2004 Cranking but not Starting

[Shurrieta]

I started having issues about 3 weeks ago with my Lesabre. I dove it to work about 20 miles when I stopped at a sign it sputtered and died, it took a little time but it finally started up again. It was a little rough through the parking lot but after work it got me back home. I cleaned the spark plugs, made sure they were gapped right, changed the fuel filter, still gave me issues after driving about 15-20 minutes. I cleaned the throttle body and changed the idle air control valve, still gave me issues and started feeling sluggish. I took it out, drove it about 20 miles, parked it, came back about an hour and a half later and it would crank but wouldnt turn over, had a tow come out, driver tried it and it came on but when I tried driving it it kept trying to die. I had it towed home, got a code off of her which was a P0336 Crankshaft position sensor, I had read that with the symptoms I had been having the CPS could have been the problem. I got the sensor replaced, ended up having to replace by battery as well, got her up to temp, drove it around a bit, parked her at home, came out about an hour and a half to two hours later and it just cranks without starting. There is a pretty strong fuel smell now also so I'm not sure if thats related, any insight would be really appreciated.

 

[Spriteman]

Sounds like your ignition system is failing somewhere - you need to check your plug wires, coils, and ignition module using an HEI spark tester at your local parts store. These are very easy tests and can be done in just a few minutes. Here's a link to the spark tester - http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/KDT0/2756/N0221.oap?ck=Search_N0221_-1_-1&pt=N0221&ppt=C0371

When you have your spark tester check each spark plug end of the plug wires.

Then check each coil contact and look for good spark. This test is actually testing the ignition module at the same time because if you have a bad ignition module most likely more than one coil contact will not show good spark.

From your description it sounds like you've got plenty of fuel at the fuel rail and it's making it to the cylinders. It still could be a fuel problem but check the ignition side first and make sure it's good then you can move to the fuel side.

Let us know what you find - good luck!

 

[Shurrieta]

Changed out my spark plugs and wires, got her up to temp, took her around my neighborhood, got back to the house and let her sit for about an hour and she just cranks without turning over. Whats the best way to test the coils?

 

[Spriteman]

See the previous post about the HEI spark tester - it can be used on the Coil contacts as well.