I have a 98 Cavalier Z24 and I just drove about half an hour, parked my car for about 5 minutes, and when I went back out to start it again it wont start up. It still turns over just fine and I can hear faint pops coming from the intake but it wont start up.
I still have fuel pressure and I cant find any fuses blown. So the only thing I can think of is an ignition problem somewhere, or its firing at the wrong time.
Also a couple weeks ago my ECU lost track of the crank position sensor, threw a CEL and I had to do a crank position relearn to get the CEL to turn off. Is there any chance it could have lost its position again only this time the engine wont even start?
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks
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Sure the CPS isnt going bad altogether?
I waited half an hour and it started.... wtf...
That is very possible though, but both the cam and crank position sensors are only 2 years old... I'm going to replace both just in case.
Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.
My 98 did the same thing, took me forever to figure it out. turned out it was the starter..the wires going to the posts on the started were going bad and breaking but you couldnt notice it due to the wire covering.. i cliped the wires ,stripped and remounted them to new terminals that fit the posts and it ran fine after that. the heat from being so close to the exhaust and the fact the wires were so old caused issues with it.. only cost a few dollers for the terminals and about 30 minutes of my time.. its worth giving a shot to eliminate a possibillity..
Got Chevy? wrote:My 98 did the same thing, took me forever to figure it out. turned out it was the starter..the wires going to the posts on the started were going bad and breaking but you couldnt notice it due to the wire covering.. i cliped the wires ,stripped and remounted them to new terminals that fit the posts and it ran fine after that. the heat from being so close to the exhaust and the fact the wires were so old caused issues with it.. only cost a few dollers for the terminals and about 30 minutes of my time.. its worth giving a shot to eliminate a possibillity..
Good point, BUT he said the car cranks fine so I doubt that would be the issue. Hmmm, it is a brain teaser.
I've also got a quad so my wires aren't near the exhaust.
It's still starting fine... so I have no idea.
Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.
Did it happen to be moist out, then dry up afterwards???? The reason I ask is bc I had a sunfire that would run fine one min, then the min it gets moist out or damp it wouldnt start, but after it dries up it would run. Turns out the wiring to the CKP sensor would short out, and would not run. Needed to replace the wiring harness. Just a idea. Any CE lights???
Tim have you checked the grounds?
PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO
Well its @!#$ty winter here so its very possible it was wet. I'm still planning on replacing the crank sensor so we'll see.
I haven't messed with the grounds, it was still cranking so I didnt think about it. Maybe I should check the ignition coil ground though.
The only CEL I had was from pulling the IAT sensor to get the car to go into limp mode, I was hoping it would start if it wasn't looking at all the sensors, lol
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Thursday, December 09, 2010 9:50 AM
Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.
It did the exact same thing today, after the exact same half an hour drive from work to school. I stopped to pick up a crank position sensor and when I walked out it just turned over and over...
I decided to put my new wipers on and in the 5 minutes it took me to install them the car cooled down enough to start. So it's definitely a temperature problem. It's not running any hotter though. Hmmm...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Friday, December 10, 2010 1:40 PM
Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.
I am having a similar problem with my 97 Z24, next time it doesn't start turn off radio & heat & listen to see if your fuel pump is turning on. mine would not start every morning because its very cold here in PA but if I turned the key off & on a few times until I heard the pump turn on it would start rite up and run fine until it sat for a wile then it would do it again. I think I found the prob by switching my ABS relay with my fuel pump relay ( If you want to replace it don't buy one from autozone I did & that was the prob ) today mine started fine. hope this helps.
steve
My fuel pressure is fine, and I can hear the pump prime every time. Thanks for the idea though.
Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.
Tim any more updates?
PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO
I replaced the Crank position sensor about a week ago, but I haven't driven it far enough to reenact the conditions that made it not start. If my new computer shows up today I'll be running up to school to grab some thermal paste, that should tell me if the new sensor worked or not.
Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.
Well I drove the exact same distance and let the car sit for almost exactly the same amount of time before I got in to restart it, and it started up no problem.
So I'm pretty confident in saying my crank position sensor was the problem. That was a pretty easy fix
Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.
