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need help/ advice 3800 series 2 sc

harlan

New member
i have a 2000 grand prix gtp 3800 series 2 supercharged. replaced the valve covers and gaskets, i removed the fuel rail and now the car wont start. its turning over but wont kick on. plugs and wires are new. i noticed plugs smell like gas. i cleaned plugs changed oil and it started but once but ran rough and i turned it off was unable to start again. the plugs smelled like gas again. i figured a injector was leaking? but not sure. i took to a shop and hes saying it could be a crank sensor or cam sensor. my question is do u think that could be the problem because all i remove was the fuel rail and before it was running fine. could some how during removing the rail and injectors cause the cam or crank sensor to go bad? he said something about theres juice to the injectors but the grounds dead? just kinda lost. need input / advice. thanks in advance.
 
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got the vac line back on the fpr on the fuel rail?

if its on there, pull the line, see if it smells like gas, if it does the fpr is bad.
 
I agree with Scottydoggs.

This same thing happened to me too. I also would be very cautious with the smell of gas. I'm confident enough to say that GM's "open recall" for under the hood fire is not (at least solely) due to the valve covers, but actually the fuel rail connector o-rings. Replacing these is crucial on our engines. Both connectors leaked slightly on mine and "looked good" when I pulled them out, but upon compressing them, they had lots of little cracks. I would go to Autozone and buy the assorted fuel o-rings they carry (two packs, only thing local I've found to fit).

Wouldn't cause no start. Did you replace your fuel injector o-rings when you re-installed the rail?

If it isn't the fpr, it might be a clogged or shorting injector. Easy to test by jumping with a 9volt battery (removed from car of course and directed at pan). Do not leave it on for long bursts. Basically just barely touch the leads and release a few times to verify it is working. If it was running, you could use the screw driver trick to listen to them firing. This test will not tell you if they are working correctly, just that they are "somewhat" working. I have a new balanced set of fuel injectors I could sell you if one or more is bad. They are all flow matched and cleaned.

I would first check your fuel pressure though and the fpr first.
 
I agree with Scottydoggs.

This same thing happened to me too. I also would be very cautious with the smell of gas. I'm confident enough to say that GM's "open recall" for under the hood fire is not (at least solely) due to the valve covers, but actually the fuel rail connector o-rings. Replacing these is crucial on our engines. Both connectors leaked slightly on mine and "looked good" when I pulled them out, but upon compressing them, they had lots of little cracks. I would go to Autozone and buy the assorted fuel o-rings they carry (two packs, only thing local I've found to fit).

Wouldn't cause no start. Did you replace your fuel injector o-rings when you re-installed the rail?

If it isn't the fpr, it might be a clogged or shorting injector. Easy to test by jumping with a 9volt battery (removed from car of course and directed at pan). Do not leave it on for long bursts. Basically just barely touch the leads and release a few times to verify it is working. If it was running, you could use the screw driver trick to listen to them firing. This test will not tell you if they are working correctly, just that they are "somewhat" working. I have a new balanced set of fuel injectors I could sell you if one or more is bad. They are all flow matched and cleaned.

I would first check your fuel pressure though and the fpr first.

Yes I replaced the o rings on the injectors. So you guys think the sensors have anything to do with it? or is my mechanic trying to replace things that dont need to be replaced? i dont want to pay any extra labor or parts if the sensors are good yet.
 
Crank sensor and or cam sensor... A billion to one shot imo, so no!

Fuel, Air, Spark car runs!

You changed VCG, Plugs, Wires and for some reason removed your fuel rail, not sure why, but ok.

Are you sure you put the wires back in the correct order? Is easy to screw up. Could easily explain the rough running.
What else did you touch? Something is not adding up. Did you gap the plugs? Check the gap at least? Where'd you get the o-rings? Did they fit correctly, squeeze in nice n tight when re-installing rail?
 
? he said something about theres juice to the injectors but the grounds dead? just kinda lost. need input / advice. thanks in advance.


Hey, there's that one ground wire..big eyelet. Goes to one of the bolts that holds the Coil bracket to the head/block. Did you pull the coils off, and forget that one ground? I did that once, but caught it before I tried starting it, so I don't know if it would fuxxor it to not fire...

Just a thought.
 


That ground shouldn't be the issue. I've tested that theory lol

My thought.. Did all the injector pigtails go on the correct injectors? They can reach at least one over in most cases. That would dump fuel at the wrong times and may do it. Also I'd ensure the maf sensor is connected But that shouldn't do it. Also.. did you reconnect the O2 on the rear of the engine to the sensor right there at the backside of the engine?

Pull all the plugs. Dry them. Crank it for a moment w/o plugs in it. Give it 30 minutes w/o plugs in it. Then put them in and fire it up. If it fires and sounds rough, let it run. It'll either clear or keep sounding the same. If it sounds the same after a minute, take a video of how it's running.
 
Here is a thought, check ALL connectors you pulled. See if anything has damage, pin layed down. Honestly unless your so disarrayed in moving wiring or such it hard to swap things around. make sure all plugs are fully seated. As a tech I have started using a shot of spray silicone on each connector as I am seeing more that wont latch. OR dielectric grease on plug/seals.
Had car the other day triple checked every plug, MAP STILL didnt fully seat, quick shot of silicone spray and tada snapped right in.
 
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