I recently bought a 1991 Pontiac Grand Am SE sedan with the Quad 4 engine. I have previously owned three 1991 Grand Am LEs with the Tech 4 and have very limited knowledge of Quad 4s. I bought this car knowing it would not start and that is it. I tried to turn the crank with a socket and breakover bar and it is tight. The car has 133K mi and is in very good shape. Any ideas on what is wrong and where to start? Any help anyone can give me is much appreciated.

-Brock

Are you saying that the engine would not even turn over if you try to start it by the Ignition Switch?

If it is an Ignition Switch issue, then try to directly by-pass the Starter motor by directly connecting it to the battery with electrical wires or get a remote starter switch from an Auto store ($9). If the motor is not seized, the motor should turn over when you directly hook up the starter motor.

If the motor is still not turning over, remove the the shield, ignition coil housing and remove the spark plugs and squirt some oil into the hole. At this point you can try turning over the engine manually or just use the same remote control switch at the starter motor.

Unless the piston, piston rod, etc., is broken then the motor could not turn over.

I would give it an oil change and go from there. Or at least check the oil to see if there is any contaminates in it like water. Has the car been sitting for a long time?