starting problems

[JoshCMU]

My gf has a 00' malibu and it won't start. It turns over and has full power from the battery, but won't fire. The spark plugs don't appear to be fowled out and are in good condition. This is the fourth time this has happened in the last year. The first two times i was not around and she had it towed, only to hear that the diagnostic check reported there was nothing wrong with it and the car started fine. The third time i went to her house and the car started up the first time. I attributed the problem to her not knowing how to start the car. This time I was around for the problem. It has been two days with no change and she doesn't want to have it towed again. What are possible problems? Distributer wires or cap? Fuel injection?

[jimh]

JoshCMU, I can't help, but I will watch you post. My cousin called today and her '03 Malibu just quit running. Has all the dash lights, but won't start. I can't hear the fuel pump coming on, even for a couple of seconds, and I put a timing light on it to see if there was any spark. NEITHER! Been looking here and ran across the "THEFT" stuff, but that light is not "flashing". I think I read that it would shut down the fuel pump, but does it keep the plugs from getting fired? Hey guys!!! help Josh and it may help me too.

[wymi]

For the no fuel pump "whirr" when you turn the key, I would check the fuel pump fuse under the hood under the black plastic cover on the drivers side. I've read a few posts here about people having found that fuse blown.

[jimh]

The #48 (F/P INJR (15A)) fuse in the breaker box is good. I am getting spark to the plugs. I've swapped the "horn" and "fuel pump" relays with no results. I am probably dragging it to my house tomorrow to get it out of the parking lot at "Jack in the Box" and see what I can do with it in the driveway. I really need a easy way to make sure the pump is bad before spending $250 on a new pump. More suggestions please.
Thank You

[jimh]

JoshCMU, I had the "no fuel pump "whirr" when you turn the key" queston in response to your post. After checking fuses and relays, I dropped the tank, removed pump and tested for voltage before replacing the fuel pump. $240 but it is running now. Didn't know if you had figured out how to start the car!! Sorry. Jim

[GeoStormRS]

Originally Posted by JoshCMU

My gf has a 00' malibu and it won't start. It turns over and has full power from the battery, but won't fire. The spark plugs don't appear to be fowled out and are in good condition. This is the fourth time this has happened in the last year. The first two times i was not around and she had it towed, only to hear that the diagnostic check reported there was nothing wrong with it and the car started fine. The third time i went to her house and the car started up the first time. I attributed the problem to her not knowing how to start the car. This time I was around for the problem. It has been two days with no change and she doesn't want to have it towed again. What are possible problems? Distributer wires or cap? Fuel injection?

There are 3 electrical connectors that plug into the ignition module. The ignition module is underneath the ignition coils. The ignition coils are what the plug wires plug into. If anyone of the three connectors come unplugged, is loose, or has a bad connection, there will be no fire. I was workin on my gf's 00' malibu and accidentally unplugged one. Took me an hour to find out why it wouldnt start. Check those connectors and let us know what happens.

[canderson22]

My g/f 99 malibu just quit on me. I know about as much about cars as and 6 month old infant does so im somewhat car retarded when it comes to issues with them, so any help would be amazing. At first i thought i just ran out of gas because it was initially low on gas. So i filled it up with about $4 worth of gas. It turns over just fine but thats just that.. it turns over but wont start.. any suggestions anyone. Please and thank you.

[jimh]

canderson22, it takes both spark to the plugs and gasoline to make it start. My problem was no gas. GeoStormRS responded to my post with a picture of a way to disconnect the fuel line and have someone crank it while you catch any gas in a jar. Check for spark to the plugs because that is easier. The picture is in a thread named "2003 Malibu won't start" (jimh), entry #2. You should also be able to hear the fuel pump "whirl/hum" for about 2 seconds as soon as you turn the key to the "on" position, don't even try to start it, just run position. If you can't hear the pump, that might be the problem. Any info about what the dash lights are going is good also. More information about what you have tried would be of help to anyone responding.

[billandjudy]

Originally Posted by JoshCMU

My gf has a 00' malibu and it won't start. It turns over and has full power from the battery, but won't fire. The spark plugs don't appear to be fowled out and are in good condition. This is the fourth time this has happened in the last year. The first two times i was not around and she had it towed, only to hear that the diagnostic check reported there was nothing wrong with it and the car started fine. The third time i went to her house and the car started up the first time. I attributed the problem to her not knowing how to start the car. This time I was around for the problem. It has been two days with no change and she doesn't want to have it towed again. What are possible problems? Distributer wires or cap? Fuel injection?

I have a '99 Malibu that had trouble starting. It had power and would crank, but it was very hard to start. Sometimes if I waited for 5 to 10 minutes, it would start better. I thought when it didn't start, I must have flooded it. I cranked it extra long even after it started to make sure it stayed running. I replaced the muffler and I haven't had any trouble starting it since. Maybe it didn't like the compression of the old muffler. I had around 75K miles on the odometer. I'm not sure why, but it's starting now. Hope that helps.

[jimh]

billandjudy
Just the muffler? Not the Cat? I wonder if a sensor was also replaced. Let us know, because I don't know why just the muffler replacement would make it better. Maybe someone else out there can explain it.