Why won't this damn car start?

Very Helpfull aztec. Question, If I pull one plug from each coil pack and check for spark and it's there would that mean that they are all good? (I haven't done this yet)

No that wont give you any definite answer. If a coil pack or backplane leak they can be hard to troubleshoot. They might work for a while then act up for no apparent reason. If you find a bad/dirty plug try changing that coil pack. When you have the coil pack off take a close look at the backplane for cracks or any sign of arcing. Also if there is a lot of grease and buildup around coils clean that off.

Cool, I will definately try this first thing. Sunday night or tuesday. Also a quick question I thought of while reading what I had been writing. What are the possibilities of it being the Crankshaft Sensor. It's a much much bigger job but was wondering if you thought it a possibility?

Or maybe even the Camshaft sensor?

These are both a possibility from what you describe. Normally you will get a check engine light when one of these is starting to fail and sometimes these can fail and the computer will go to fail safe mode. You can hook the car up to a diagnostic tool and check if you are getting a signal from these sensors. If you find a reasonable shop they should do it for around $50.

If I were you, I'd recheck all your vacume lines real good. I had a similar problem with my 90 Lumina 3.1/V6, and a 91 Sunbird 3.1/V6. Tug on them check for splits especially where they're connected. You say you stomped on the brakes and the car died. Your power brake booster operates on a vacume... when you step on the brakes... guess what... Does your car idle like crap at red lights and stop signs? Seen this issue many times with other cars. Lady once was going to trade in her car... I was selling cars at the time.... she told me about her problem... I found the leak, and gave her a piece of 6 inch vacuum line, and off she went. Good thing my boss didn't find out... Anyway, you can borrow a Vac tester from Autozone... Loan-A-Tool program... they have other tools for loan as well... and of course they'll scan your codes for free. Your crank sensor could be a culprit. They're cheap and not really too hard to change as you might think... I believe there's 1 10mm bolt you can get at with a combination of 1/4 ratchet components. You might want to do your knock sensor just for fun because it's nearby. It doesn't hurt to change a few inexpensive sensors on an older car anyway. Check all your wiring and connections, especially down at the starter. This is all common sense stuff to do when troubleshooting anyway. But... I'll bet you have a good spark and nice looking plugs. I'd do the above before I'd do the coil pack. I'm not sure, read your book, but I believe the coil pack won't operate if the knock sensor and or crankshaft sensor is bad. In fact my first crankshaft sensor experience... I replaced the ignition module (expensive) and then discovered the crankshaft sensor was the culprit (cheap!). If you get it running for any length of time before it conks out step on the brakes, put it in gear, things like that, if you can... kinda like "what happens when I do this?". good luck! John B.

Right on I should have mentioned putting a vacuum gauge on it..................

Tonight I after picking up a coil pack on my way to work, Tried the new coil pack in all three of the spots on the coil module. The car still cranked and did not start. Knowing that I have new plugs and wires I checked for spark at each pack. Thankfully I had none at any. I say that because it brings my means closer to an end. Next I think I should figure out a way to check the Coil pack Module (not sure if thats what it is called but it should be)(Because it holds three coil packs and is mostly referred to as a panel or module) If anyone has a reference on how to test this 3 coil holder which has Three Plugs or Wire Harnesses coming into it that information would be very helpful. At any rate I have figured out that one of the three is a Crankshaft Sensor The other two I'm not sure what the plugs do (kinda). Any and all information given from this post will be helpful and much appreciated.

But... I'll bet you have a good spark and nice looking plugs. ********sorry 90V6RedHotLuminaEuro you must have missed the part where I said I have NO SPARK. Plugs and wires are new and I will definately check the Crankshaft sensor and the Vacuum. Although I must be honest in saying that I'm not sure where to start for Vacuum checks or even what to look at.

Gonna have to look up that Knock sensor also...Damn I had three beers before I read any of your post. Thank goodness we write this stuff down : )

Sounds like your getting in narrowed down to either Ignition control module (just under the coils) some also call this the coil backplane, the crank sensor, knock sensor (also called Piezoelectric sensor). I am steering away from knock sensor and leaning toward Ignition module under the coils. Also there is a fuse for the ECM also worth giving a look. This probably is not the issue but just remembered that in 1999 luminas had theft lockout. If you have it watch the light for it to see if its working properly........here is the bypass sequence if its acting up..................................... 1. Insert the key in your Lumina's starter, attempt to start the vehicle as usual and let it stall. Once it stalls, leave the key in the "On" position. In other words, don't switch the key to the "Off" position. 2. Observe the "Theft Sys" light on your Lumina's dashboard and wait for it to stop blinking. This takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. 3. Turn the key immediately to start the car once the "Theft Sys" light is staying on steadily. Do not turn the key to the key to the "Off" position. This will bypass the passlock system for your Chevrolet Lumina and enable you to start it as usual..........

As far as the vacuum I realize you cant check that now with car not running but when you do get it running here is some info. with the vacuum gauge plugged into vacuum system you should see 17-22 inches of Hg and the needle should be steady. 1. A low reading indicates ..............intake gasket, leaking vacuum hose. 2. Regular drop of about 2-4......valves 3. Irregular drops or flick of the needle .........sticky valve/valves 4. Rapid vibration of about 4.............worn valve guides 5. Slight fluctuation up and down .......ignition problems 6. Large fluctuation.....look for bad head gasket, weak/dead cylinder 7. Slow fluctuation over wide range..........blocked PCV system, incorrect fuel air mixture, intake manifold leak, or worn throttle body.

Tonight I put a new Ignition Module (the part that holds the coil packs) in. Still no spark and still cranks over. Not sure what to do next accept that I have a crankshaft sensor that I will probably put in. While tracing the wires off of that new module I noticed that they run to a fuse box with some big square fuse looking type deals in them. Does anyone know what settings a Multimeter would have to be set to in order to test one of these while they aren't plugged in?? THanks for the help guys.

These are relays for various components. I think at this point I would get a Haynes manual for specifics on testing coils and contacts in these relays. Also since you already have the crank sensor and it is a possible source of the problem. I would install that. On the bright side when you do get it going you should be running for a long time with much of ignition system new.

To test those relays... you buy a new, known good, relay and swap them out... but they're probably for your radiator fan or fans and/or AC (mine has two, one for when the AC is running). Inside that "box" may be the fuse for your ECM. I'm sure I mentioned earlier about changing the Crankshaft Sensor first... Replace that sensor... and post your results. Too bad you can't just pluck that ignition module off of there and return it... oh well... so you have a spare part... There are 2 other possibilities I can think of and maybe a 3rd... one ain't so bad, one is a PITA... and one is very sad...

Again thanks guys for your help. Today I put the new Camshaft sensor in of course that was not the problem so after I eat I am gonna get at that crankshaft sensor. I did the camshaft first because it was the easiest job and I figured I already had it right there might as well just pull the power steering pump and put it on. ONly took a half of an hour so no biggy. I also tested the relays and did it exactly how you said to. Just bought one for 20 dollars and swapped them out. I really hope it's the crankshaft sensor because I keep getting this gut wrenching feeling that the final conclusion if not would be timing.....BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I hope that's not it and anyways NO SPARK at all even with bad timing doesn't make sense to me at all.

AINT SO BAD>>>>>PITA>>>>??????

Pain in the ass ^^^^ I looked up internet slang to find out what PITA meant BAHAHAHA.....Anyways at least I know it now LOL.

After talking to my uncle I think I am pretty confident in the problem being a crankshaft sensor. I know you guys both told me to replace that part first. However my working conditions are outside in a parking lot after work in the dark so I still haven't done that. Today I should have just replace the crankshaft position sensor instead of messing around with all of the other stuff I did. At one point today I pulled the starter and brought it to Autozone to have it checked....BAHAHAHAH I only did it because there was a cute girl working who thought I should. At any rate I'm out of energy and been through an emotional rollercoaster over this, I think I will not mess with it any more tonight and try and fix it in the a.m.

after all the work, it should run really smoothly now ;)

It was the crankshaft sensor all along. Put a new one in and VROOOM. Thanks again for all of the help guys!

well... there you have it... but check your vacuum lines anyway as a maintenance thing... your car is at that age... all those rubber and plastic lines/hoses, some coming out of the throttle body... if any of them look dry cracked, replace them. Good Work! Good Luck!

I'm happy for you. It should go for a long time now.

Hey,I got a 98 lumina 3.1 and i notice alittle smoking under hood,while it was running.i looked too see what was smoking and i seen oil coming from a line that comes from the back vale cover to the air box hose.so i was wondering why it was backing up.i took the hose off the fuel body and opened the air box.it had half quart of oil in air box.pvc vale is not sticking so i have no ideal what it is making it backup.any ideals why thats happening?

i had the same problem with mine, the cat was plugged.

I was looking for a little help for someone please ~~ I have a 93 lumina 3.1 v6 ~ and I was losing power going into the engine, didn't want to idle ~ and when it did, it idled very low ~ wanted to shut off ~~ thought it might have been the coil packs.. due to that was the issue last year when it was doing the same thing. I replaced 2 of them then ~ there is only one left to replace... but then thought it could be something as simple as just spark plugs. Tonight ~ had someone replace them... and when they took them out ~ they were corroded and caked with gunk. After they were replaced and we took it for a test drive, the car ran like a champ.... you could tell the difference. But when we stopped at a gas station, and shut the car off ~ took the keys out.. the parking lights came on without the keys in the ignition... and when we put the keys back in the ignition... nothing. Not a click, not a sound. So what the hell.... ?!?!? Does anyone know what this could possibly be? Not sure if he changed out the wires with the new spark plugs ~ could it be just that simple? Or could it be more complex than that? Any advice would be great at this point :) Thank you

Michelle, you might wanna make your own post on "have a car question?" and click on "ask" to send. ...first try pulling & inspecting & re-hooking the fuses ONE AT A TIME, and check each one for open (burnt out) contacts. are the wires in back of the alternator ok? is the housing for the wires on? seems like it could be a powerline short. this is a first step probe.

Jason ~ thank you... I just realized I did ask this question on someone elses ~ sorry about that.. I will take this to my own question if you wanna follow me there :)

i had the same problem, but i fix that , may be you problem is from the coil module where you put the coil.

i bought 2 batterys and then gets charge then a hour later it goes dead what could be wrong

Suda , if u bought 2 batterys and then gets charge and it goes dead. that is a problem with your alternator. buy a new alternator.

...but FIRST, check your "HVAC" fuse... ( I'm not sure exactly where your fuse box is, but mine was in the glove box ) The "HVAC" Fuse (Heating Ventilation Air Conditoning) is also the Fuse for the Alternator Turn-ON Signal/Voltage... if that Fuse is blown, the Alternator won't Turn ON (ie. will not produce a charging voltage to the battery)... (Ref: Your Schematic in The Haynes Manual)

My car is a 95 nd every time i go to crank it nun it just make a clicking noise nd everything come on in the car it just want start after and my volt light came on !!!wat should i do

my lumina LTZ 2007 in running time AC compressor stop work after some time given message power reduced. Now i'm trying to start but giving message traction ctrl off/on ? Can you please help me about this problem.

my 1990 3.1 lumina did the same thing today. Started right up first thing this morning, but after the engine was warm, there was such a rough idle, low idle, that I had to hold the gas pedal down, about 2 inches at least. Drove the car to autozone, a scan was done on car, and CODE 44 showed up--------------- bad oxygen sensor-----front. Hope this is helpful. I thought all along that it was just one component, and only one.

I had the same problom with my 1996 lumina no fire. I done changed cam senser crank senser coil pack .icm and relays. Still no fire. Can any one help on what to try next

check your ground at your battery. my 95 lumina did the same thing as yours. took it to the repair shop, they couldn't find anything, drove it home. parked it. Went to use it the next morning, crank but no start. got checking around and found a loose negative ( stripped bolt actually)cable. replaced it and have had no problems since. been just about a year next week.