I am about to the point of screaming. I just bought (FRIDAY!) a used 1992 Bonneville. It ran fine over the weekend. Then yesterday afternoon the check engine light came on. All fluid levels were fine so I figured it could wait until this Friday when I get paid to have a mechanic check it out. So I get home around 5:30pm yesterday and the car is running fine. I turn it off and then come back out around 10:30pm, go to start it and get nothing. It cranks and cranks but won't turn over. We have tried two different ignition keys thinking it was the security system somehow and that doesn't help.

Any ideas?

1st check all the fuses. Can you get your hands on a volt meter?

Is the Security light staying on for an extended period of time while you are trying to start it?

Have you checked for spark and fuel?

Is the fuel pump turning on when you turn the key to the "on" position? You should be able to actually hear the pump kick on, especially if you are under the car while the key is turned to the On position.

You chould also check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail, on the fuel rail is a little valve, very smiliar looking to a tire valve, with a plastic cap over it, you should be able to push in on this with a small object like a screwdriver to make sure you have plenty of fuel pressure, an actual fuel pressure gauge would be MUCH better, but the other way will work just to make sure you have pressure...you should be getting somewhere around 35-40psi of fuel pressure if its working properly...those are figures pulled out of my butt, but im sure its close....also wear proper eye protection when doing this, and make sure you have a rag around the valve area, as fuel will be spraying out of there and you dont want it all over your engine.

We have checked all of the fuses and they seem to be fine. Also checked the wiring going into the coil pack and it is getting juice but no fire. Also checked the fuel - don't have a gauge but my neighbor had already checked it the other way and it seemed fine.

The security light stays on for a few minutes (much longer than I remember it doing before) and the motor just cranks and nothing else. I have switched keys with the guy who sold me the car - thinking it might have been the key itself or the sensor thing on the key, but since nobody knows if the second key (it is a copy) was ever checked on the car that really leaves me back where I was as far as checking keys goes.

Oh and I forgot to say that I checked the fuses with a test light - could it be that they need to be rechecked with a volt meter? I think I could maybe borrow one form my landlord but I have no clue how to use it LOL.

Can you explain better what you mean by "getting juice but no fire". Does this mean your getting spark or that power is going to the ICM but you're not getting spark? We need to determine if the engine is getting spark & fuel. Did you check the fuses behind the glovebox.

Yes power is going to the ICM - just no spark from the plugs. Fuel pressure has been checked and is ok and yes we checked all of the fuses - including the ones under the glove box and under the hood.

Any check engine light? On your year you should still be able to pull codes if it'* lit.

I'm wondering about crank sensor and PCM...

This is going to sound very odd...are either of the floor boards wet up front? Moist carpet?

Ok - now we need you to check for spark from each of the coils.

Here'* a link to a Techinfo article for getting codes.
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=57

The check engine light came on Sunday morning, but I checked fluid levels and such and decided that whatever it was would wait until payday on Friday. So much for that.

No water in the floorboards - but I never ride with AC on or anything like that, but not sure why you were asking so not sure if has anything to do with AC.

I will try to pull the codes, but my neighbor in his infinite wisdom (which I have decided is non existent) removed the positive battery cable earlier to try and do something - not really sure what.Needless to say my faith in the male species being more mechanically minded than us females is shot all to hell LOL. I will try anyways though and let you know.

How would I check for spark from each coil? I know a bit about cars, but I must admit that my knowledge of spark plugs and coils is limited to changing plugs/wires and changing a coil in a 67 Chevy I used to have LOL.