The day before yesterday, I get up and go to bring my girlfriend to work, and when I turn the key, the car won't start. It sounds like it's trying to turn over, but it just won't catch. I stop, and try to start it again and it fires right up.
Later that day it happens again, only it takes 3 cranks to get it started.
It happened again after that, 3 cranks again, and while I was driving to the gas station (I was low since the morning) it just stalled on me while I was driving.
I went to start it up, and it started right up fine. After I filled up with premium (they were out of regular?! :\ ) I put some injector cleaner into my tank, and it seemed to be working fine... up until tonight.
I go to start my car, and it starts right up, only it runs for about 2 seconds, then stalls, all the while making a noise similar to that of a playing card in the spokes of a bike (you all know what I'm talking about, right?)
Anyway, I'm like... uhh okay, and I try again, and it does the same thing. I do it once more and listen a bit more carefully this time to make sure that I'm hearing it right so I can describe it, and it does the same thing.
I get my brother to come and pick me up from work, and when he gets there, I want to demonstrate the noise to him (I know, stupid to try and start a car that doesn't want to start a lot, probably making it worse), and he tells me to try and give it some gas when I start it up.
I do, and then it holds, and stays running. I had him follow me home, and it was running fine the entire time, idling perfectly and everything.
I did give it a couple of revs before I left work to see if it would hold, and it sounded like I was getting little backfires.
I have no idea what's wrong because I'm a jackass, so if anybody has any ideas, please let me know. Thanks.
Fusion 9 Design // For all your web design needs!
Have you changed your fuel filter any time recently? Just wondering since you said it was cutting out and it was turning over but not starting. And the three tries thing reminded me of priming your fuel system after installing a new filter.
----------------------------
<<<<<2003 Sunfire Sedan>>>>>
What is "recently"? Strangely I looked up the 02' cavalier manual and it doesn't show fuel filter under the maintenance schedule :S but they are cheap and the symptoms sound right so I would change it and also look for leaks throughout the system, also you could use a fuel pressure guage and tap into the connector near the fuel rail and check your fuel pressure to make sure everything is okay. If the problem still persists, then start looking into your pump, injectors, spark, etc.
----------------------------
<<<<<2003 Sunfire Sedan>>>>>
Recently is since I owned the car... so at least a year and a half, and 25,000 miles.
I think I'll change it just in case, if it solves the problem then hurray, and if not, nothing wrong with a new filter.
I just put in a new battery yesterday because my other one was tested and resulted in a "FAIL" response, I was hoping it might have something to do with that, but apparently it doesn't. Granted I needed a new battery anyway, so no skin off of my back on that one.
I just got new spark plugs when my coil pack died on me a while back, so it better not be those, and I put some injector cleaner in a few days ago as well, so I hope that's off of the checklist for problems.
Thanks for the ideas though, I'll run through 'em and let you know what the results are. Thanks a bunch.
Fusion 9 Design // For all your web design needs!
Well it went away for two days, and my father had thought it was condensation in the fuel lines, and since it went away, we both assumed it was that and went on our merry ways.
Unfortunately it came back today, I had to crank my car 3 times before it would start, and then when I left work it happened again. The second time I went to start it I had my foot to the floor and it started up.
The thing about that is when I force it to start up in that manner it sounds funny. It idles perfectly and it drives perfectly, but my exhaust sounds like what I perceive running rich would sound like.
I'm wondering if maybe I'm somehow running rich or something to that effect, and if that could cause the issue? Either way, I'm probably going to be replacing my fuel filter very soon, so if that's the problem, I'll let you know. Until I update, if anybody has any ideas or input please let me know.
Thanks.
Fusion 9 Design // For all your web design needs!
Well I honestly haven't had any time to change my fuel filter, and it was fine for a day or two again, so I said screw it because I wasn't going to change it at midnight.
It acted up on me again yesterday, stalling while I was doing 80 on the highway, and then again about 10 minutes later. I got fed up with it and dropped it off at the mechanics. I'll let you all know what was up once I get the call.
Thanks for the help.
Fusion 9 Design // For all your web design needs!
When you hold the gas pedal to the floor while starting it, it enters "clear flood mode".
How many miles are on the car?
The preemptive diagnosis is that it's the fuel pump. Makes sense. He's not going to go ahead with it until he's 100% sure, got a fuel pressure gauge and watching.
Once we find out that that IS the problem, there goes about another $1000 from my pocket.
If it's not one thing it's another, no wonder I can never make any progress with this car.
Fusion 9 Design // For all your web design needs!
Atleast its not a bumper........
