98 Pontiac Grand Am 4cyl - starts, but wont re-start.

KANDICEPLAIN

MEMBER
1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM

1998 Pontiac Grand Am
4 cyl.
116,000 miles

Ok.
On New Years eve I went out to start my car, and it started, but my engine was shaky. So I shut my car off, but when I went to restart it, it would turn, but not start.
I let it go. And found a ride.
about every day since, Ive went out and tried starting my car, and it does the same thing [minus the shaky engine].
and today, its a little warmer, and it started, I tried to restart and it wouldnt. But then I tried three more times in a row, and it started up each time perfectly fine.

what could this possibly be?
In the past two years, Ive gotten three new alternators [sorry for bad spelling], one new engine, two new coolant tanks, three new belts, and so much more. Ive put near 4 grand in this crappy car, so I really dont want to take it to get fixed if its something major.

Some people told me it might be my starter, or my fuel pump?
Who knows.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks. <3

edited to add: About one month ago my check engine light came on, but I think thats because Ive needed an oil change, and Im about 1,000 miles over the mark for it. I doubt thats important, but in case, Im letting yous know.

1 Reply

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Sorry for the late reply.

When the problem is ongoing, if it cranks good but won't start, have a helper crank it, while you visually check for spark at the spark plugs. If spark everywhere, use a gage and check fuel pressure and injector pulse.

With a lot of cranking, make sure battery has a full charge.

Can you check for applicable trouble codes? To check codes yourself, at the least, you need an obd2 code reader.