Hey, whats going on? I just got home lastnight from my deployment to Iraq for a year. I knew the car wouldn't start after sitting for a year, so i bought some jumper cables and started the car up. The car ran rather well for about 5 or so minutes and when it began to warm up it just sputters and dies. After it dies it's "harder" to crank, but not impossible. So, i don't think it has anything to do with the crank sensor.

I also began thinking that maybe it was the battery, but the battery seems to be okay, after sitting for a year it still has a little charge in it and tries cranking the motor, but something with the money doesn't let it.

Can the Injector constant have something to do with this? The reason i ask is because I have the 310cc injectors in on a stock flash. I have the Supercharger, but it's not boosting as for now due to an underdrive pulley. Once i get the car running without stalling, i'll get that squared away.

Any suggestions, hints or advice, is greatly appreciated.


NEW SIG COMING SOON FOR 07'!!!

bad gas maybe



Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!

Did you put that gas stabizler in there. Gas is good for like 90 days. I would take and drain the tank, either siphon it out, or disconnect the line at the fuel filter and crank it till it stops spitting fuel.

Refill with new gas and see what happens


- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

First of all, Welcome back! Glad to see you made it home safely!

First of all drain the gas tank and pump out the gas lines as much as possible like rob said. I would get a new filter and run some fuel system cleaner, to help remove any varnish build up also. Also change your oil and filter, you will have had moisture build up in your oil through condensation the past year. If you can let it run till it warms up.

If your still having problems, then it should be something electrical, weak battery or alternator, bad sensor or wiring, corroded connector, etc... Just see my other thread and see what a leaking battery can do.

Glad you are back. Thanks for a great job overthere!!!!


A year is a long time for gas to be laying around. I agree with RobS. Heres a trick I used to performed on cars that have been sitting for a while:

1. Drain out as much old gas as possible,
2. Put in about 5 gals of Premium fuel mixed with a good quality concentrated fuel injector cleaner. (I use to use Lucas Gas additive mixed with a whole bottle of 108)
3. Try to get it running (although it may run rough) for a while. It should let you at least get it to the base Hobby shop (do they have those still?!?!?) or repair shop for a througout injector cleaning.

It will be good to find if the alternator still working in good order. If the car is not charging up, it will also have a hard time staying on, especially with an almost-drained battery.

Best of luck,
Fred Larracuente
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico USA

Okay, i dont think it's my battery or alternator doing this.... I bought a new battery and it turns the motor, but still does not crank everytime, but when it does turn on, it'll sputter and die while i'm trying to drive it.

Thanks for all the over seas welcomes and such, much appreciated!

I'm thinking it may possibly be the theft system. The theft system light doesn't flash, but it stays on without flashing. Does everyones car do this, or could this possibly be the theft system?

Thanks for everyones kind words and advice....


NEW SIG COMING SOON FOR 07'!!!

Not sure what the prob may be, but what they say sounds legit. I dont think the theft system would have anything to do with the sputtering, but then again, what do I know? haha. but I really just wanted to say Welcome Back Home and Thank You!!! :-) Good luck with the car.

if it wee the theft system it would run for approx. 2 seconds and die, and the theft light would be flashing

since u said it ran for five minutes and died, it really sounds like u need to change the fuel filter.