1996 Chevy Cavalier Won't Start

[Deuteriumoxide]

My car is eight years old. It has nearly 150,000 miles on it. Sometimes it doesn't start. In the past two years I have replaced the alternator, the main computer, the theft deterrant computer, and a sensor on the camshaft.

The bastard still has nonstart issues.

The starter is strong but the engine just will not fire.

Since the car itself is probably only worth $1500 in good condition I'm getting it looked at by a new mechanic just this one last time...

Anybody else with cavaliers out there having similar problems?

[Mad_Bishop]

ecomomy GM's are notoriously bad, esp. j-body (cavalier, sunfire, sunbird, etc.)

A good cavalier site is www.jbody.org

My wife's Sunbird has been nothing but trouble. I still hold a grudge against her father for picking it out.

[Mad_Bishop]

When won't it start? Is there any sort of pattern or is it really random?
First three things to check are electrical [(you said starter is fine, I'm assuming battery is OK if it's cranking), fuel (when was the last time you changed the fuel filter? Can you hear your fuel pump start when you try to start the car? Are all the injectors plugged in well?) and air (check your vaccum hoses, air filter, throttle body. etc)

[Deuteriumoxide]

When won't it start? Is there any sort of pattern or is it really random?
First three things to check are electrical [(you said starter is fine, I'm assuming battery is OK if it's cranking), fuel (when was the last time you changed the fuel filter? Can you hear your fuel pump start when you try to start the car? Are all the injectors plugged in well?) and air (check your vaccum hoses, air filter, throttle body. etc)


No, there isn't really a pattern... unless you count the car always crapping out when it is the worst possible time for it to do so. Yeah the fuel pump does cycle.. or pump, or whatever it does when I put it into auxillary.

ho hum..

[MatadorCE]

Are you sure the starter is good? I had a 91 Corsica and that thing had the crappiest starter ever, seems like the leads where soldered with bubble gum. AC Delco parts really are garbage. Anyway, check electrical (starter, alternator, battery, spark plugs and wires) then fuel system. If the engine isn't even turning over and you're sure that the fuel pump is on, then it sounds like an electrical problem.

[Mad_Bishop]

it really sounds like fuel delivery or electrical to me if it won't turn over at all, but he has power to the starter. Or distibuter. Have you checked your spark plugs and plug wires for continuancy? If you had moisture inside the distro. cap it would cause this. I'm also thinking fuel injectors, fuel filter, PGM FI relay (if he had a Honda, I would gaurantee that it was the FI Main Relay) etc.