Hello Im new to this site. But need info on my car? 2001 pontiac grand am se 2.4l. Never failed to start until recently. Turned over fine no start. Shot either in air intake and it started. So replaced fuel pump (all). Started right up. Didnt drive for a few days. Wouldnt start. Messed with the relays. it started. Its happened several times since. some times pumped gas pedal and started. Some times had to use either again. today it quit while I was driving. Had to use starting fluid again. It was a total at one time has salvage title. I got it with 14,660 miles on it. Is this something that happens with this model or is the crash starting to cause problems. Its a great car. Just dont want to take it and have it worked on 10 times and have the same problem. HELP!! I am fairly capable of working on it my self. Any ideas??? Thanks James A. Dalton

It’s likely you are experiencing intermittent Ignition Control Module failure. Install a new ACDelco ICM, Part Number D1975F, and I think it will run like new. I replaced one of these on your identical car 5 years ago. Be sure to apply heat transfer grease to the bottom of the heat sink, otherwise it will soon fail. Easy 20 minute job.

The ICM is located on the bottom of the large cover plate over the spark plugs. Disconnect the negative battery cable, prior to beginning work.

ICMs are “electronic points.” When they start to fail, the spark plugs don’t fire properly. That is why it sometimes only starts with starting fluid. Soon, the starting fluid will not work. The car dying on you while driving makes it unsafe to drive.

Thank you very much I will do this. It quit running on me while I was driving the other day, first time. My friend used it his morning to go to the DR. He had to use starting fluid this morning and it quit running on him a block away from my house.

Great. Keep us posted with the results.

One of the consequences of intermittent ICM failure is the gas is not completely burned. Raw gas can build-up in the exhaust system and destroy the catalytic converter. When the engine does start, there’s also the possibility the gas in the exhaust system ignites and blows the exhaust system off the car.

A bad tank of gas will cause the same problems also, and maybe some gas treatments would be the first step. Cheaper anyway.

Did you solve the problem?