Lil help - starting issue

Hey guys! My kids 2000 GA SE is having problems starting. It seems that it'll crank but not catch - then he'll give it a second try and it'll catch after a couple of cranks. I'm stopping over tonight on the way home from work to look at it and was hoping for some direction. I'll start with spark but I have a funny feeling it my be fuel. How do I test the fuel system in these? The check engine light isn't on but he's going to have AutoZone run a scan and check the charging system anyway. Thanks!

I would agree that this is a fuel issue. Check the fuel pressure at the shrawder valve on the fuel rail. You will need a fuel pressure guage. You should see the pressure increase when the pump kicks on, if there is no change then you may have to replace the fuel pressure regulator. The other possible issue is a bad ignition switch. It may not be contacting properly and not allowing the ignition to work the on the first try.

Now my kid tells me a few days ago that his gas cap wasn't on correctly and got the SES light. He had the code checked and it cleared in a day or two. Then he started having problems. Hmmmm......

Ok, more symptoms... ...today he got in and the problem was worse. It took longer to start and the clock/ radio was reset. I'm thinking battery or maybe alt now. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Well I finally got to look at it the other day and on visual inspection I noticed that his alum intake mount snaped and the tube was banging into the + post on the battery. Auto Bone tested the battery and said it was bad. This was last night. 2 days ago while it was in my driveway I checked the brakes cause they were creaking loudly. I changed out the brakes cause one the pads was shreded and the rest could use it too. I drove the car for a couple of days and everything was great until I changed the battery. My kid picked up the car and drove home but on the way his Trac light came on and the car started shiffting hard. How can changing the battery cause that?

Well I finally got to look at it the other day and on visual inspection I noticed that his alum intake mount snaped and the tube was banging into the + post on the battery. Auto Bone tested the battery and said it was bad. This was last night. 2 days ago while it was in my driveway I checked the brakes cause they were creaking loudly. I changed out the brakes cause one the pads was shreded and the rest could use it too. I drove the car for a couple of days and everything was great until I changed the battery. My kid picked up the car and drove home but on the way his Trac light came on and the car started shiffting hard. How can changing the battery cause that?

Did you leave the IAT sensor disconnected?
If so, it will set a code and cause the Trans PCS to go to full pressure and disable Trac.

Interestig thought. We reconnected the IAT. He previously was using some sort of bypass he bought off Ebay.