And its been a great car. However I've had a couple occasions where it wouldn't' start. Turn over great but no ignition. Last time was a few days ago. Tried and tried but it just wouldn't fire off. Finally called a tow truck, I fiddled around with the the ignition and low and behold it fired up. No hesitation, no cut out, just a smooth start and run. I called the tow truck to stop him. This is the 2nd time this has happened. The car is in a mechanics shop now. He is afraid it is the fuel pump. intermittently operating. The car has 150k miles, runs great. Has anyone has this problem? Where the ignition cranks the engine but won't start? And then after awhile the engine catches. Thanks

 

Are you sure the security system had not kicked in?

I ask because you say you were messing around with the ignition. There is a passlock sensor inside the lock cylinder that senses the presence of the correct key. Without that functioning properly, the vehicle will not start. You should see a picture of a lock or similar on the dash if the security system thinks it has been tripped.

Hard to answer after the fact, but do you remember hearing the fuel pump priming after you turned the key?

There is also a fuel pump relay that may be failing intermittently.

In any event, you've gotten 23 years out of both of them.

 

Thaks for the reply. I did have the ignition replaced some time ago, when the ecm went haywire. Have had no problems since then. The mechanic is good. Hopefully he will figure it out.

 

I drive kids 03 occasionally. Did coil packs last yr? The ecm sits on battery cover so moving it during jumping to access battery may cause wire issues? Maybe flexing wires tweaks connector contacts? Flexing 23 yr old wires is always risky.

 

Had a problem with the 03 saturn, would occasionally refused to start. Turn over like a champ, but no fire. After fiddling around for 10 minutes it finally caught and ran. No idea what that was all about. Same thing happened a week or so later. Had loaded groceries into the car at Dillions and the car wouldn't' start. I called a tow service which I cancelled later when the car started. Took it into a mechanic that ran diagnostics on the car and the fuel pump showed no problems. The security measures were all still in place. Mechanic said only thing to do was replace the fuel pumps, which I did. Had a new carrier bearing put in too. Was a hell of a job too. Have had no more issues with the car not starting.

 

Always be clear on no start.
say motor CRANKS but will not start.
or motor does NOT crank.
important info

 

Went into town yesterday to get some chow. On the way in i had the mechanic pass by in his gmc 1/2 ton. I motioned to him that so far everything was ok. Stopped off at sonic to get a burger, turned off the car and after the car hop delivered the food I tried to start the car and guess what? Wouldn't start. I had started calling tow trucks, but guess what. No body works on the weekend. Same deal, waited 10 - 15 minutes and it started right up. Thinking how I could use it as a trade in for something else. Do I tell the buyer that I've a car with brand new fuel system but won't always start?

Always be clear on no start.
say motor CRANKS but will not start.
or motor does NOT crank.
important info

 

Sounds similar to a CKP (crank sensor) issue common to the original S series where if the PCM didn't receive a valid signal from the ckp, it would cut fuel and spark.
The 2.2 ecotec and the 3.0 V6 Opel derived engines and ECMs in the vues don't work exactly in the same manner as the S series, but it sounds like a sensor associated with knowing where the crank or the cams is/are in their rotation is intermittently going open circuit when the engine heats up. When it cools back down (your 10 to 15 min), the coil becomes continuous again and vehicle starts and runs.

Don't run out and buy a crank sensor.
Wait until someone else more familiar with the V6 joins. @02 LW300 , might you be able to help sort this?

 

I did notice oil pressure sensor near balancer when I did timing belt, maybe that’s it? I think fuel pump signal goes off of ok oil pressure reading. I did starter 2 yrs ago. Not a fun job. On rear of motor on firewall side. Oof.

 

If there are no codes stored and the problem is heat related I would want to look at the crank sensor and wiring. It may be oil covered since it is next to the oil filter.