'95 Cavalier starting problem

[chevyman911]

Hi out there. I am wondering if anyone out there can help me with this problem.

I recently bought a '95 Chev Cavalier with a 2.2L engine and auto transmission. The car has about 106K miles on it.

Car has been running fine until today with exception of a slight miss at idle.

This evening, I took the car up the road for a quick errand. When I went to start the car all it did was crank. I tried to start the car several time over the course of 5 mins or so. It acted as if there was no fuel. I looked around the trunk thinking that the inertia switch had been tripped (had this problem before on a Taurus).

Well I couldn't find a switch anywhere so I started looked for a tow company. While waiting for the tow truck to show up, I decided to roll the car forward a few feet to make the tow driver's life easier. I intentionally stepped on the brakes hard for the heck of it. After that the car started right up.

After returning home, I shut the car off and tried to restart it. I had the same problem (crank with no start). I let the car roll a few feet and hit the brakes hard again... and it started. I have since had my son turn the key a few times to the run position without starting the car to see if the fuel pump was running. Each time I could hear the fuel pump (by listening through the gas filler tube).

Any ideas on what could be causing this intermittent problem? Is there an inertia switch built into the fuel pump that could be going bad? I'm thinking of changing out the fuel pump relay and fuel filter this weekend as this is much easier than getting at the fuel pump.

Appreciate any advice you can give me!

Thanks,

[cougr92]

I'm having the same problem, to a tee. If anyone has any information on what to do next it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[jdl]

You might check for codes. If it cranks good, but won't start, have a helper crank it, while you check for spark at the plugs and injector pulse, anything?

[cougr92]

Originally Posted by jdl

You might check for codes. If it cranks good, but won't start, have a helper crank it, while you check for spark at the plugs and injector pulse, anything?

Plugs are new (6 months.) Good spark coming from screwdriver inserted into wires. Fuel pump is only 3 years old, but I'm starting to lean towards replacing the fuel pump. Unfortunately I can't find a pressure tap to check fuel pressure. I went ahead and replaced the fuel filter (old filter was pretty restrictive) but the car still doesn't start. This time at least it sounded like it wanted to start.. but I think the clogged filter ruined the pump.

I'm getting my ODB back from a friend, so I'll check that next.

Thanks for your input!

[goongrinch]

take some brake cleaner or trottle body cleaner and spray it in the intake while u are cranking, if it seems to want to start while doing this you more then likely have a fuel problem

[cougr92]

LOL! I can't believe I wrote ODB. That's hilarious.

Alrighty, well I have good news and bad news to report. The good news is, the car is fixed. The bad news is that I fell victim to assumptions. I assumed the plugs were alright, but they were not. I replaced them only about a year ago.. but they were completely fouled. The #1 looked like a carbon ball was pasted on it. #2 was almost as bad. #3 looked like the carbon had taken the place of the electrode, and #4 looked alright.

After thinking about the problem it made sense. The fuel filter was extremely restrictive, so it makes sense the plugs wouldn't last very long. After the new fuel filter and Bosch Platinum +4 plugs, the car started right up. NO cranking, just bam.. it's running. I took it up a hill that normally would cause the car to slow to 30mph, and the thing flew up the hill @ 55mph without downshifting to 3rd.

Thanks for the help everyone. Next time I'll start from the VERY beginning and work my way back. Assumptions suck and just might cost you money!!!