First off, the car is a 00 with an 03 ecotec (swapped in over a year ago) with an m62 blower installed with the gm tune about 6 months ago

Well I parked my cavy about a month and a half ago on empty, I filled up my jerry can with some premium and filled her up. Got about a quarter tank, than went to crank her. Nothin, battery wouldnt even think about turning my lights on with jumper cables hooked up. So I went out and picked up a new battery, got her in and started cranking but no fire... Messed around with some fuses that could have went bad, nothing. Figured I might aswell put some fuel line anti freeze in to see if that would help and let it sit over night. Went to crank it today, still no fire. The starter is spinning everything fine, the fuel pump is priming as usual (maybe the injectors are screwing up or little/no fuel supply), and im going to be checking the spark plugs here in a few minutes. I have no loose connections anywhere, so im running out of ideas. This is the first time my car hasnt fired since the swap

Some thoughts at the moment are:

Spark plugs (they were replaced not even 5000 kms ago...)
Testing the fuel pressure
Warming the car up in the garage (been inside for 4 hours now and nothing) and maybe a hair drier on the fuel lines?
Hitting it with the sledge hammer

Sigh, the car has been acting weird ever since the blower and gm tune was slapped on. It wouldnt be such a problem either if I didnt have 2 months of school coming up and a super tight budget...

Please help guys!!!


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

ugh, just kinked the fuel line changing the fuel filter... looks like I will be taking a trip to the junkers for a new piece to splice in and grab some compression fittings...


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

is the theft light blinking? maybe from the dead battery ull need to relearn the theft. also dead batt that long may of messed with the computer. but id look at theft relearn .

I cant recall if the ecotec has the fuel scrader valve or not, but if it does, press the valve down and see if fuel shoots out. If so, you know fuel is there in the rail atleast. Next you could pop the rail out. and hold it sideways, and then let the car prime, and see if it shoots out there, if so you know thats working the way it should for the most part. Next try like wayne said, and try and relearn the theft system. Other then that, if its atttempting to crank, then something went wrong, also check and see if there are any check engine lights, maybe if there is it will point u in the right way.

Well when I went to see if any fuel was getting to the rail, just a tiny bit of fuel dribbled out each time which is why im still thinking its something with the fuel filter... although you would think it would kinda try to fire with the small amount of fuel getting to the engine... will update tomorrow...

as for the theft light aswell, it hasnt ever popped up


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

Shoot some starting fluid into the TB. If it kicks youre having fuel issues probably.

think it will make it through the blower and still fire?


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

The fuel should spray out of the rail... In these situations i would check fuel pump, filter, and pressure regulator. Starting fluid should make it through the blower just fine but don't use too much. Starting fluid + engine = Death
Another option is fuel in a squirt can, safer for your engine.

Starting fluid is pretty much gas in a can?

Have you checked the plugs to see if theyre discolored or burnt?

TheSundownFire (GME Chat) wrote:Starting fluid is pretty much gas in a can?

Have you checked the plugs to see if theyre discolored or burnt?

No, starting fluid is ether not gas in a can, its way different. I don't care what the can says its bad for engines. When used as a starting aid on diesel engines that are already running it is fine but if your loading up an engine that doesn't run with starting fluid it will cause more problems than you will want to fix.

Look at an MSDS for gasoline. Its up to 35% ether whereas your standard starting fluid is around 40%. The other half of starting fluid is hexane which is a flammable hydrocarbon. Sounds like gas to me. But Ive been wrong before.

Alright guys, I replaced the fuel filter, and spark plugs and its sounding like it wants to fire.

When cranking I put my hand over the throttle body she will chug and almost fire, although thats the best I get...

Is there anything I can try right now with all the parts stores closed and my gf's sunfire (eco aswell) sitting beside my car?




had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

Has the fuel pressure changed in the fuel line since u did the filter?? If not, then ur pump is done. If it has and its tons better, like it shot a good foot maybe less out of the valve, then I would swap over the coil pack from ur girls car just to see. Also, before you try any of that, try to start the car with the throttle floored. If it starts and runs then, but dies right after you left ur foot off the throttle, then ur IAC is probably bad and needs replacement. You can also do that by removing the IAC from the throttle body VIA the two little inverted torx heads.

Okay, the fuel pressure will be checked tomorrow and I might try the packs tonight.

Also the car wont start even with the throttle floored, I tried tons of different ways of holding the throttle and covering the tb and what not.

I will try the packs here in a few.

Thanks for all the help so far guys!!!


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

Alright well, I tried swapping the whole ignition unit and nothing...

In about an hour im going to go and pick up a new fpr and a test light for my injectors...
I really hope it is not my injectors as I dont know where I could find some on short notice that would work with the s/c's needs...

If its neither the fpr, injectors, and everything else I tested... what should I look into from there?


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

You need to make sure your getting fuel pressure at the rail before you go swapping anything els.


"Straight roads are for fast cars, turns are for fast drivers"-Colin McRae

alright, I will pick up something to test it with aswell and try it first. If my fuel pressure is indeed low, should I look into the relay, and than if need be replace the pump?


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

The relay shouldn't be an issue, if you can hear your pump priming, it has power and should work. but if its weak, it will sound like its priming... but wont do anything. its highly possible that to motor in the pump is working but the pump part has gone bad from sitting. you could try to pressurise the tank and force fuel through the lines & to the rail and then it would hopefully start. Did you ever try the starting fluid, or anything like that through the tb?

Wierd, I thought I replied to this already.
Anywho I tried some fuel in the tb (not too much), and you could notice it try to fire but it would fire up all the way. I tried it again and nothing...

Thinkin its time to go buy some jack stands and drop the tank to replace the fuel pump (assuming my pressure is low)


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

Well with my fuel pump priming (static test), im recieving a big fat ZERO/No Reading on my fuel pressure test...

Im going to jack the car up (3 ton jack, and two 3 ton stands for 80 bucks on sale woo), and see if theres any fuel lines that are pinched... Could my pump really be that weak?!



had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

If you got no fuel presure and your pump is coming on, id say the pump is toast. You do have fuel in the tank right lol?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Thursday, December 09, 2010 1:53 PM

"Straight roads are for fast cars, turns are for fast drivers"-Colin McRae

yep, quarter tank (roughly 10 liters or so) of 92 octane


had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...

Yeah I would say the pump went bye bye from sitting too long. I'd take her out... Chances are you would need/want a new, better pump anyway since your engine is blown.. depending on how you drive, it might help you out.

Hell go Racetronix while youre doing it. Might as well give yourself some head room for future mods.

Well guys, im off to the wreckers to pull a fuel pump.

As for the racetronix one, I'd love one but the budget is tight with christmas and going back to school on jan 10th so right now the 15 dollar junker pump will get me through the holidays and 2 months of trade school... I hope lol




had a blown ecotec swapped 2000 cavy, now just an 02 Grand Am, and a 74 BMW 2002...