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Engine want start after intake manifold gasket replacement

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David A Smith

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Hello All,

I have a Pontiac grand prix GTP supercharged 3800 series 2 engine

This past weekend I had changed my intake manifold gasket because I was getting coolant mixing with the oil. So after I put everything back together the car started right up, I let it run for 15 minutes. Then I shut it off and now it's been 2 days since it was last turned on. I can't get it to start. Below I will list some things I changed, replaced, checked.

Changed:

Lower Intake Manifold gasket
Supercharger gasket
throttle body gasket
fuel injector "o" rings
PCV valve
oil filter
air filter
oil
coolant
spark plug wires

Checked:

Fluid levels - fine
Fuel pressure - fine
Spark plug gap - fine

Problems:

-I had originally put new spark plugs in but the car wouldn't start so I put the old ones in and it started right up for the first time
-Fuel injectors, when I was putting the fuel rail back on with the injectors I was pushing down on it to hard and the gasket at the tip by the O rings shattered. All of them did. Some of those little pieces fell into the engine but I know I got most of them out. Some still remain in the engine. To replace those gaskets I used nylon washes. It's what the put on the new injectors made today. So I went to a hardware store and bought some. Then I machined them to the correct size. I just don't know if these washers are heat resistant.
-A vacuum line fitting ripped on me while I was taking it off. I didn't have another one to replace it with so I put it back on, put some RTV silicone on it with a pipe clamp to hold it in place.
-I am getting the check engine light, low oil light, temperature light, and the battery light. I get these lights when I turn the key to the AUX position. I don't know if those lights always come on and stay on until the car starts but I did hook a battery charger up to the battery. Since then the starter seems to work faster. Without the charger it does not try to start as fast.
-Some of the codes I am getting with a scanner is P0123 and P0118.

With all of that said, I hope I provided enough information to help someone give me advice. Like I said, it won't start anymore but it started the before and ran for 15 minutes. It sounded great.

Thanks Guys. I hope you can help.
 


Couple things...

1) That vacuum leak fix sounds kinda half assed and I'd get that issue addressed because it probably isn't helping the situation.
2) 123 is the TPS...I know because I got that all the time when I first had my car. Throttle Positioning Sensor in high circuit or something like that.
3) 118 is the coolant temp sensor...it needs replacing.

Try those three things...also you said "some of the codes"...were there others?
 
were any of the codes there before the repairs I guess i should have asked that
and ofcourse the vac leak should be fixed either stealership for ome replacement or change to hard t's and rubber lines
 
Thanks for the advice. That vacuum leak fix is what it is because it happened on a sunday with no dealer. I plan to fix it. Well, I got home from work and tried to start the card and I didn't get anything. I hooked the battery charger up and it didn't start but on the 2nd try it did. I let the car run for 15 minutes, shut it off, and now it won't start again. Even with the charger hooked up.

My other code was P1635

The ground wires look fine and are connected properly.

Thanks again guys.
 


Thanks guys. Ground behind coil pack is fine. i got the battery tested and they say it's fine. i bought a new one anyway. I'm gonna try it out. I'm willing to try anything now.
 

Here is an update.

Yesterday I came home and tried to start the car. It wouldn't start so I put the battery charger on it and it started right up. 2 times actually. Then I took the charger off and it wouldn't do anything. So I took the battery to 2 different stores and they told me the battery is fine and fully charger. I bought a new one anyway to try it out. So, I put the new battery in and it wouldn't start. I hooked the charger up to the new battery and it started right up. I let it run for 15 minutes and then I took it for a test drive. I didn't even make it 200 feet before the car just stalled. While I was driving the car it sounded great. So, I had to get a neighbor to jump me. I hooked the cables up and the car started right up, my buddies car wasn't even on when I started the car so I don't know if that makes a difference. Once the car was started something weird happened. The RPM's went all the way up to 3,000 and stayed there. So, I got in the car then put it in reverse and the RPM's dropped to normal. Once I started driving back to my house and once I was getting close I took my foot off the break and I could feel the RPM's still way up there as if my foot was on the pedal.

Another note I would like to mention, it doesn't matter what battery I have in the car whether it be the new or old one but the car does not try to start as fast as it does without the charger attached to it. I'm wondering if the starter is messed up, maybe the battery connections a loose or wet, the grounds are messed up, and I think the vacuum system is out of wack?

Let me know what you think. I am posting these same questions on some internet forums and getting some responses back.

Any idea's?

-Dave
 


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