An old thread but this might help someone.

About 25 years ago I was helping someone troubleshooting one of these engines. I think it was a Buick X car with a four cylinder. I do remember the engine was transverse.

It was, finally, the Hall effect thing. But then it was intermittent. It turned out to be a bad oil pressure sensor. The theory being that as you cranked the engine to start the oil pressure would come up. Then the sensor acted as a switch to send power to the electirc fuel pump. Then the fuel pressure came up and the car started and ran.

Hence, no oil pressure, no power to fuel pump, no start and no damage to the engine by running it without oil.

Oh, for the good 'ol days. Hey, wait.... Twenty-five years ago was the good 'ol days!