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Fuel problem

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Old Mar 22, 2026 | 04:04 PM
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Default Fuel problem

Afternoon,

I have a 98 trans am. It was my daily driver until about 12 years ago. Car was running fine and parked under a shelter. Several years ago I went to crank it and it would not start. I never went into full diagnostics with it. I’ve recently decided to redo the car from front to back, but before I got to involved wanted to diagnose the original problem. With a fresh brand new battery the car will turn over just fine, but no ignition. Fuel system has been bypassed up to the injector rails. I am getting fire to the injectors and pressure to the rails. The best I’ve been able to get is the car to crank for is about 2 seconds. Any suggestions on where to start?
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Old Mar 22, 2026 | 09:21 PM
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From: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
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Originally Posted by 98bgmtransam
...The best I’ve been able to get is the car to crank for is about 2 seconds. Any suggestions on where to start?
So what happens after those two seconds? Does the cranking just stop?

And what do you mean by the fuel system being "bypassed"? If you're getting pressure at the rails and the injectors have power, what makes you certain that it's a fuel problem? Or am I somehow misunderstanding your post?
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Old Mar 23, 2026 | 05:44 AM
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
So what happens after those two seconds? Does the cranking just stop?

And what do you mean by the fuel system being "bypassed"? If you're getting pressure at the rails and the injectors have power, what makes you certain that it's a fuel problem? Or am I somehow misunderstanding your post?
meaning it ran for about 2 second and cut off. As for the bypass; I was thinking at the start of this that it could possibly be the fuel pump, so I ran an external fuel cell with an inline hpfp with a regulator to the injector rail. (Had the stuff to do it and it saved me having to drop the tank or cut a hole in my car) I’m not dead set that it’s a fuel problem, looking for other issues that it could be as well.
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Old Mar 23, 2026 | 06:01 AM
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You're going to be chasing your tail if you don't hook up a mechanical fuel pressure gauge to the rail and verify that pressure is staying steady ( or not ) when the car is running and shuts off. If the pump shuts off, verify that the PCM is continuing to trigger the pump to stay on. If it's not, then the PCM is not seeing the crankshaft position signal that tells it the engine is running. If the sensor is bad, do not get a parts store sensor. Just go get a used GM sensor from the junkyard. They are the only ones worthwhile. This is not the only issue you could be having, it's just one to look at.
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Old Mar 23, 2026 | 06:41 PM
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Twelve years sitting with ethanol-laced fuel in the injectors is bound to clog them.

Rick
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