I just bought the '97 SE in non-running condition. I KNOW I'm getting good spark, and fuel is making it to the rail. I know the fuel pressure regulator is bad, as I got lots of fuel on the vacuum side. Anyone had that as the sole cause of a no-start? I thought it might run, but just badly. I'm replacing it today nonetheless, and will put a gauge on it to check pressure. Suppose that doesn't fix the problem, where next? I'm thinking Crank Position Sensor. I guess I should also buy a noid light, to see if the injectors are trying to fire. Anything else I'm not considering? I signed up yesterday, and this forum is already helping me! Thanks, guys.

a bad crank position sensor should give you a 1 in 6 chance of starting. Look at VATS, that will cause it not to start at all.

that would mean the SECURITY light on the dash remains solid.....can you hear the FP prime.....if you have a bad FPR that might be where to start

I don't mean to sound stupid, but do you know the condition of the rest of the car? Like why it wasn't running when you bought it (I.E. history just before no-start condition). Also, I assume you checked all the fluids and everything is good and the correct colors?

Just asking because you could be trying to crank a car that needs a repair before you do so.

There are no stupid questions. Basically, I was told it ran poorly for a short while, then wouldn't crank at all. They threw in a battery, and that didn't help (duh!).

Fluids are all up to date, and recent. It'* a one-owner, and all receipts are in the glovebox.

I KNOW for a fact the FPR is bad, but I didn't think that would necessarily cause a no-start condition. I thought it would at least TRY to start. I guess getting a new FPR on it and checking pressure is first and foremost, as that has to be done no matter what.

The fuel pump does prime, and there'* some amount of pressure at the Schrader valve, but I haven't put a gauge on it yet. I've only had a short time with it to figure out what'* going on. It arrived at my house on a flatbed wrecker at about 6pm yesterday. No Security light blinking on the dash, either.

ok lets get some good facts down.....

get a pressure tester, and see what the FP is when the ignition is on (not started)

That'* what I'm doing as soon as I get home. I'll put on the new FPR, and report!

Work is getting in the way huh? I know the feeling

I think there is a good chance the FPR is your sole issue. W/O enough pressure you simply can't run because it won't push through the injectors to be burned.

I'm SO hoping that you're right!

Yeah, that pesky work keeps getting in the way of my fun!

Anyone have a guess at what PSI the car wouldn't even fire? I had another GM product I was helping a guy with (1996 Impala SS), and it would start after some cranking, and would run OK until you gave it maybe more than 1/4 throttle, and it would fall on its face. It was putting out somewhere in the high teens of fuel pressure PSI. Would it even run at all with say 10psi? Less? Just curious! Thanks.