General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Fuel problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 22, 2026 | 04:04 PM
  #1  
98bgmtransam's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
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?
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2026 | 09:21 PM
  #2  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,628
Likes: 2,547
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

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?
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2026 | 05:44 AM
  #3  
98bgmtransam's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default

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.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2026 | 06:01 AM
  #4  
LS1Formulation's Avatar
12 Second Club
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,890
Likes: 1,137
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Default

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.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2026 | 06:41 PM
  #5  
B52bombardier1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 265
From: Bossier City, Louisiana
Default

Twelve years sitting with ethanol-laced fuel in the injectors is bound to clog them.

Rick
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:49 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE