I can't believe my wonderful '99 ES left me stranded! At least it was in the parking garage at work...

On my way out to lunch, the car wouldn't start. It would just crank and crank and crank. That was very strange... it ran just fine in the morning. I was thinking it could be the timing belt... I do have 65,000 miles on it with the original belt. However, I have never heard of a timing belt snapping while the car wasn't running! Plus, I could hear air being pulled through my CAI, and I'm sure you won't get that if the valves weren't operating.

I was figuring it was probably some kind of electrical problem. Either way, it would have to get towed to the dealership. After waiting for two hours for the tow truck (they had to send a special truck that can fit in underground parking structures), I finally got the car to the dealership where it sat overnight.

Today, I got a call saying that my car was ready. The service advisor couldn't really read the notes from the technician. Something about the fuse for the #1 fuel injector had blown and was replaced. He said he would talk to the technician and give me a detailed explanation when I pick up my car. He did ask me if I had made any changes to the electrical system... I haven't.

Why would a fuse like this blow? I'm sure it has to be a pretty hefty fuse... He said the tech measured the electrical readings from all systems inputting power to that fuse and everything checked out fine. Is there something I should be worried about?

I'll post again once I pick up my car...

-Jerry

 

Well, got the car back... Boy, do I feel stupid. When the car wouldn't start, I checked everything except for one thing that should be checked: the interior fuse panel.

It ended up being the 10 amp "Engine" fuse in the box in the driver's left kick panel. $161 to fix a $0.59 fuse... Of course, that included the towing charge of $58, the diagnostic fees, and the technician's time spent.

I guess I don't feel too stupid, though. Even the technician didn't look in there. He diagnosed the engine and found there was no spark and the fuel injectors were not working (it's amazing what a little 10 amp fuse can do!). He traced the problem until he came to the interior fuse box where he found the blown fuse. The service advisor (trying to read the tech's notes) thought it was a fuse in the underhood fuse box, and so did I. We looked and couldn't figure out what fuse the tech was talking about, so we asked him.

Lesson Learned: Always check ALL fuse panels!!!

-Jerry

 

sure is an expensive fuse!

glad to hear the fuse is doing what it's suppose to do, and all is well

 

Been there. I had that same problem on my old Grand am. Took me a good 30 min. to decide to check the fuse box.

 

I probably would have troubleshot more if 1) I wasn't in underground parking at work, 2) there was way more light, 3) I had tools with me, and 4) I was wearing clothes a bit more conducive to getting dirty. Oh well... at least I got to go home early!

-Jerry