2001 Sunfire GT 2.4
115k
Regular maintenance - ran like a charm, up until now.

I recently took it on it's first 'long' trip in almost a year. I put on 650km in one day (no issues, car ran smoothly). Typically, I use it for daily commute around town, approx. 25-50km/week max.
I changed the spark plugs last year. Oil and filter changes down every 5k. New oil filter this year. I baby the car.

When I start the car, the car is attempting to turn over (battery is fine), but it will not engage. It just tries to crank and crank and feels like there is no spark/ignition. On occasion I have heard the car ALMOST catch, but it fails. Initially I thought it could be my fuel pump, but two tricks I was told to do identify if it works is to hit the bottom of the gas tank with a rubber mallet several times to shake the fuel pump. This did not work. The other trick, which rules out the fuel pump, is when I start the car in a quite area, I can hear a buzz/hum coming from the back of the car for 2 seconds and then it goes away - indicating (what everyone says) is my fuel pump operating properly.

I can only think of two things: A) spark plugs B) electrical/blown fuse
I did wash the vehicle the night before (when it was running fine) and washed the rad to try and clean off bugs (but this really shouldn't affect anything). I wonder if I shorted a fuse perhaps? I highly doubt it's my spark plugs, but I have yet to pull them out and check.

I wanted to see if anyone can suggest anything else to check?

Thanks!

Hi,

Water in an electrical connector will give you all sorts of grief!

You identified it right there, car ran good, washed engine section, car runs bad.
Now the trick is to find out where the water is. Get an air compressor or can of compressed air for computers and unplug every connection and give it a blast of air on both pieces and put it together, you should stumble upon it.

Good Luck!

(and people claim they can pressure wash an engine without having problems!!!!)

Dave

ive pressure washed my engines on bothe my OHV and my ecotec with NO problems spraying directly at connectors. your fuel pump could have low pressure but still sound like its working. so you may want a fuel pressure gauge. also. it only takes 5 minutes to check fuses. that would be my first guess. could have blown an injector fuse etc. if that doesnt work. check the coil, plugs, and fuel pressure. thats all you really need is spark, fuel, and air. do you have a check engine light on???

Thanks.

I never pressured washed my engine, I simple washed the rad (bugs were stuck) and so I just took the hose and sprayed the rad itself, no where else under the hood. What electrical pieces are near the rad?

I have never checked my fuses before, are there certain ones I should check? I've never done that before.

Thanks for all the help.

Also check your crank sensor. My buddies z24 had a bad crank sensor which caused it not to start. check fuel pressure, check ignition. You can put a long screwdriver on the injectors and see if you can hear them working. Just some basic things to check.



]:-> 287 TimeSlips In Hand. Car Still Runs Strong... 3 Differentials Later ]:->

I'm having a similar issue. I can not for the life of me get my cav to run. I just replaced my CPS and nothing. I'm now positive it is an ignition problem, but I haven't dug deep enough to figure out what it is.



PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO

Washing your engine really should have no affect...I used to do detail...pressure washed engines all day long...never ran into such issues as that..


Cavalier z24......A poor man's Camaro....close enough, right?

just get a test light and buzz through all your fuses, make sure they key is on, if one doesnt light up on both sides you have a blown fuse