I've ready several posts about not starting but none seem to fit my issue's attributes exactly.

My 2000 Grand Am GT, 3.4, 69K miles won't start occasionally.

The only time it won't start is if it sits outside for an extended period of time when it's cold outside.

If I pull just the nose of the car into the Garage it will start every morning, but sitting in the parking lot at work from 5 am to 1 am, it won't start. Wet weather/dry weather doesn't seem to have a bearing on it so I don't think I'm dealing with a moisture issue.

Now here's the thing that has me puzzled...if I take something and tap on the cast part of the EGR valve while someone cranks it...it will start right away and runs fine. I don't have to hit it very hard but firm. And will restart everytime if it doesn't sit very long. I can make several stops, and shut the car off and it will restart everytime, but not if it sits too long in cold weather.

The car once started, runs perfect, no hesitation, doesn't run rough, idles normal.

The check engine light does not stay on when it won't start.

Here's an example. Basketball game, last night. We got there at 5:00 pm, went out at 7:15, car started right away, I let it begin to get warm and shut it down. Go to leave at 10:04...car won't start. Pop the hood, tap the EGR valve while wife cranks it, car started right off.

Now I don't see how the EGR valve would keep the car from starting...I don't think it can because I have unplugged it before and the car started anyway. So since the car runs fine after started, I am thinking that I am dealing with more of a crankcase or camshaft sensor, tapping on the EGR valve is pretty close to those 2 and maybe the vibration....??

Don't know for sure....what do you guys think?

It is possible that the EGR valve is not working properly and when you tap it while cranking it closes and allows the car to start. If I were you I would replace the EGR valve with another one from a wrecking yard to see what happens. I would also check the wiring to the valve to make sure it is not damaged and is working properly. That is the only reason that I can think of as to why it will start when you tap it.

but I don't understand why the EGR valve would cause the car not to start at all.

I took the valve off and cleaned it, as best as I could with kerosene and a tooth brush, movement in the valve was smooth, no big pieces of carbon, all dust.

I have to say the "technology" of today's cars really irritates the hell out of me. What was wrong with mechanical fuel pump, on the side of the engine ($12), an intake manifold and carb? Oh wait...I know...too many shade tree mechanics could work on their own vehicle.

Use to be fuel, spark, compression is all it took for a car to run.

The only thing I can think of is that it is not properly closing a circuit and the ECM is reading the EGR incorrectly like the engine was hot and not allowing a proper fuel and spark setting to allow it to start. This may be more of an electrical issue than a mechanical one. Only thing I can really suggest is to get another one from a wrecking yard and replace the one on your car and see what happens. If it starts then the problem is solved.

Well...good news on the 00 GA starting issue.

It has started all weekend, I left it outside all weekend and it started everytime. Now it hasn't been really cold, but has been as cold as a few times it wouldn't start.

After some thought, since it has gotten hot twice in the past month (just lost coolant out of the blue) and money considerations, I decided to change the Temp. Sensor in the head. $7.99 at autozone.

Solved the problem.

I know, some people may be saying "Temp sensor???"

Well what happens is as the car warms up the temp sensor sends that information to the computer, the computer then adjusts fuel/air mixture. Part of that Fuel/Air mixture comes from the EGR valve. The computer leans out the injectors, sucks more air, and uses the unburnt fuel in the emissions (EGR valve) to give the vehicle enough fuel to run.
I didn't have it tested, but if the temp sensor is bad, it could read exactly backwards and be trying to start the car cold with the fuel/air mixture of a 195 degree engine, which, with no emissions, would not be enough to start the engine, but would be, once it fires. Would also explain why it would start anytime it hadn't sat for a long time, emissions would still be in a gas state in the block for a little while...UNLESS...it was long enough for the block to get cold and the O2 sensor to cool (closing the EGR valve), and the fuel still in the block would be turned back into a liquid, and without a richer mixture, would not be enough fuel for the engine to fire.

Thanks for all your help, your comments put me in the right frame of mind for troubleshooting.

"like the engine was hot and not allowing a proper fuel and spark setting to allow it to start."

Thanks for letting me know what the actual problem was. Seems strange though that it would start when the egr was tapped but these things can be very strange indeed.

Thanks for letting me know what the actual problem was. Seems strange though that it would start when the egr was tapped but these things can be very strange indeed.


Best I can figure is the vibration of me tapping on the EGR valve, vibrated through the coolant and evidently vibrated enough to break the contact in the temp sensor.

Tapping the EGR is why I figured against the crankcase sensor, since it is on the other side of the engine.