Car sometimes dies. At times hard to start.

Tiny
KENTUCKY_WILDCAT
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
I had asked this question under the same user name Kentucky_Wildcat on Dec 16 2015, and was answered by HMAC300. He suggested to do a fuel pressure test on this vehicle. I was not able to log in using my previous information. So here we go again. I have had problems with starting at times, but never a failure to start. This lead to stalling on the road, and having to repeatedly try and start the engine. This is my daughters car, and when this happened she called me to come pick her up. I was nearly dressed when she called to say she got it to start. The engine not starting at times was annoying, but stalling in traffic is too dangerous to not address. I don't know if others have had the same problem, but I have changed the fuel pump no less than 8 times on this car. I purchased the pump from Advance auto parts. The part has a lifetime warranty, but after a year or more it goes out again. Having forgotten about it being covered I purchased the last one, so I had an extra pump sitting around after the switch. I placed it in the new box and swapped it out beforehand this time. Knowing the price difference in there premium parts, I asked how much another brand would cost. I was surprised when they told me a bosch fuel pump was like $20.00 more. I gladly paid the extra for a different brand that surely had a better life expectancy than the one I have changed several times before. I currently have that fuel pump shelved for the time when the one that is installed gives out. My belief is that either an electric fuel works or it doesn't. Am I wrong to assume this? As I explained before, I have changed the fuel filter, and blowing in the direction that fuel travels found no restriction. I have never changed any other components relating to the fuel system {eg. Regulator or other}. I did have the codes for the car retrieved. The codes are PO, 140, 141, 440, 128. As I stated before the clerk at Auto Zone said to replace PO140 and that would solve the problem. I knew it wouldn't be that simple and instead rented a fuel pressure test kit from them. Our area weather has been too cold for me to attempt testing it. I wanted to do this today, but have wasted time trying to retrieve my log in status. I plan to do this first thing tomorrow and will send those results asap. Thank You.
Saturday, January 30th, 2016 AT 1:54 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
First, autozone employs salesman not techs. The 140 code is for a O2 sensor heater and has nothing to do with your issue.

A fuel pressure test is definitely needed to continue

Roy
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Sunday, January 31st, 2016 AT 8:37 AM

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