Has spark just wont start up

Tiny
DECRANE
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 12,000 MILES
My car listed above has a 3.4L engine. I replaced fuel pressure regulator and fuel filter. Checked fuel pressure reads 50. Has spark just wont start up. Any ideas? I thought maybe crank sensor but if that was bad it would not have spark. When you turn the key to the on position it comes up red battery light then goes to solid orange or yellow security then back to battery light back and forth. I have read a lot about the security system shut down; but wouldn't that disable fuel pump? That what I have read. Anyways pump is working, has spark and rolls over just wont fire up. I read if it's the security issue the car wont even turn over. I have it sitting in garage now with key in on position letting it sit like that for 20 minutes or so. I read that resets the security problem if that is even what is wrong.

Thanks for you help thanks
Saturday, October 20th, 2012 AT 1:11 AM

46 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
On that car the fuel injectors are disabled i posted how to relearn the pass lock try that and see if it starts.If it does you will need your body control module scanned for codes.The pass lock sensor failing on those is common.

Here is a guide to help you as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system

Check out this guide as well

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Then you have a pass lock issue get the body control module scanned for codes?Let me know the exact codes if you have a B2960 and or B3033 then most likely you have a bad pass lock sensor.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers
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Saturday, October 20th, 2012 AT 2:59 AM
Tiny
DECRANE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hey! It started right up thanks for the tip :) I love this site, you guys are great.
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Saturday, October 20th, 2012 AT 4:11 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Cheers
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Saturday, October 20th, 2012 AT 7:05 AM
Tiny
RICKY6/11
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
No pulse to injectors. Replaced crank sensor cam sensor and fuel pump.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:38 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

Do you have an RPM signal while cranking? You can tell if you have a tachometer inside the car. It will move up a little while cranking.

If you do then the PCM is most likely the failure. I uses the crank sensor a signal to pulse the injectors.

If you do not then you need to check wiring for the sensors and the PCM.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Roy
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:38 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOSEPH IRWIN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 152,525 MILES
The following has been replaced:Crank shaft sensors, Fuel pump, Plugs and wires, Mass flow sensor
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:38 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SEVAG P
  • MECHANIC
  • 405 POSTS
Hi, thanks for using 2CarPros.

As a first step fault codes must be checked, run our guide lines engine crank but does not start.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Check if fuel is present.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Check for spark.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Check engine compression.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Waiting for your feed back.
Thank you.

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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:38 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GREENWOOD76
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 3.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 137,520 MILES
Car will turn over but will not fire. It has spark, fuel pump pushing gas to fuel rail. It has been three weeks, I cannot get it to turn over. Had a guy named Ducrane sounds like same problem.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,293 POSTS
Have you tried spraying starting fluid into the intake? If so, did it do anything?

You can have fuel at the rail but not be getting enough pressure to start the engine. I would suggest borrowing a fuel pressure gauge from the local parts shop and run the test on it. With the key switched on, you should get between 52 and 59 PSI. Any less simply will not be enough.

Start there and let us know what you find.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RENEE L
  • ADMIN
  • 1,257 POSTS
Hi GREENWOOD76,

Here is a helpful link to an article from this site with step by step instructions and pictures explaining the process of checking the fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

If you need further assistance please come back to the site we are here to help.

Thank you for visiting 2CarPros.com.

Kindest regards,

Renee
Admin
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CROSAS92
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 179,000 MILES
So I just got a car from my brother and he wasn't driving the car at all it was just sitting for months. Now I drove it from Georgia to Florida to get it to my house to be able to get everything registered. So the next day I got a oil change on it and the car was good. I just needed to get a fluid flush in a month or so. So two days later I was driving the car to church and the car started to knock under the hood. I took it to a mechanic and I was told that my engine locked up on it. Now I've spoken to other mechanics and they're all telling me that the car just needed a new fuel filter and a fuel pump or just a fuel pump because the car wouldn't be driving for a couple of days and just stop. Whenever I try to crank the car it does nothing. I had a new battery put in the car and the starter tested and both of them is working perfectly fine.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

Can you turn the engine by hand?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Did the mechanic who told you it needed a fuel pump check the car in person?

If the engine is locked up, it will not turn by hand.

If it is not, then testing has to be done as to why it will not crank.

Roy
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:42 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WALDOK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 72,000 MILES
For the past year I have had this problem and it is just happing more often. The car will start fine and than other times it just will not start. I wait 30 min and it will start back up. When it runs it's great but when I turn it off who knows if it will start again. No one seems to know what the problem is. I have a new battery, new switch, new bmc and it still has not solved my problem. Please I just need some advice or help on the problem. The dealer just tells me I need to wait till it stops and will not start and have it towed in before they can tell me what it is. When I put the key in it just does nothing everything else works on the car I wait my half hour and put the key back in and it will start up! Someone told me it is my passlock what ever that is others have told me not to use the lock switch on my key ring and others have told me it is in the transmission no one seems to have and answer. So l hope you may have one for me or at least let me know who or where I can go or call to get an answer.
Please someone out there must know what is the problem!

Help me!
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RENAUDTN
  • MECHANIC
  • 636 POSTS
Hello there,

It does sound like a Passlock problem. Is your security light on or blinking when it happens? If so it confirms a Passlock problem. By the way, Passlock II is your theft deterrent system. When triggered it locks either the starter or the fuel injectors. Ask your dealer to troubleshoot your passlock. Since you replaced a bunch of parts already, you may have a problem with your passlock sensor, your ignition lock cylinder, or possibly a bad connection between your passlock sensor and BCM. It could also be that your passlock system needs to be reprogrammed. Let me know what you find out. If you do a search online, you'll see that it is a very common problem with GM cars. Do a little bit of research before the dealer takes you for a ride. Good luck
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WALDOK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I will look into this and I really hope this is the problem. Not sure why when I have asked the dealer before they just keep telling me I have to wait til it will not start and have it towed in. When this has been going on for a year and now it is just getting worst and happing more often.
So will look into this and will be sure to let you know what I find out.

Thanks again
kwaldo
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TAKECHARGESARGE
  • MECHANIC
  • 92 POSTS
Did you determine the cause of your engine problem and get it corrected? I was just looking through the forum and came across your posting. There was no reply to the answer you got from one of the members.I am very familiar with this type of problem because the same thing happened to me about 3 years ago. There were no indications except the battery showed in the message center. No malfunction codes when the Code Reader was connected either.I had the same problems getting a Chevy Dealer to diagnose it, because it wouldn't show any code. It turned out to be the Crankshaft Position Sensor.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAWGETTE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA
My 2001 Chevy Impala (118000 miles; V8)won't crank either. The radio and lights etc work, but it won't start. If you let it sit for about 30 minutes, it starts. We've taken it to our mechanic, but of course it won't do it for him. We put about $1200 towards repairs, but so far nothing's worked. Have you found a solution to your problem? Another blog said that it may be a "faulty computer ground wire" -- I guess we'll try it next
Also I was driving the other day and the car just cut off. The radio, lights, etc worked, but the car stopped. It cranked right back up, after I forced it to the side of the road. I hope it's not falling apart
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JASES10
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have the same problem with my 2001 impala. It wou't start in cold weather and dies whiile I drive down the road. I took it to the dealer and am getting ready to get it back. They said the Crank Shaft Position Sensor was bad, as well as the serpetine belt was cracked -not that the belt would affect it though. Hopefully this is the answer so many impala owners need. I will give update. Thanks, Jason
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DRP700
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,200 MILES
I have a 2001 impala, I ran out of gas a couple of times in a 2 week period. Now it starts and will run for a little while but then it sguts off like it is out of gas and wont start. After it sits for a day or so it will start and do the same thing. Can you tell me what the problem is.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RENAUDTN
  • MECHANIC
  • 636 POSTS
When your car doesn't start you have to figure out what's missing: fuel, spark, compression (less likely since it starts eventually). When your car doesn't start, put a spark tester on there and check for spark. If none of the plugs have sparks, the crank sensor is the likely culprit.
Also, check your fuel pressure.
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Saturday, March 6th, 2021 AT 1:48 PM (Merged)

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