Pontaic Grandam GT - 96 Stalling problem

Hi Everyone,

I have a 1996 Pontaic Grand am GT
4DR Sedan
Automatic
V6 3.1 Liter

Check engine light has been on pretty much since I bought this car 6 months ago.

First problem.. The car just died, would turn over but wouldn't start. Found out it was the Crankshaft sensor, had it replaced. Check engine light went out.

Check engine light came back on a few days later.

Weeks later

Car stalled and wouldn't start. Had it towed to my house, checked the connection to the sensor (because it seemed like the same problem) a wire was loose, it started.

Few days later

Car stalled, while waiting at a light.. then felt like it was going to stall while driving, did manage to get it home.

Car stalled while someone else was driving and they checked connection to module and got it back to my house.

Spark plugs were crap so they were replaced.

I've had someone look at it at my house. The car was starting up, had spark.. fuel pressure was too low. I could hear the fuel pump when turning the key. So we figure it was probably the fuel filter.
The throttle body sensor was checked, the reading was off.
Then the car wouldn't start at all (again) and there is no spark (again)..

This car seems possessed... not sure where to go from here.
I don't have money to bring it to a mechanic this time. But I do know a few people that work on cars and they are trying to help me.

For some reason yesterday, the car decided to start right up.(wasn't starting before)

Yesterday, my car's ground wires were cleaned, fuel pressure checked (not as high as it should be) Replaced the pvc valve because it needed it..(found it was leaking. The person who was working on the car said my map sensor may not be working right.

Going to change the fuel filter tomorrow, the car problaby could use that also.

I went to autozone today..
The car started and ran fine since yesterday, but of course I don't dare to do a lot of driving, too unsure about it stalling out on me.

The autozone guy wrote down the codes.
P0107 - which I believe MAP - low input.. The person that was working on the car yesterday did disconnect it, and he told me that was probably why I got that reading.

The MAP sensor was removed from the car and tested in autozone. The test said it's fine but it gave a high voltage reading. With no vaccum it read 6 volts, the book I have says 4.5 - 5 volts. With vaccum the reading was 2. something.

Another code P0420 - Something to do with emissions ??

And the guy at autozone wrote this code P01441. He said he couldn't find it on his computer. He said it was a GM specific code.
I tried to look it up on the internet and my book and I can only find this code - P0141 O2 sensor?? could he have written down the wrong code?

Please help.. Any input or advice is helpful and appreciated...

Thank you..
Shari

The code P01441 does not exist. P1441 indicates a problem with the evaporative emission controls, could be a loose gas cap causing that problem. Both P0420 and P0141 deal with Oxygen sensors. I would replace the O2 sensor and both of these should go away. As for your other problems I would have to think they are related to the fuel system not delivering fuel. The filter is probably your problem. Replace it and then check the fuel pressure, you should see a better pressure once the filter has been changed. If not you may need to replace the fuel pump. Also, I would check that CPS wiring and make sure that everything is firmly connected.

I would have to agree with GTPDad, being fuel related... I went through a similar with my 96 GT 2.4L, although I didn't get the same OBD codes [ I was getting a miss fire in cyl.#1. I had the ignition module, coil packs and plugs/wires replaced. But I feel that the proceedure that did the most for repairing the preformance was to have the fuel injectors prof.cleaned. You may want to get them cleaned. Just a suggestion.

Good luck, and welcome to the Forum.