04 Aveo died on run, won't even try to start

[drizler]

Hi, I don't own an Aveo but I know a guy who just got an 04. He only had it a few days and it just flat died on the run. Instantly shut right down with no restart. I pried back the top of the cover ad verified that the usual suspect (timing belt) wasn't broken. It's there and seems to go around well with no obvious flaws and seems tight.
Ok I tried the schrader valve and all that came out was a drool. Typical headache #2 down so went and picked up a good used Ebay Fuel pump. Put it in and it sprays fuel all over the place. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge but it seems comparable to my other cars. Should have fixed it right, NOPE.
OK so checked all the fuses visually which could affect electronics , fuel , ignition or anything else that could be found, all were OK.
I put a screwdriver in a random plug wire and it tossed a large bright "WHITE" spark. Seemed a bit odd but by the size of it the thing is at least trying to fire yet would not even chug with starter fluid.
Question is WHAT NEXT? I first thought it had a diode burned out like my Honda last year which behaved similarly yet that large white spark rules that out.
So what about the injectors? could it be they aren't opening at all. How about PASSLOCK, the known Chevy curse that drives some owners nuts. He was using the same key he had all 3 days he drove it before it's quitting. Where would you look next? I am out of the country for a month but want to help him kick this pig over via the net or however I can. FWIW when I first worked on it the only codes I saw were something relating to fuel but I forgot to take the meter with me the day I put the pump in. The car is in nice shape with right around 200k miles on it. Checked with code reader again and Zero codes thrown. I as told the camshaft sensor would mae it act like this but with no codes What next?????????????

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by drizler

Hi, I don't own an Aveo but I know a guy who just got an 04. He only had it a few days and it just flat died on the run. Instantly shut right down with no restart. I pried back the top of the cover ad verified that the usual suspect (timing belt) wasn't broken. It's there and seems to go around well with no obvious flaws and seems tight.
Ok I tried the schrader valve and all that came out was a drool. Typical headache #2 down so went and picked up a good used Ebay Fuel pump. Put it in and it sprays fuel all over the place. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge but it seems comparable to my other cars. Should have fixed it right, NOPE.
OK so checked all the fuses visually which could affect electronics , fuel , ignition or anything else that could be found, all were OK.
I put a screwdriver in a random plug wire and it tossed a large bright "WHITE" spark. Seemed a bit odd but by the size of it the thing is at least trying to fire yet would not even chug with starter fluid.
Question is WHAT NEXT? I first thought it had a diode burned out like my Honda last year which behaved similarly yet that large white spark rules that out.
So what about the injectors? could it be they aren't opening at all. How about PASSLOCK, the known Chevy curse that drives some owners nuts. He was using the same key he had all 3 days he drove it before it's quitting. Where would you look next? I am out of the country for a month but want to help him kick this pig over via the net or however I can. FWIW when I first worked on it the only codes I saw were something relating to fuel but I forgot to take the meter with me the day I put the pump in. The car is in nice shape with right around 200k miles on it. Checked with code reader again and Zero codes thrown. I as told the camshaft sensor would mae it act like this but with no codes What next?????????????

Go to a parts store and get a loaner set of noid lights I understand Passlock shuts down power to the injectors. Check the air cleaner they will shut down a vehicle. Check for spark on a couple other cylinders. Check the compression it may have jumped time. Get a loaner fuel pump pressure gauge and check fuel pressure.

[drizler]

Thanks, I have always had good luck with injectors and never messed with so didn't even know Noid lights existed. Good point, I know a guy who has been through Chevy hell with a van that shuts down like that passlock crazyness. Definitely not the air cleaner, I had it right off. Have to check the timing too. I would think if it jumped it would still try to stumble. It's this outright kicking over like the ignition is off won;t even sneeze with starting fluid that bugs me.
Come to think of it I should have him spray some regular gas into the intake and see if it sneezes at least. I don't think starting fluid alone will even light off, not sure about that one?????
It's gonna be a while though. I'm sitting in Germany till next month so its gonna sit too. Too bad its sitting in a damned cold unheated garage to work on. Ah well, the good news is ITS NOT MINE (for once)

[mrmikey]

How about PASSLOCK, the known Chevy curse that drives some owners nuts.

If it's the passlock system there should be a key or lock symbol (can't rememeber which ) flashing on the dash. Not only that, I don't thick a passlock will shut it down when running, just prevent it from starting.

I don't have a fuel pressure gauge but it seems comparable to my other cars.

Get one, you can't tell from the spray coming out of the valve.

I put a screwdriver in a random plug wire and it tossed a large bright "WHITE" spark

.
Not a real accurate test but it pretty much confirms the ignition is fine, provided it's occuring at the correct time. I'm not 100% sure but I think Passlock disables the ignition when starting so you might have confirmed no prob with that, again not really positive.

Instantly shut right down with no restart

They are an interference engine, (that's why I changed my daughters right after she bought it). I can't remember what the recommended interval is 70K?. If the timing belt jumped, and that's what I'm leaning toward, you might have lucked out in that nothing was bend but it's a long shot.

I pried back the top of the cover ad verified that the usual suspect (timing belt) wasn't broken

All you confirmed is that he belt never broke, it could be worn enough or the adjuster could have went south and it jumped. Only way to tell definitively is to pull the valve cover, line up the crank/cam marks and see where everything is.

I don't think starting fluid alone will even light off....

It will, use it sparingly, it's not good for any engine, I'll only use it as a very absolute last resort on my diesel tractor. It washes the oil off the cylinder walls, ignites very easily so not necessarily at the right time in the cycle. I've used it once on my tractor when it was -20C and the noises coming out of that poor engine made me cringe,....Mike

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[drizler]

Yea, being not my car I don't know anything about the history. The PO told him he changed the belt but of course that's all subjective as to how long ago.
I'm 5000 miles away so checking the timing is going to have to wait. I did get him back on it with my test light and it shows no codes he says. I could see the fuel pump code before as it surely needed a pump.
Glad to see that passlock shows lights. Never dealt with it with any of mine ever so far and hope I don't have to ever.
Somebody said the camshaft position sensor was another culprit on these cars. No code though so I doubt it. That will shut off the fuel to the injectors.
Again all that will wait till Feb and they are just pricy enough you don't want to start tossing parts at it. It won't be going anywhere till pas then anyways even if he fixes it. It is sitting at the end of a 80' driveway with nearly solid ice almost a foot thick. :rofl
Its a real ball buster working on this thing. All my tools are 8 miles away and I can never think to bring all the goodies along that get needed, never on one trip. Between working in the dark and cold of that garage of his it's almost better if it was outside in the daylight where it is freezing. Nice car though, he paid $400 for it and it looks like it only has 60K on it and no rust anywhere. Excellent for a Northern car.