hi,

out of the blue, my car won't start. it started fine this morning, but now it won't turn over. i just tried to have it boosted, but that didn't help.

any ideas what it could be? again, this came out of the blue, i've never had a problem like this before.

i have a 4-dr, 2002 Z24, 2.4L.

Thanks!

By "won't turn over", do you mean it won't crank, or does it crank but not not start?
Is the battery dead? Without the booster battery connected, do you have normal lights, horn, etc?
If the battery is dead, do you have normal lights, horn, etc., when the booster battery is connected?

You said you tried to have it boosted, but that didn't help.
By "that didn't help", do you mean it made no difference in either the cranking or lights or horn?
If nothing was different when you tried boosting it, are you sure the booster/jumper was connected correctly?
(If the battery is dead and you correctly connected a booster, you should have lights and horn.)

My first thought is to suspect the battery. If you have normal electrical activity without the booster, I'd question the starter.
If you don't have normal electrical activity without the booster, but do with it, you still need a battery.
If you ultimately obtain normal electrical activity either without or with the booster and it still won't crank, I'd again question the starter.

But then, if you have normal electrical activity with/without the booster and it won't crank and you car is a 5-speed manual, you could have a problem with the clutch pedal override switch (or circuit. I don't know if that's fused or not.) (A similar problem could occur with automatics too, since they need to be in Park or N.)

wow, thanks for the in-depth reply!

i have normal lights, radio, etc without the booster connection. with and without the booster connection the engine sounds like it is just about to start (chug-chug-chug sound) but doesn't. Would a starter just die without warning?

is manual...as for the clutch pedal, is that something that happens a lot? i guess a garage would need to check it out to find out?

haha I was coming into this thread half expecting a cavalier on it's roof.

Based on what you just wrote, my thought is that the battery is gone and you're not getting enough from the boost to overcome everything. I'd suggest another boost try with perhaps another car, some other cables (perhaps one with heavier cable), or use some other grounding point for the negative cable (engine block or lifting eye). It's possible for the battery to be so badly shorted that a normal boost might not be enough. Starters do die, but usually start to complain some beforehand (in my experience). Good luck. - Mark



Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Friday, January 30, 2009 1:39 PM

I just re-read what you wrote and I apparently blew right over the part where you said you had normal electrical activity without the boost. (I need an eye exam.) I'm back to suspecting the starter. I'm sure someone with better vision and greater attention to detail will chime in with more thoughts soon. Sorry.

no need to be sorry Mark, you have provided a lot of feedback, thanks!

yeah, it def. should not be my battery, i just got it last summer, and it has a 6 yr warranty! Probably the starter..i am having it towed tomorrow to a shop to get it looked at.

it sounds like the starter, grab a hammer bang on the starter (not to where your trying to break it but to where your trying to knock it back to reality.) Your starter is probably dying.....the @!#$ty thing is ...its probably dead now if your starter is going out and you keep starting it your going to end up frying it which sucks for our cars its like about 120 -130 dollars with a 30 dollar core charge most places. So remember next time your car is doing the same thing grab a hammer hit the starter before trying to start it again. After hitting it start it...it should start right up and will be ok, if it don't start possibly battery, spark plugs, alternator, etc.

it was the fuel pump..cost me $560 total to have a new on installed. seems to work fine now, tho once it was in my garage fior a while i smelled gas...i am thinking that it's fronm any gas that may have spilled from dropping the tank and replacing the pump..hope it's not from a loose connection or anything.,.

oh yeah, the mechanic snapped off a connection in my car. it's the flat part that connects the big hose (i assume it's the air hose, on the right side) to the engine intake? he unscrewed it, then lifted it off and the plastic opening that goes into the engine snapped off. the owner said that they will use silicone to seal it, and showed me. it was a black gunky substance.

does anyone know how this may degrade my performance? what should I listen and feel for if the silicone seal doesn't work?

thanks!

I'm envisioning that the plastic piece of the air intake that connects to the throttle body is the part that broke. Regardless of who broke it, I'd replace it rather than try and seal it. Depending on where it is and the severity of the break, it may or may not hold. If it holds, I doubt you'll have any performance degradation. If it doesn't hold, it's likely it would allow unfiltered air in. You should be able to find the part at a junkyard or perhaps someone here who's installed a cold air intake has one they'll part with. - Mark

i'd have to replace the entire piece then, right? it's kinda large, so i assume kinda expensive?

thanks!

Hey S T, take a look at this eBay item. Is this what you need?

eBay item

Should be able to win it pretty cheap. - Take care.
Mark

Hey Mark, thanks a lot! Unfortunately my car is a 2002, and the item is for 96-98. But that is the part that broke, so maybe I can search for it and find another.

Thanks again for all your help!

P.S. Uhhhh, installing a fuel pump or the cracked part I have shouldn't affect the cruise control, right? For some reason now that isn't working. Stopped working last night.

The cracked piece is the brake booster nipple on the intake manifold. I'd almost guarantee.

I did the same thing so I drilled and installed a barb fitting and hose clamped the hose to it.