankyou so much for your thoughts.

08-22-2007, 07:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Laurie Kirkenda Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: 96 grand am Thankyou for your response.