Why do so many of us have to do this?

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 08:51 PM

I am one of the GA owners that has to turn the key to the ON position before starting. Why in the hell do we have to do this? I have never had a car that I needed to do this with.

Molson · 12-01-2005, 08:52 PM

it primes the fuel system.

GrahamKracka · 12-01-2005, 08:53 PM

prime the fuel pump maybe?

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 09:12 PM

no no no, I realize that part. But! why do no other cars have to do that? Im just curious why I can't just jump in a fire up?

RedGrandTour · 12-01-2005, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hova82

I am one of the GA owners that has to turn the key to the ON position before starting. Why in the hell do we have to do this? I have never had a car that I needed to do this with.

Because it a Grand AM.

DevilSlayer · 12-01-2005, 09:21 PM

I usually let it prime, but if I'm in a hurry I just start it. It takes a couple more cranks, but its no big deal. All cars do this. My dads Plymoth Grand Voyager primes when its on, you can hear the pump turn on just like my GA. Same with my moms Amigo, grandma's Frontier, grandpa's pathfinder. You don't HAVE to do it. It starts fine if you don't.

ViperGTSR · 12-01-2005, 09:26 PM

when i got my STi i didnt have to do this, but as soon as i added my piggyback engine-management at 5k miles i have to do it all the time now, i missed it!

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 09:30 PM

no it doesn't work fine if you don't do it.

Panacea · 12-01-2005, 09:43 PM

It's part of the passlock system, IIRC.

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 09:44 PM

Do all GM's have to do this?

2K2GAGT1BQE · 12-01-2005, 10:46 PM

I don't have to do it, I just put my key in, turn it for a sec, and it starts right up for me.

atc3434 · 12-01-2005, 10:51 PM

Yea, I don't have this problem either. I go right from off to start, fires right up. I think there might be a few people that don't get the fuel filter serviced regularly that experience the hard starting.

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 11:04 PM

nope. I just did the filter. sometimes I even have to hit the gas pedal to get it going.

atc3434 · 12-01-2005, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hova82

nope. I just did the filter. sometimes I even have to hit the gas pedal to get it going.

Never hit the gas pedal in a fuel injected cars start sequence, you'll do nothing but confuse the computer. I guess some cars are just plauged. Defintely not simply a "GM" thing, I have had a handful of GMs, they all started right off. Weird.

Braves299 · 12-01-2005, 11:15 PM

I just get in and crank it. It never lets me down.

hova82 · 12-01-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atc3434

Never hit the gas pedal in a fuel injected cars start sequence, you'll do nothing but confuse the computer. I guess some cars are just plauged. Defintely not simply a "GM" thing, I have had a handful of GMs, they all started right off. Weird.

Ya, If I took it to a mechanic, what might he say?

atc3434 · 12-02-2005, 12:00 AM

He might say a bunch of things. He might say you've got a fuel pump problem. He might tell you to just wait 2 seconds for the fuel system to prime, apparently the issue that most people experience is no fuel pressure on startup unless the pump has run for a second. Some cars hold pressure better than others, or so it seems. You defintely don't need any throttle input when starting a fuel injected car, unless the engine has become flooded. The computer knows roughly how much air will enter the engine based on the IAC position, when you open the throttle plate, you screw up its planned airflow.

H.O. Driver · 12-02-2005, 10:37 AM

everytime I start a car, mine, parents, ford, GM, etc.... I always turn it to on and let the fuel pump cycle, just habbit, did it before I got this GA. I just kind of being nice to the car I guess......

When I got my 99 it didn't have the updated cal for the hard start issue, but never had a problem before or after the updated cal.

SikMindz · 12-02-2005, 10:40 AM

For me I was told by a few mechanics that you should let all the lights cycle (as the computer checks all the systems) and fuel pump prime before trying to start the car. Not sure how much truth there is to this but with so much of the car controlled by a computer I figure there's no harm in letting it do it.

Slim · 12-02-2005, 10:53 AM

I don't do that on mine. I get in, and turn the key right over. The engine barely cranks over once before it fires up. I tried letting it sit for a couple seconds, the engine cranks over more.... So I stopped doing it.

12-01-2005, 08:51 PM	#1
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	Why do so many of us have to do this? I am one of the GA owners that has to turn the key to the ON position before starting. Why in the hell do we have to do this? I have never had a car that I needed to do this with.

12-01-2005, 08:52 PM	#2
Molson Admininadian! AKA: Jim Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Great White Norf Age: 45 Posts: 3,695 Vehicle: Duramax, C10, MKZ	it primes the fuel system. __________________ Sig

12-01-2005, 09:21 PM	#6
DevilSlayer Aspiring car freak AKA: Chris Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Edgewater, Maryland Posts: 147 Vehicle: 1999 Grand AM GT Coupe	I usually let it prime, but if I'm in a hurry I just start it. It takes a couple more cranks, but its no big deal. All cars do this. My dads Plymoth Grand Voyager primes when its on, you can hear the pump turn on just like my GA. Same with my moms Amigo, grandma's Frontier, grandpa's pathfinder. You don't HAVE to do it. It starts fine if you don't. __________________ well as cliche as it may sound I'd like to raise another round and if your bottles empty help yourself to mine thank you for your time and heres to life --Roger Clyne "Mekong" Best comic ever

12-01-2005, 09:26 PM	#7
ViperGTSR i <3 my lanyard AKA: Alex Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: High Desert, SoCal Age: 35 Posts: 2,260 Vehicle: Turbo Biodiesel \| R1	when i got my STi i didnt have to do this, but as soon as i added my piggyback engine-management at 5k miles i have to do it all the time now, i missed it! __________________ House mods are the new car mods

12-01-2005, 09:43 PM	#9
Panacea Mmmm Donuts. AKA: Macleod52 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rock Island, IL Age: 40 Posts: 3,160 Vehicle: '09 Malibu LTZ	It's part of the passlock system, IIRC. __________________ "Never argue with idiots. They bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience."

12-01-2005, 08:53 PM	#3
GrahamKracka WannaBe Fat Kid AKA: Richard Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Age: 36 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle: 2005 Nissan Titan	prime the fuel pump maybe?

12-01-2005, 09:12 PM	#4
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	no no no, I realize that part. But! why do no other cars have to do that? Im just curious why I can't just jump in a fire up?

12-01-2005, 09:30 PM	#8
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	no it doesn't work fine if you don't do it.

12-01-2005, 09:44 PM	#10
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	Do all GM's have to do this?

12-01-2005, 10:46 PM	#11
2K2GAGT1BQE Not a Newb AKA: Quinton Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: OKC, OK Age: 45 Posts: 98 Vehicle: 02 Grand Am GT1 Coupe	I don't have to do it, I just put my key in, turn it for a sec, and it starts right up for me.

12-01-2005, 10:51 PM	#12
atc3434 Grand Am Again AKA: Andrew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Auburn, NY Age: 38 Posts: 1,999 Vehicle: 1999 Grand Am SE	Yea, I don't have this problem either. I go right from off to start, fires right up. I think there might be a few people that don't get the fuel filter serviced regularly that experience the hard starting. __________________ 1999 Grand Am SE2 - Blue, TOG Headers, SLP Exhaust, DHP - SOLD 1996 Vert' Z-28 - M6, magnaflow muffler-back, K&N FIPK, Hurst Short-throw - 13.6 @ 103mph. 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Daytona - Go Mango Orange #2832 of 4000. Tune/exhaust. 14.009@97mph. 2002 Saab 9 5 Aero Wagon - 3" turboback/tune. 17psi of sleeper fun just waiting to surprise you.

12-01-2005, 11:04 PM	#13
hova82 GAGT - Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey, BC Age: 38 Posts: 60 Vehicle: 2001 Grand am	nope. I just did the filter. sometimes I even have to hit the gas pedal to get it going.

12-01-2005, 11:15 PM	#15
Braves299 WVU owns you AKA: David Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Derwood, Maryland Age: 36 Posts: 2,170 Vehicle: '99 GA SE 3.4, '06 Ram	I just get in and crank it. It never lets me down. __________________ Carl Lee Combs July 8, 1944 - February 20, 2002 "Gone for now, never forgotten"

12-02-2005, 12:00 AM	#17
atc3434 Grand Am Again AKA: Andrew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Auburn, NY Age: 38 Posts: 1,999 Vehicle: 1999 Grand Am SE	He might say a bunch of things. He might say you've got a fuel pump problem. He might tell you to just wait 2 seconds for the fuel system to prime, apparently the issue that most people experience is no fuel pressure on startup unless the pump has run for a second. Some cars hold pressure better than others, or so it seems. You defintely don't need any throttle input when starting a fuel injected car, unless the engine has become flooded. The computer knows roughly how much air will enter the engine based on the IAC position, when you open the throttle plate, you screw up its planned airflow. __________________ 1999 Grand Am SE2 - Blue, TOG Headers, SLP Exhaust, DHP - SOLD 1996 Vert' Z-28 - M6, magnaflow muffler-back, K&N FIPK, Hurst Short-throw - 13.6 @ 103mph. 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Daytona - Go Mango Orange #2832 of 4000. Tune/exhaust. 14.009@97mph. 2002 Saab 9 5 Aero Wagon - 3" turboback/tune. 17psi of sleeper fun just waiting to surprise you.

12-02-2005, 10:37 AM	#18
H.O. Driver I drive a V6 H.O. AKA: Timmah! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Boyne City, MI Age: 38 Posts: 2,694 Vehicle: 99 GT, 03 DTS, 04 SRX	everytime I start a car, mine, parents, ford, GM, etc.... I always turn it to on and let the fuel pump cycle, just habbit, did it before I got this GA. I just kind of being nice to the car I guess...... When I got my 99 it didn't have the updated cal for the hard start issue, but never had a problem before or after the updated cal. __________________ 1999 GA GT - lots of mods - Sold and missing it... 2001 GP GTP Special Edtion - Sold 2002 T/A - T-Tops, AT, LS6 intake, mainly stock - Sold 2003 Cadillac DTS - Gangsta Grandpa car - Gone 2004 Cadillac SRX - Baby hauler -Sold and missing it Life is too short to drive boring cars....why is that all I have now?????? Last edited by H.O. Driver; 12-02-2005 at 10:39 AM.

12-02-2005, 10:53 AM	#20
Slim Captain Canuck AKA: Matt Join Date: Mar 1977 Location: Burlington, Ontario Age: 44 Posts: 3,593 Vehicle: 08 Acadia, 13 Mazda 6	I don't do that on mine. I get in, and turn the key right over. The engine barely cranks over once before it fires up. I tried letting it sit for a couple seconds, the engine cranks over more.... So I stopped doing it. __________________ Canadian to the core!

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