Just recently started having a problem with my '02 ecotec starting. Intermittently it doesn't want to start. Turns over and starts to fire but then dies immediately. The past two days after trying about 5-6 times it would start up, but as of tonight it isn't starting at all. I have already browsed through the forums and everyone has mentioned the theft deterrent system, but I have no blinking lights on when I try to start. The theft deterrent light on the radio stops blinking as soon as I try to start it. Any recommendations on what to check? When it started previously I had no problems with the car running, still runs great. Out of warranty by two months, so would rather not pay through the nose for a dealer to fix it. Thanks in advance.
-N-
Battery?
Frank Serpico: The reality is that we do not wash our own laundry - it just gets dirtier.
Engine is turning over fine and is not slowing down at all even after 1/2 dozen attempts to get the car started.
Bad gas? Bad coils? Bad plugs? Bad gas pump? Bad computer?
The first thing I would do is pull the spark plugs. If they are dark, its most likely an ignition problem. If they are grey or clean, then most likely a fuel problem.
I had the same exact problem. Check all the fuses in the fuse box under the hood. I had a blown fuse, for whatever reason. I replaced the fuse and have not had a single problem since. Good luck
UPDATE - checked all the fuses and they looked good. Under the hood is a fuse/relay (not sure which) for the fuel pump. I didn't know how to check it so I swapped it with the one for the A/C and car started right up. I will try it again in a few hours and see if it is still working or not. Hopefully that is all the problem is. A big thanks to all of you who offered advice. I will keep you posted if anything changes.
-N-
This can be caused by a faulty ECT sensor.
Basically the sensor tells the computer in volts how hot or cold the engine is. The reason is so the computer sends out a leaner or richer mixture, for example you need a rich mixture to start a cold engine.
If your ECT is saying the engine is hotter than it is, the computer will tell the injectors to fire less fuel.
Thats why it can take 5-6 times, it gets just rich enough to start.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Just tried to start the car up again, back to just turning over and barely starting. How might I test the ECT sensor to rule that out?
Nathan C wrote:Just tried to start the car up again, back to just turning over and barely starting. How might I test the ECT sensor to rule that out?
try another key! some times the chip in the key goes bad and the car will not start. it will just turn over like it has no spark and you can smell gas in the exhaust pipe
see ya!
You can test the ECT using a volt meter, and a temperature reader. Then you need to look up the specs on the internet.
For example lets say it this way ( these arent the specs this is just an example)
First off take your temperature reader and see how hot the sensor is reading....
Lets say it says 50F.
Now look at your spec sheet at 50F it should be giving off X amount of voltage.
If at 50F it is giving off 2.1 volts and the spec sheet at 50F says it should be 3.4 volts then you my friend have a bad ECT sensor
Incase you dont have a temp reader, you can buy one for around $100 at some places, the volt meter is $20 at Sears
Or if you dont have either of those and dont want to buy them, the sensor is around $20
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
you still have this problem?
listening
New Picture comming this summer.
hrm, i currently have my car in the dealership for a problem like the one you are describing. no check engine lights, all the sensors are reading normal, yet the car almost refuses to start when cold, and its getting worse, now it has problems starting when warm too. only modifications engine wise were a intake and a catback exhaust. wouldnt a ECT show bad peramiters on their computer when trying to start it? also, wouldnt the fuel pressure be down regardless if that was the issue? my 05 ecotec w/ 10k miles on it has good fuel pressure and everything is normal, but, it doesnt like starting up, and often after startup it dies again and runs like #$@%.
anyone else know what would cause this???? cause im thinking if it was a temperature sensor it would read bad on diagnostics, and if it was the fuel pump relay the fuel pump wouldnt be putting out pressure normally.
HELP!!!! the dealership doesnt know, they have had the car 3 days and are idiots.
UPDATE:
A TSB was just released last month for ALL 2002-2004 Cavaliers regarding a no start, hard start, stalling problem. They blame the 100 micron filter inside the fuel tank as the problem.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
my car is a 05 with no TSB's out on it, and they just replaced the ECT, it was bad, but it still didnt fix the problem. they were sure that would fix it, went to pick it up tonight, and it wouldnt start.
the goodwrench guys are baffled, and i have been without a car for 5 days.
anyone with any fresh info? i dont thing the fuel pump relay is the problem cause the fuel pressure is fine even when it wont start....
Spades wrote:my car is a 05 with no TSB's out on it, and they just replaced the ECT, it was bad, but it still didnt fix the problem. they were sure that would fix it, went to pick it up tonight, and it wouldnt start.
the goodwrench guys are baffled, and i have been without a car for 5 days.
anyone with any fresh info? i dont thing the fuel pump relay is the problem cause the fuel pressure is fine even when it wont start....
Well as my post said it effects 2002-2004 Cavaliers, so 2005 doesnt fall into that category.
Secondly so many things can cause a no start, what have they done so far?
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
they have just been running tests with their computer to see what sensors are doing when it tries to start cold. the ECT was reading 112 degrees when it was cold in the morning, so that was definatly one of the problems. maybe thats the only problem and they replaced it with another faulty one???
but yeah, they have had the car 5 days and havent done much. they had the car 3 days, then told me that i should take off the airfilter i had (stock intake assembly with an aluminum tube and a k&n, basically a freeflowing stock airfilter setup) cause that would mess with their diagnostics. so, i pick up the car and drive it sputtering and stalling to my parents house and put the car back to stock, drive it back, hound them the next couple days and then tell them someone here mentioned ECT, they checked that, supposedly replaced it, and were about to send me on my merry way, accept, funny thing is, my car wouldnt start so i couldnt leave.
so yeah, who knows what they have or have not checked...i just get the feeling they dont care, i have to call them just to get them to look at it, when i dont call it sits parked with no one working on it.
im about fed up and if i cant figure out soon what the problem is, im just gonna get rid of it. had a jbody for 4 years, loved my old LN2, figured i would get a "nice" ecotec...now i just want it to work...its got 10k miles for f--ks sake!!!
UPDATE: my 05 spent a week in the dealers garage and really didnt get anything accomplished. they replaced a ECT sensor, and told me i had bad fuel in the car.
so far what i have done besides what the dealer replaced, is the intake air temperature sensor, the fuel filter,the fuel pump relay, ran through a tank of gas, then got more gas and added fuel system cleaner (techron or whatever the stuff is from chevron). plugs are fine, ignition system is working well. still no check engine light or misfires,ect. the car still refuses to start when cold.
i spent 15 minutes trying to get it started this morning....finally fired up...running out of stuff to try and GM is NO F#$%ING HELP!!! lol, dealership has me annoyed, and with a problem like this on a 05 with 10k miles, im debating selling it after i get it running right. anyone have any more suggestions???
Take it to a dealer that knows their ass from a hole in the ground.
Seriously.
With the equipment they
should have it is quite easy to figure out why it's not starting.
If I had just the Tech2 scanner I could tell you what the car is thinking and why it's not starting within an hour.
UPDATE: its back in the shop again...they are CONVINCED that the starting issues are due to carbon buildup, so they have tried a cleaner on it and gave the car back yesterday. this morning it wouldnt start, however, it did try to start, it would almost start running, then die and backfire.
anyone else having a problem like this or know what could cause such a thing? this dealerships team of mechanics are so stupid they cant seem to figure it out. what would cause a car not to start cold, but when you open the throttlebody by stepping on the gas, and cranking it for about 5-10 minutes it fires up then runs fine and starts beautifully the rest of the day? maybe it is carbon, cause after the cleaner it does try to start now, it just wont then backfire and die...after 5 minutes or so of start,die, repeat it fired up. i drove it to work then dropped it at the dealer today. at least they gave me a rental car this time...
any thoughts???
K, I know this may be a fat chance but it might be worth a shot idk...
Drop the tank and clean out the tank and see if there's anything in there and check the fuel pump and the in-tank filter (i think there is one). Also, and I don't know how you would check this, but maybe something got in the fuel line.
But then again, you said the fuel pressure was fine.
sooo...
Check your contacts on your ignition wires and the battery cables.
And my biggest advice...
maybe you could try a new ECM. It might be a fat chance but it's prolly worth tryin anything.
If you need one, I've got one sittin in my room. If it worked I would need it back but we do have some down here that I could pick up for you.
Let me know and if you wanna try it we can work out gettin it sent to you.
-Seth
