[jalero]

Day 1:
- Son calls me and tells me the 01 Alero (2.4L, 100k miles) is up on ramps in driveway.
- Tells me he was driving on I-State when a dump truck drops a piece of concrete
onto roadway, rolls into his lane and bangs under car a couple of times.
- No problems for 25 miles of start / stop driving. Same day.
- Arrives home and puts Alero on ramps to check for damage.
- No damage seen. Goes to start car. Turns over normal but does not start.
- Son pushes car off ramps.
- I arrive a couple of hours later to asess the situation.
- Same. No start. Notice 'security' light remains on when the ignition remains in the 'on/run' position.
- (I know now that is normal) I do the 10-15 min. 'key on' thing. No change.

Day 2:
- Leave for work and decide to give it a try. Battery completely dead.
- Key was pulled before fully in 'off' position. ie: acc was on.
- Return home from work. Throw jumpers onto Alero and let a running vehicle charge it for an hour.
- Give it a try. No go. Bang on fuel tank a couple of times with hammer. No go.
- Son comes home. We spray starting fluid into removed air filter cover. Engine runs.
- Suspect Fuel pump. All fuses, relays etc. check good.

Day 3:
- We jack up rear. Put stands under. Was going to check for voltage going to fuel pump harness.
- I climp under, pull the pump harness from the connector to inspect. All looks good.
- No damage from concrete other than small ding in exhaust pipe.
- Tell son to try to start while I bang the tank a couple of times.
- Car starts immediately. I did NOT bang the tank.
- He shuts of engine. He gets out, I climb out, both with a WTF look on face.
- I get in and start, runs, revs normally.
- Notice 'security' light is on while running. NOT flashing.
- Just for fun, did the 10-15 minute thing.
- Restart and runs normal. NO 'security' light.

To sum things up:
Kid runs over comcrete chunk
Drives up ramps
Car won't start
Jack up rear
Car starts
weird 'security' light thing ?

Ideas much appreciated !

thanks, jack


--------------- UPDATE ------------
Day 4
- Turns over today, no start !
and
- Noticed that steering wheel does NOT lock with key removed.

-------------- UPDATE 2 -------------
Day 5
- took some voltage measurements at fuel pump harness connectors
didn't have pin-outs but:
incoming voltages i saw made sense. 5 / 12
on the pump side of things lowest ohm reading was 315 Ω
didn't hear pump upon 'key to on'
hammer against tank on start attempt, engine started

- So, the motor in pump is shot. apparently
I'm planning on using a Delco 'rebuild kit'

pros / cons appreciated

Also, if anyone knows of another mechanical item within the pump module that may cause these symptoms, I would appreciate hearing of them.

thanks to all who responded

jack