2000 LS 2.2 - Died on road, won't start, still turns

[M00NBEAST]

I was driving down the road and my car had just stopped running, as if I'd shut it off but left the power on. I coasted to the nearest parking spot down the road and tried to start it back up. While the engine would turn, it wouldn't actually start. My gas tank has 3/4s of a tank of gas, my spark plugs are all good, and the battery isn't dead. I have oil that's still good, and the belt is still in good shape.

I had a friend check it out and he said he sounds like the car isn't getting any fuel.

Where my problems seemed to start:
I was driving down the road and someone slammed their breaks in front of me, which forced me to do the same. As soon as I started moving, the car made sort of a 'jump' as if it were sitting down. After the abrupt stop, my car started making this rattle sound sort of like a tin can being dragged along the pavement. (My car isn't dragging anything) It sounded like it was coming from the front right side of my car, under the hood.

Later, I started my car and was heading down the road. Each time I was at a stop, my car would sort of rock back and fourth somewhat while I was stopped in place. After a short while, my car would start having trouble picking up speed, and eventually it just shut off as if it'd run out of gas.

After looking at it, my friend is thinking maybe the fuel line or the filter, as did some random guy who nearby. Someone else said it could be a timing belt (but I hear 2000 LS 2.2s don't have belts, but have chains. I've also been told rods).

As it stands, my car has plenty of gas, and the battery has plenty of power. If I try to start it, the engine turns but doesn't start. When I try starting it, that rattle sound can be heard, but it's very faint.

Any ideas?

[Scrapper]

when you slamb in the back there a fuel cut off. you may need to reset it. should be in the rear drivers side under trunk carpet to reset. and then it might not run but you know you tryed the cut off swictch..they put them in cars evey since the pinto blew up with the kid's in there...good luck...

[Classicrocjunkie]

Turn your key to the ON position, you should hear the fuel pump prime.

[Jacfourteen]

Maybe when you slammed on the brakes you shook loose some debris in the tank and the filter got clogged. If it's a stock filter it should get changed anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to change it now. I would also check fuel pressure, and listen for the pump like classicrockjunkie said.

[M00NBEAST]

The fuel pump works, my friend and I checked that out already. My friend also suggested that the line could be clogged.

I'm glad most of the input I'm getting is related to the same topic, so I'm hoping that there isn't some other 'unknown' cause.

I'll check each suggestion. Thanks for the help. Any further assistance is still welcome. :]

[Jason/RKBA]

Rent a fuel pressure gage from A/Z before throwing parts at it.

[J-Ri]

Is the theft light flashing with the key on? Check for codes too. It may not be the reason the car died, but it would cause a no-start.

[M00NBEAST]

Problem was the timing chain.

Still gonna change the fuel filter, as it seems it hasn't ever been changed since it was bought.

[crankgrinder]

Very good that youve found what it was. Never wouldve guessed it was the timing chain myself. I was just wandering did you manage to check the pressure throughout this whole ordeal? If so what did it say? Ive been facing a similar problem myself. If you read this please post or send a message.

[M00NBEAST]

Originally Posted by crankgrinder

Very good that youve found what it was. Never wouldve guessed it was the timing chain myself. I was just wandering did you manage to check the pressure throughout this whole ordeal? If so what did it say? Ive been facing a similar problem myself. If you read this please post or send a message.

Well, it was check the timing chain or pour $240 into a fuel pump, which I couldn't afford before finding out that it was the timing chain afterall.

I'd rather check the cheapest problems first before assuming it's something I can't afford. heh

We didn't have the device needed to check the fuel pressure, but when my friends had the pump push some fuel to check it by site, they said it seemed to be pushing fuel at a weak rate. Every now and then, my car likes to putter as I try to speed up. We think it's either because the pump is going weak, the filter is bad, or the power steering fluid that poured into the throttle body might've seeped inside the system (clearly an accident).

I'm no expert, but I might have an idea of what your problem is based on my own experiences. What's going on with your car?