Hey guys, so I have a 2003 Monte Carlo 3.4 L V6 and for the past few days I’ve been having a crank no start issue I have brand new spark plugs and wires. I just replaced my fuel filter. I hear my fuel pump going off and it’s pressurizing. I do not have a fuel pressure gauge, but when I take a screwdriver into the Schrader valve it squirts out gas. And also starter fluid does not start it. I was wondering if it could be my crankshaft sensor or camshaft sensor or if it could possibly still be my fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator she just doesn’t sound like she’s actually trying to fire when she turns over it sounds like it’s not catching. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, because I really need to get this figured out so I can get back to work. Thank you in advance.

 

Unfortunately I think the thread title is an incorrect assumption. If you did have all of those things in even remotely the right proportions, you'd hear at least a few individual firings.

Given it does nothing with starter fluid, that makes me think spark is the issue. It could be so obscenely rich that it can't physically fire, but pulling a plug and looking at it / smelling it would quickly confirm or deny that scenario (not to mention its very unlikely anyways to happen on all cylinders at once).

Id probably pop a plug wire off and crank it while trying to get the wire to arc to ground to confirm the ICM is actually lighting off the coils.

Another long shot with this ignition system, but are you confident with the firing order?

 

So I pulled the plug and I had my neighbor make sure I was getting spark while I cranked it and he said I was also I was using carb cleaner as I don’t have actual starting fluid. A couple days ago when I was using it it was catching with the carb cleaner, and then it stopped. I don’t have a fuel pressure gauge, but when I use a screwdriver, it doesn’t look like I have very much fuel pressure coming out of my Schaefer valve. Before this it would never catch on the first time it would always be on the second time I just ordered my fuel pressure regulator camshaft sensor crankshaft sensor and fuel pump so we shall see what happens because I’m starting to think that my timings just wrong for it to catch also, when I pull my spark plugs, they smell like gas and are black, even though I just replaced them a month ago also, I know my firing order is perfect. I replaced each one one by one and I have had no issues really except for a couple days ago when it just quit wanting to start

 

IMO before just shotgun replacing a bunch of random stuff, I'd spend more time on diagnosis. Many of the tools (like a fuel pressure gauge) you can rent from autozone for almost nothing.

Just would hate to see you replace a bunch of stuff only tk find you still need to replace more stuff.

 

Silly question.... After you crank the engine and leave the key in the on position, is the security light staying on? Curious if you have a security issue that is involved (such as preventing the injectors from firing).