my grand am will not start it has different kind of spark plugs will that make a no start on the car

friends car car was running okay he decided to change spark plugs and problems started he has different kind of spark plugs it has a delco , auto light, and denso and we don't have any codes on it… it will crank but no start it has spark and fuel pressure about 45 psi we were thinking maybe the no start was because of spark plugs ? if we spray throttle cleaner the car will start and will run fine and will start again when the car is warm without spray.. come back in the morning and it will not start does not have security light on what do you think we check more on it or have you hav
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hey there:

Looks like you’re chasing an electrical gremlin here. First, the brand of spark plug may in some cases cause issues with starting. However, beyond brand is making sure it’s the right model and has the correct gap is more critical. The fact that you’re trying to start the car with throttle cleaner is a red flag. This method used to work really well with older, carburetor fueled systems, but with today’s fuel injected systems that are monitored by ECU’s, that typically causes a huge overload of energy, can fry the sensors and put you back to square one.

My advice here is to contact a certified mechanic and have them diagnose the starting problem you’re having, as by trying to fix it, the problems with the Grand Am may have gotten worse unfortunately.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Can a bad spark plug cause a car not to start? Yes. The spark plug ignites the fuel/air mixture inside the cylinder. If the fuel doesn`t burn, the engine doesn`t make power.
A Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor

The crankshaft position sensor monitors the position and rotational speeds of the crankshaft. Without the crank sensor, the engine control module (ECM) wouldn`t know when to fire the fuel injectors and ignite the spark plugs.

The most common reasons a Pontiac Grand Am key won`t turn are a binding steering column/lock, an ignition switch issue, or a problem with the ignition key.
Loss of spark is caused by anything that prevents coil voltage from jumping the electrode gap at the end of the spark plug. This includes worn, fouled or damaged spark plugs, bad plug wires or a cracked distributor cap.
Spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture that`s injected into the cylinders. For spark plugs that don`t spark dependably, it will cause an engine misfire that robs you of performance. Cracked porcelain insulators and worn electrodes are the common issue. If more than one spark plug fails, your engine may not start.
Driving with missing or bad spark plugs will likely cause a lot of hard starts and rough idling. When your spark plugs aren`t firing at the correct times, an instance commonly known as an engine misfire, you`ll hear a distinct rattling sound.
Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor

Too late or too early and the air/fuel mixture won`t entirely combust, reducing performance and potentially failing to start the engine entirely. One of the reasons your spark plugs might be firing incorrectly is due to a faulty crankshaft position sensor.

As a camshaft position sensor weakens, so does the data it transmits to the ECM. Eventually the data signal becomes so weak the ECM switches off fuel and spark delivery, and your engine will not start.
If your vehicle won`t start, it`s usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator or an issue with the starter.
Many factors can cause a spark plug to fail; from incorrect heat ranges to improper gapping, to chemical contamination. Yet 90% of spark plug damage claims are due to improper torque. Many factors can cause a spark plug to fail; from incorrect heat ranges to improper gapping, to chemical contamination.
The most common causes of misfires are worn, improperly installed, and mishandled spark plugs, malfunctioning ignition coils, carbon tracking, faulty spark plug wires and vacuum leaks.
Spark plugs that are worn out, not properly installed or tuned, or just not up to spec, will cause the engine to misfire, chug, and lose power. The fuel tank breather pipe or valve is often overlooked as a cause of engine chugging and loss of power.
Trouble starting your car

Having worn spark plugs will cause the ignition system to work harder. Faulty spark plugs can also cause your battery to drain. Harsh weather conditions increase the chance of worn spark plugs preventing the engine from turning over.

Reasons for failure of the camshaft sensor can be: Mechanical damage. Break in the encoder wheel. Internal short circuits.
The O2 sensor will not cause the no start. The no start can be caused by the fuel pump or the ignition system. You should check the engine for spark and fuel pressure, when it is not turning on to help narrow the problem down. The ignition system may be the coil, module, or pick up in the distributor.
The crankshaft position sensor is the most important of all engine management sensors, and the engine will absolutely not run without it.
The Engine Will Not Start

As a camshaft position sensor weakens, the ECM (Engine Control Module) switches off fuel and spark delivery that can be a dangerous situation. If you ignore the symptoms which your camshaft position sensor fails, or any other listed here, eventually your engine will not start.

If the ignition coil does not have spark, it`s time to check its wires. Use a test light to check the continuity on the signal wire and power wire on the ignition coil. If both wires are functional but the coil fails to produce spark, the ignition coil or the ignition control module is bad.
IGNITION SWITCH TURNS ON BUT ENGINE WILL NOT CRANK

No warning lights or other signs of electrical activity could indicate a dead battery or that the battery cables are loose or corroded. Try turning on the headlights. No lights? Then you have a battery or battery connection problem.

Incorrect timing is the most overlooked and misdiagnosed cause of a no-start. Perhaps you automatically think of ignition timing as the position of the crankshaft when the No. 1 plug fires. While this is important, it isn`t the only timing condition that can influence a no-start.
If the ignition relay shorts, burns out, or otherwise fails while the engine is operating it will cut off power to the fuel pump and ignition system. This will cause the vehicle to immediately stall due to fuel and spark being cut off.
How many spark plugs are in a V6? Each cylinder needs at least one spark plug to ignite fuel, so most V6`s have 6 spark plugs. Some engines use two spark plugs in each cylinder.
However, if the spark plug gap is too large, the spark is unlikely to consistently “jump” across the long distance between electrodes, thus leading to a rough-running engine or one that doesn`t run at all.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

my grand am will not start it has different kind of spark plugs will that make a no start on the car
ANSWER : Hey there:

Looks like you’re chasing an electrical gremlin here. First, the brand of spark plug may in some cases cause issues with starting. However, beyond brand is making sure it’s the right model and has the correct gap is more critical. The fact that you’re trying to start the car with throttle cleaner is a red flag. This method used to work really well with older, carburetor fueled systems, but with today’s fuel injected systems that are monitored by ECU’s, that typically causes a huge overload of energy, can fry the sensors and put you back to square one.

My advice here is to contact a certified mechanic and have them diagnose the starting problem you’re having, as by trying to fix it, the problems with the Grand Am may have gotten worse unfortunately.

Spark plug chaos. Rubber stoppers are preventing the spark plugs from coming out.
ANSWER : Hi there. Try using a pair of small needle nose pliers to pull off the rubber boots from the spark plugs. As you pull, twist the rubber boots to break them free. If you cannot get the rubber boots off, then try using some mineral oil on the boots to aid them off, then clean off the oil with soap and water with degreaser. If you need further assistance with removing the boots from the spark plugs, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

It’s cold outside car stopped starting up changed the spark plugs started up but now won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there:

Most of the time, when it’s extremely cold outside, the problem is with the battery and an inability to have enough cold cranking amps to activate the starter and other ancillary components that allow the vehicle’s ability to start. Although worn out spark plugs tend to impact the vehicle’s ability to start, they are usually not the source of cold starting problems. You might want to either replace your battery, or contact a professional mechanic to complete a car is hard to start inspection first; before you determine why your car is having difficulty starting.

My car will not turnover at all! no spark not even does it try to start up i have replaced the distributer starter spark plugs
ANSWER : If the starter motor is not functioning (that is, if the starter is not engaging the flywheel and turning the engine over), either there is no power to the starter or there is power but the starter itself has failed internally.

A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, would first test for voltage (as well as voltage drop) at the starter when you actuate the starting circuit. If no voltage, that is if the circuit is open, the break in the starting circuit is simply traced.

If there is power to the starter and yet the starter will not function, the starter is condemned and thence replaced. YourMechanic can perform these tests to properly diagnose your starting issue right at your location.

Map sensor car won’t start up good ?
ANSWER : Your MAP sensor is an important input for your computer. It helps determine the load on the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel to inject. It sometimes takes a few seconds for the vehicle to realize that the sensor is not producing a good signal.

At that point, it will use other methods to determine the fuel rate, such as pre-programmed fuel maps, throttle position, etc. I would suggest replacing the MAP sensor and retesting. If you would like to have it checked first, a certified technician from YourMechanic will be able to scan your vehicle and test components to determine the root cause of your starting issue before making a repair.

Engine will not stay started. I have replaced idle control valve map sensor spark plugs spark plug wires no check engine light is
ANSWER : You have a problem with the distributor assembly. I recommend replacing the distributor assembly. This will replace all the possible sensors and coil for the ignition and fix the problem you have.

Car turn over won’t start have new battery starter and altinator and changed spark plug and spark plug wires and crankshaft sensor
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing I would recommend would be to have a professional mechanic complete a digital scan of your ECU to see if there are any stored error codes that might pinpoint the source of your problem. However, one thing you might want to check yourself is the electrical harness connected to the crankshaft position sensor. In most cases, if this is diagnosed a being damaged, it’s actually the harness that is bad and needs to be replaced.