trouble starting 96

Having trouble starting my 96 Cavalier. When you turn the key the car will go rrrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrr and may or may not finally catch. When it does catch, it sometimes coughs and sputters a bit before finally settling into an idle. I do notice that if you flash it and turn the key and release it a split second later you have a better probablity of the thing starting up.

Basically I have a rough time getting the thing started. I always pull it off, but it feels like one of these times the thing just isn't going to work.

I have had the following done: new spark plugs, new fuel filter, fairly new fuel pump (third one!!!!!). The mechanic threw it on a diagnostic machine and everything came back ship shape. He also cleaned an electronic module that was supposedly giving some Cavalier owners troubles -- then charged me two hundred bucks for what I still don't know.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? This is getting extremely frustrating.

try the fuel pressure regulator...that solved my problem

Clean your IAC (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=347969&highlight=IAC) & throttle body.