Car will crank fine, but will not start.

I have a '95 Sunfire that I just bought cheap..it won't start...it doesn't get any spark to the plugs..the mechanic I bought it from says he checked everything electrical, crank sensor, coil, etc. etc..said the only thing it could be is the ECM..(computer) so after a long search I found a new computer and replaced it....nothing, nil, zip,....he says he put it on a code reader and it wouldn't read it....I've just about had it...its sad because its really a nice car, perfect inside and out.

I am having the EXACT same problem gman50. My 2000 sunfire would act like it didnt want to start but would then eventually it just wont start. It turns over great tries to fire and catch then acts like it gives up and you just hear it turning over. I changed the plugs do to them being soaked in fuel, it fired right up. Let it sit for a couple hours.. am back to the same problem.I can also smell gas when trying to start the car. Have changed the spark plugs,plug wires, ignition module, coil packs, fuel pressure regulator, and everything else you said and it just wont start. I have come to the conclusion my plugs arent getting a hot enough spark but for the life of me can not figure out what is causing the problem. Someone please help

yellow security light on anyone?

check the ignition switch wires and also check the coil pack. if either of these are bad it wont start.

We are having the same problem as gmanfive0 and JoeyAdams with our sons 2001 sunfire, replaced plugs and wires, new battery... I've read the replies above, but don't see the solution, did anyone figure out why this is happening?

Is the security light on

Security light is not on.

Jump fuel pump? There is a lot of possibilities including a handful of electronic items that need to be checked and the need to jump the pump adds more to that list. Start with a noid light set and check for injectors for a pulse and check for spark. Parts may be good but they aren't doing their job BC the computer isn't telling them to

Also check fuel pressure. At a low pressure the engine won't start BC there isn't enough gas and since its getting gas but its very little it will smell like raw fuel.

OK folks. Here's what I did... After doing all the stuff above, I went and purchased a brand new fuel pump. It worked fine after that. The plug wires that I purchased previously were faulty and when I checked the plugs again, they actually fell apart. So, I took them back and exchanged them. The new ones worked fine. I changed the plugs just in case. The largest problem seemed to be with the electric in the car and still is. Here's what's happened since I changed all that: The car AC burns through AC switches like none other. The Master Control switch on the steering column is bad as well and this causes no high beams to come on. The car does bog down a little bit when given gas but it's not super bad. Finally, the lights on the dash come on and stay on no matter what I do and the computer will not be recognized by my reading apparatus. In short, the electric is the biggest problem with the car and not an issue that I want to tackle. So, I figured it was just time for a new car. I fixed it up as much as possible excluding the electrical stuff and gave it to my dad - master mechanic. He's using it as a utility vehicle now.

My 2001 Sunfire does this as well. The fuel pump is going out on ours. We have to 'pump' the ignition. turn it in the 'on' position then back off.. then back 'on' position then off.. do this a few times THEN try starting it. sometimes takes longer than others.

My sunfire 2001 6c I run out of gas put some in it but wont start and its been setting over night

I have a 2000 sun fire, have installed a new alternator, a new starter, a new timing chain, a new battery new spark plugs, was running great, until the other night it stalled while I was driving it, and cannot get it to start...fuel pump sounds like it is running, it cranks just won't start :( any advise??

I am having same problem but I have a 1999 and everything seems to be fine the security are flashing and I Changed the switch but still no start could it be the cylinder

Cherielin have you reprogrammed the security system? Attempt to start the car and then leave the key on for ten minutes, light goes out turn the key off and attempt to start, sometimes it starts sometimes you have to do that 2 more times

I had a bad resevor so I replaced cranked the car let it run for 5mins went out there the next day and it wouldn't start..the motor smells of gas every time I try cranking it..it turns over but will not crank..i replaced the spark plugs, the fuel filter, checked the fuel pump and it works..when I checked the plugs one was broke so I replaced those and one of the new ones broke..but when I put them on it still wouldn't crank and I don't have a clue whats wrong with it

I might have an answer I have a 2001 Sunfire works and runs great until my dash gage cluster started blowing lights and I have been trying to change them and now went to the bone yard and got a new gage cluster so have it checked

I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire that was doing all of the above. I ended up switching my fuel pump relay out with my air conditioner relay and my car started right up.

On a 2004 2.2 it was spark plugs with the right gap, it was the coil pack the whole one that plugs in- To the spark plugs, and the EGR, Electro part, that plugs into that coil pack, right on top of the coil pack! Buy all these parts at the chevy dealership runs about $600.00. Spark plugs, before you put them in Spray starting fluid in the holes, Then, install them get some new oil On your finger put only a drop on the upper part of spark plug threads, thats one so small drop from finger, each one, then start them plugs in wirh socket, with extention, then torkem down, Get the old ones out with the tip off dollar three sisers, the plug your pack in just bend that throttle gard back just enough to get it out leave it that way for ever, to put it back in Then take your intake off with a head screw driver, all off not the filter apart just all off, that throttle will be their, push it open with finger Spray starting fluid 15 shots in it put everything back start the dame car!!!! Buy all parts at chevy, I wasted$1,200 bux on aftermarket junk, listen up and start up, also make sure to, make sure the fan Works for your radiatior, or you will Loose the engine. Change trans fluid And radiator fluid, every year.

Also I buy fram old filters, they hold seal better, just snug it, check cap for oil type, I run Quakerstate in the Winter, Pennsoil in the summer time, my car has 125 000 miles On it, if you engine tap sound but Is not the engine take the valve cover off, reach down in timming Chain area, pull out the, plasic brokin, timming gard out throw it, In the trash, yea that was making All that racket, then get 3 in 1 oil At store pore it on all the lifters ever two years, the whole can, then buy RTV blue glue, and spread, with finger around the valve cover seal Put all the bolt back in, thata all done, then follow the top directs above these, put it all back together Right. If you have problems, just re read all these directions, if you know how, to do this you know what I mean! Then the power steering look ware you can drill a small hole, in the power steering cap, drill a small hole, in the power stering cap, then buy a full with motor oil same as in the engine now that wont break! Good luck , I did all this and still running, I also add STP, every month its called jet fule STP, ima get 400.000 thousand miles out of my car with no blown head gasket .

And one more thing, if your ratator fan does not work wire one to work Ima try, it one wire wraped around the big crome window motor fuse. Then ground it to the frame of the car, then ima zip tie it to the ratator. GM, for life baby, it will start and run when the car does, if it breaks I Will keep buying one, after another As long as my car stays cool running I do not care!

Well I was going to edit my spelling, But how do you do it! Darn it !

.......holding my tongue and not saying mean things......., why would you replace the coil module unless you had it tested and it was bad? Fram is the #1 worst oil filter on the planet, look it up they don't assemble them correctly. They didn't start putting the Ecotec engines in the Cavaliers and sunfires until 03 so no coil over plug on any of the cars mentioned here. Egr has nothing to do with the coil, the wires just happen to run in the same loom. Drill a hole in the power steering cap so contaminates can enter the pump and destroy it. Engine oil is NOT NOT NOT hydraulic fluid it is a lubricant, do not use it in place of power steering fluid...... The power steering cap has a special vent in it so when the reservoir is over filed it has somewhere to go. I will be quite surprised if your car makes it to next month without something breaking. Your fan doesn't work? Check the relay, check the fuseable link. Try being a mechanic instead of "tard" rigging it so the next guy that works on it isn't stepping into a boobie trap.

i left my 05 sunfire outside for a couple of days and now it wont turn on..the headlights turn as soon as i connect the battery but then they dont turn off unless i disconnect it again the fan also goes on and so does the horn.. any ideas whats wrong with it?

Start with all the fuses, in the main fuse box, I pull them out with little plyers, read other forms, one side of a burnt fuse, if you look closely, could stop it from firing. Next try starting fluid, in spark plug holes, & the intake throttle, then if that does not work, put new gaped spark plugs, thats if the car is cranking from the starter, if that does not work take it to the chevy dealer, count on paying $600.00.

Make sure that your oil, is not over filled, it could fail the new spark plugs, make sure you look at the plugs before you buy them, for loose end caps, and bad points, Make sure the ponits are not chiped!

Or check for the 4 main things an engine to run, 1. air and 2. fuel in a proper mixture, 3. Spark and 4. Compression. Stop throwing parts at a vehicle and hope it fixes it. Diagnose the issue find the problem and fix that.

I have a civic it a 99 or 00 and it wont stort it turns over but wont stort any one know abot them please help me

Everthing works on it and I just got it today I just need so ideds call if you know and thinga bout them 614 2306816

2003 ford focus 4cyl have fire and fuel but will not start

I have 2000 grand am gt 3.4 while driving it just cut off dash board lite up and then car cut off.....tired everything under the sun....but i have rode with bad 02 sensors and read that can burn out my cat converter do think this can cause to crank and not spark/start guy looking at my car thinks not it and will not check it for me...PLEASE HELP!!!

no, a bad cat won't cause a no crack issue

I was having the same problem with my car. about a month ago it would not start right after I had been driving it. the next morning it started just fine. a few days ago it would not start at all. it would aked like it was going to then die. the next time it would crank but would not cach. looked at the page and was able to say what it was not. but I found one guy that said it was the maf (mass air flow sencer). I thought that it would have a check engain light if it was that. but we looked at it any way. (it was not a maf in my car it was a map (mass air presher)) took it out which was supper easy. it was covered in crap. got the cleaner for it ($7.00) you clean it let it air dry and put it back on. it started just fine and has started ever time. To replace it is $35. it is really easy on a pontiac sunfire 1997. it is right on top two bults. thank you all for helping me from trying so many other things. hope this helps someone else.

I am having a similar issue with my 2001 sunfire. last weekend right after I filled the tank (it was running on fumes... i know, i know... don't do that) it started to act like it wanted to die. Got to my son's baseball game and afterward it wouldn't start. It would turn over but that was it. Couple of days ago I changed the fuel filter and it had life for about 30 seconds and then started acting up again. The fuel pump is working, it got new spark plugs not too long ago. Then my husband switched the A/C and Fuel Pump relay and it had life for another few seconds... then back to the same issue. Any ideas? Thanks

we have a 94 sunbird and first would drive till vehicle got warm then would get sluggish and die out completely, we dropped fuel tank, checked pump, checked fuel system fuses, and cleaned EGR valve and after cleaning EGR car ran about 14 miles then when got home went to start back up after hr and wouldnt start now doesnt even want to catch does turn over though

Check for spark, check for fuel pressure and injector pulse. Check for spark by pulling plug wires, take a screw driver and gently, shouldn't even have to push, insert it into the wire, set the screw driver on the valve cover or somewhere where the metal shank is near a good ground. Stand back and crank the engine while watching for spark. Use a fuel pressure gauge (rent at AutoZone) to test fuel pressure, check injector pulse with a noid light set (rent from AutoZone)

Well we do have spark and we don't havefuel pressure

Seams like we're loosing fuel pressure around the throttle body we checked the egr valve already and cleaned that and throttle body and last night found out that if u continuously spray fuel in Carb it'll stay running

You check fuel pump relay? Swap it with another to see if helps. Check resistance from relay to ground on the fuel pump lug, should be the one across from the lug that has constant battery power. Check fuel filter, if the pump is bad then replace the fuel filter with it. Pump should run for a few seconds when you turn the key on then turn off, try listening for it.

well today checked all of fuel pressure and its fine, its got to be a vacuum leak some where, also went and replaced all lines on ECM system, but its weird now its burning rich (lack of O2) im assuming checked fuel pressure regulator, egr valve, map system, its got suction to everything with the exception of the evap canister

if car starts and runs , then dies and then starts again after 5 or 10 minutes and then does this cycle again try pouring a little gas in the hole on the tube that connectsthe air filter to carburator or throttle body.if the carstarts you have a fuel supply problem. The tube that feeds the injector manifold has a capped needle valve - like a bicycle tire valve. Unscrew the cap and press th needle post with a nail or something. if no gasoline comes out try turning the ignition key to the run position.if you still don't get fuel try juming the contact points on the fuelpump relay.Some cars hve a fuel pump relay MODULE. This is a small box thet amplifies the signal f rom the fuel pressure sensor or the ECU AND OFTEN HAS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY BUILT IN. i HAVE SEEN MANY TIMES THE SOLDER ON THE RELAY TERMINALS CRACK WERE THEY ATTACH TO THE BOARD. tHIS IS DUE TO THE FLOW SOLDER PROCESSICH IS BALANCED TO NOT OVERHEAT THE SOLID STADE COMPONENTS .uNFORTUNATLY THE MORE MASSIVE RELAY TERMINALS NEED SUBSTANTIALLY MORE HEAT TO SOLDER PROPERLY.a TOUCH UP INTHIS CASE WITHE A 60 WATT IRON SHOULD REMOVE THE INTERMITANT.

2002 Grand Am 2.2 here. Full coil spark(white in color) full presure at rail, orange spark from plugs against block. Damn thing doesnt want to start. Also the plugs are wet from injector spraying. Fuel pump is humming. Replaced the CPS only sofar. Going to replace spark plugs and wires(boots) any input is needed. Fb message me with help john. You seem to know ur shit.

I just wanted to add to wat I told a lady, also change the fuel filter, take out the idel senser clean it with degreaser, let dry put it back in, and flush all fluids, at a dealership, to make sure, the thomstat, its not cloged up, and if that ant it, I would change the intake gaskets, then if that ant it check injectors, for a smooth running car, also the spark system, on newer sunfires it is wires only realy, value craft at auto zone, I have a coil pack as one peice on mine tho, sometimes you gotta drop $500 $ 600 in a car, if a engine is gone its gone ya know deffently !

N The computers, in these complete coil pack cars as one peice all the way accross, are not all readable by a shops computer system, it just takes skill and money, if it runs rich, Intake gasket or fuel filter, or clean the intake sinser, its a skill you may or may not devlope, to work on cars by your own thinking and learning.

My answer is get new spark plugs first,

Ac Delco, make sure thay are not chiped on the points, and that they are gaped, and nothing is loose on them, any of them, then before you put them in, put a hair of oil on a qtip, On only the upper threads of the spark plugs, before you put them in nice and snug, shoot two shots of starting fluid in all the wholes, let dry for 5mins, then wipe out with papyet tawles them holes, then proseed put all plugs in, only after you made sure your oil dip stick is not over filled, I change all of this, and do all of this any time, any car wont start, and last Spray 7 shots of starting fluid, in the carb hole, open it spray in their, then put the air filter back on go turn your key.

This is only reccommended if you change your oil every 2000 3000 miles, but before you do put a half a bottle of 3&1 oil every year then drive up the block,after the fist oil chinge to treat the lifters. Every 6 months, and use injector cleaner ever other other month.

If that dont work take it to chevy, its a electro part.

John you should never have to drop that kind of money into anything unless you are rebuilding the engine.idle sensor, thermostat, and 90% of the stuff you mentioned won't cause the issue she's having.You have not honed any mechanical skills because mechanics don't just throw parts at cars they diagnose stuff. I'm sure you're trying to help but all you will end up doing it's getting people to waste money. Eric, not sure how you want me to pm you on Facebook bud. All I can see is your car profile.

Well john, the DOHC timing chain broke. Yea. Would you recommend rebuilding or scrapping? Its the interface 2.2

Pull the head and check the damage, may have gotten lucky. No damage it will be back on the road with a timing chain kit new gaskets and had bolts for under $200. Place down the street from me specialises in carbs and heads, ironically the place is called carbs and heads. A head will run you about $350. Pistons and rods are dirt cheap too. Depends on the amount of time you want to spend with it. They are easy to work on. While you're in there you could do a little work and build decent power on that thing.

Usually an interference engine will make a pretty good thud when it interferes and it won't crank. Piston hits the valve and it keeps it from cranking or a rocker snaps.

Yeas vales can stick shut,

It is your call, I never had to do it yet thank god, my 2.2, has 135,000 miles on it is a duel over head came as well, mine, had a timming chain gard fall off, I took it out at 70,000, miles, it runs,

Also my car runs rough, due to intake gasket, I have been driving it that way ever sence 80,000 miles, to 135,000, and have gottin ticks for speeding because I have to drive it that way, but it is very dependable,

I cant drive it with the ac on in town, And no I could care less, about the prepy intake gasket, because point a to point b matters most to me, I herd the gaskets for the intake for the 2.2 will just go back out so Idk about paying out for them, to be fixed,

UBut to answer your original question, about replacing the timming chains, chevy dealerships clam they will put new one's on along with new head gasket, and timming chain gards and timming chain, seal, and oil seal in the timming chain area, or areas all of the seals complete for $1,200, bucks, so its up to you .

Another thing I will always buy parts from GM, for my car bud, I know my car keeps running all the time ok I am the computer for mine lol, hope that makes sence to you some wat, sence all thrm fancy computers can not read a bad intake on any car, just missing cycl on 1 & 4 is just wrong, and buy me buying parts I learned to keep my car in driving order, and it works ya see! :-)

So in 8 years I put a custom cooling fan, and 5,000 $ so far and drove 136,000 miles and still as of tommarow driving my sunfire love the jet! :-)

And always check the starter fuse, thats the kicker in this segment, put a new fuse if you see its burnt a lil bit put a new fuse to start it if bad.

Please dont run the car down the road if it runs bad like I do tho, I just am telling you if it cranks how to start it simply,

I do not recommend driving it missing like that at all.

John, cylinder one and four not firing are due to a bad coil, not an intake gasket. Stop giving people advice.

Ok dum dum , but usaly when the coil is bad the dame thing wont start, Just crank and crank away, in the winter my car 2004 Pontiac Sunfire the 04 modle, runs great, but in the summer runs at bad Idel, why mr smarty paints tell us why then mr 350 engine?

Ok dum dum wat ever you say, now go drink a cup of shut up , and go away, by by now 350,

This form is about the 2.2, Echo Tech

Dude John, you can have this form, your gunna have alot of people mad, at you tho, pull the head off a engine, because it wont start, is just plumb ate up dont you think, and blinking lights man wat ever, Im done with it.

How about you go back to school and learn how to spell jackass. One section of the coil controls cylinder 1 and 4, the other controls cylinder 2 and 3. He said the timing chain broke dipshit which means he needs to pull the head to assess the damage. I never said pull the head because it won't start. Learn to read learn to spell and for the sake of others on the road stop working on cars. Vacuum leak causes a p0300 multiple cylinder misfire, not a 301 or 304 .

TO JOHN ? i have a 1999 fire bird cranks acts like it wants to start and if hit with starting fluid still want start ,pops back . got good spark .it had 1/2 tank of gas i drained it out thro value needle ,on off on off with key useing felu pump . new colpacks new plugs ,new wires . cleaned intake and all exhaust , and trotobody parts . have good comprestion but when i pull 1 plug dont really smell gas . 3.8 motor .the gas i took out seem not as strong as the gallon i put in . i am going to add more in tank .but shit starting fluid wont make it start up at all .sercurity light flash kindof funny but if it was prob would it still crack and hit off starting fluid did pull code of 300 up . what u think

My 2001 pontiac sunfire turns over but will not start. Worked fine yesterday. Sounds like its gonna start. Not sure what to do. Not getting spark i think but replaced the spark plugs and still nothing.

F1500 if you have good spark and staying fluid makes it back fire then it sound like a timing chain issue, what were the results of the compression test and how did you do the compression test?

Tamara you need to find out for sure if it's getting spark. No spark is usually a bad crack sensor and they suck on these.

My 96 pontiac would not turn over.after 2 weeks and $400 I needed a new computer. Now it's doing the same thing so the mechanic is telling me the key sensor is bad......(the car turns off while I am driving) I bought a regular key with no sensor at Home Depot..problem solved

I went through the same thing with my 2005 sunfire. took it to a mechanic and they ran a diagnostic on it and it pulled nothing. Then they tried telling me it was something to do with my remote start, but it started every time with the remote start. It was when the key was introduced it would die. I found a site online and a mechanic explained that a code will not be pulled for a ignition switch and that it is why they could not figure it out. Turns out the ignition switches on these cars are known to die and are hard to diagnose. Went to auto zone paid 46 bucks for the part and installed it myself. Problem solved!!! If it turns over, but dies right away try replacing the ignition switch. mechanics seem to solely rely on diagnostic tests to tell them everything. sometimes you have to do a little process of elimination and homework yourself.

ALBeth What exactly was your car doing? Was yours the ignition switch or the ignition lock cylinder? My moms car doesn't have the security light issue but when I turn the key I get nothing and the dash lights go out. The fuel pump is definitely working.

so, here the just, I have a 2001 Chevy cavalier. it was running great . two days ago when starting it turned over and struggled to start. got to work and let it sit for six hours got off work turned key again struggled to start. the next morning checked battery, spark plugs and all my fluids ; added trans fluid and started not problem. what could be causing this to happen?

I'm having a similar problem as the original poster. It only doesn't start sometimes. And weird, and maybe unrelated, but I notice it tends to not wanna start on days after I've used the A/C. So I stopped using the A/C for a whole week and I was able to start the car fine every day. I guess I could just not use the A/C ever, but I kinda want to :(. I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire. Anyone ever heard of car not wanting to start because of A/C?

I have a Pontiac Sunfire and it wouldn't start for me I got lucky chances are it's the fuel pump relay which is under the hood in the box that has the really big fuses in it,that's what was wrong with mine to test it I just swapped it out with one of the other relays and it started right up,and after you replace you want to get a spare mine goes out every 6 months or so I don't know why

I have a 99 Pontiac Sunfire and the fuel pump relay goes out every now and then sometimes for no reason and sometimes just because I try to give it gas while I start it,so I always have an extra on hand and if something is wrong that the first thing I try,in case no one knows where it's at it's under the hood in that box that has the really big fuses in it

IN MY CASE, SAME THING ,, WAS THE MAIN COMPUTER.. BUT A NEW IGNITION AND MAIN RELAY WERE TRIED, WAS MY MECHANIC FIRST CHOICES..

My 2001 Sunfire would crank fine but would not fire. I also had not lights on the instrument cluster when I turned the key on like it normally should have. I checked many of the things as stated above, however, at the end of the day it turned out to be a bad ignition switch. So for $50 bucks from AutoZone my car starts again.

The same problem and I tried I tried this resetting the security code. It's a long process you're going to need about 45 minutes sometimes only 15 but usually 45 here goes number one turn the key on number to attempt to crank it for 2 seconds number three let the key go and leave the key in the Run ignition till the anti-theft light goes out approximately 10 minutes number for once the light is off turn key off then repeat one to four times two or more times for a total of three times after after turning the key off for the third time it will start I said probably 15 minutes because some cars will start after the first cycle but few very few

Yes I have a 2001 done exactly the same thing I did just exactly the same thing you did finally had to take it to the garage and I had a ground wire underneath the battery plate the stand that it sits on a ground wire they put a ground wire on it 15 minutes I was back on the road

I had a 02 sunfire that would start occasionally just fine, then sometimes not at all. I noticed when it didn't start you wouldn't hear the fuel pump kick in, which I believe is the antitheft system. Tried the yellow wire thing to no avail. What worked was to take off the plastic surround around the steering column, then blast contact cleaner all around and in the key hole etc. Now it starts every time.