Looking for some Help

[Sault]

I have a 93 cavalier coupe 2.2. It has sat for at least one year so needless to say it has some problems. ( it was running fine before it was parked)
First I had to replace the alternator, 2nd replaced the battery. 3rd replaced the serpentine belt . After that was done it started no problem...
I got some gas into it and put fuel injector cleaner and some gas line antifreeze into it. Took it for an oil change and topped up all the fluids. Shortly after the oil change I had to get a new hose on the rad because there was a hole and I was throwing antifreeze all over the place. I noticed that the rad is in bad shape and will need to be replaced soon. I have one to replace it with but I'm just waiting for some better weather.
Once I started driving it I was getting a strong smell of gas inside the car. Popped the hood and notice that one of the fuel injectors was really wet around it so I replaced it. I change the plugs and the wires. Once all of this was done my car wouldn't start. It was cranking and trying hard but wouldn't start. So I got a new fuel filter and replaced it... definately needed it. Still couldn't get it to start. Pulled the IAC and cleaned it. Also cleaned out the hole. Still won't start. It almost gets there but it just won't turn over.
I had my son turn the ignition to the on position as a listened for the fuel pump and I can hear a hiss when it he turns the key. (is this the fuel pump priming or could it be a vacuum leak?)
I have a wiring harness for the fuel injectors that I can swap with the existing one and I probably will go ahead and do that today because I did read one suggestion to do this.
So now I need to know what else I should try.
I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm really car illiterate. Everything that I've been doing so far I've done by coming here and reading about it so please explain anything in the easiest way possible.
Sorry for the long post.
Just a Mother trying to get a car going for her kids.
Thanks in advance

Sidenote: Okay I've been out working on the car some more. Now I know that I'm getting fuel because the car actually started for a few seconds but then I heard something like a click ( kind of like a breaker going off) and it stalled.
My question now is could the spark plugs be screwed up? Or could it be the harness on the fuel injectors?

[TunerAdept]

it takes alot for wires to go bad, i wouldnt bet on it being the harness. if you let the engine sit for a year with fuel in it, likely enough the fuel was bad. did you gap the spark plugs you bought for it properly?

side note: also if you hear a hissing before the engine is on it isnt a vacuum leak. all electric fuel pumps make a noise when priming, it should go away after about 2-3 seconds.

[Sault]

I did gap the spark plugs to the specs on the hood of the car.
And your right. I just replace the harness and it didn't do anything.
I feel like I'm getting closer to the problem tho because It is at least starting even if it is momentary.
I read in one of the forums about an oil pressure sensor and about a fuel relay sensor.
Could either one of these things be the problem?
Someone..... Anyone ( I'm going grayer by the second!)

[bmfzo6]

Originally Posted by Sault

I did gap the spark plugs to the specs on the hood of the car.
And your right. I just replace the harness and it didn't do anything.
I feel like I'm getting closer to the problem tho because It is at least starting even if it is momentary.
I read in one of the forums about an oil pressure sensor and about a fuel relay sensor.
Could either one of these things be the problem?
Someone..... Anyone ( I'm going grayer by the second!)

did it ever start after the injector was replaced? If not I would check the injector you put on. make sure it has two o-rings on the injector it could be flooding out.

[4dr92cavi4cyl]

"Check the O-rings", good idea. The small has a tendancy to fall off and if it's not there fuel will flood the cylinder.

My guess is if thats not the problem it's the plug wires. Did you replace them one at a time or pull them all off at once. You could have a couple backwards, you would hear this by the sound of the motor not firing correctly, and it probably wouldn't start at all. I'd check that injector O-ring first.

[Sault]

It did work after I replaced the fuel injector. And I replaced the wires one at a time.
I read the unfortunate posting from someone who pulled them all off and could figure where they went.
My latest update is that I checked to make sure that I was getting spark and I'm getting plenty.
I then pulled each of the plugs again and regapped them just in case I didn't get it right the first time.
I also noticed that I could smell gas on the plugs when I pulled them so I'm assuming that I am getting fuel.
My question is now whether I'm getting enough fuel or not so I'm going to get a gauge to check the psi . Also I was wondering about the oil pressure sensor. Would I get any fuel or spark if that was faulty?

[Tookie]

Any gas left sitting in the tank and fuel lines for a whole year is definitely bad gas. I'd say there was enough solid material sucked into the fuel lines/filter on first start to gum/plug up the works quite well. The worse part is that some of this mix most likely made it to the injectors, and it could well have partially or mostly restricted the whole fuel delivery system from the tank to the engine. Once upon a time you could just disconnect the mains at the engine and push (not force) some compressed air back through the lines. Might still work?
Has anyone done this in the past, and had success?

Tookie

[4dr92cavi4cyl]

I would double check those injector o-rings again and make sure the lower o-ring is still there, if you pull them out and one is missing look into the port, it may be there, if not you'll need a new one. Most of the time when injectors leak it's because of the upper o-rings, it worth a few tries reinstalling them, a new injector costs $80!

[Sault]

Well I spent the better part of the day out with my car. I checked the entire fuel delivery system and I've come to the conclusion that the pump is definately shot.
So I'm going to have that replaced.
I'm actually relieved to finally find the route of the problem.
I figure that it must have been working intermittently and thats why I didn't discover it right away but now its completely toasted .
Well at least I learned more about this car.

[Sault]

hello everybody.
I'm looking for a little advice now.
Should I buy a new fuel pump or get a previously enjoyed fuel pump? Also I noticed that I have some rust around the seals of the gas tank so do you think that I should replace it? ( there is no leaking)
So far everyone in this forum has been really helpful. And the way I see it my car is now going to run a whole lot better once I replace the fuel pump.
Everything I did certainly would have needed doing anyway.

[richtazz]

since the car sat so long, I'd replace the fuel pressure regulator also. IT controls, thru vacuum, the pressure of the fuel at the rail.