Car won't start...

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RH12

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May 12, 2013
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Hi All,

First, very nice forum...glad I found this place. I hope someone can help me with my situation.

I can't get my 2004 Chevy Malibu Classic to start. For reference, it has been running fine with no loss of power, difficulty starting, or other symptoms that something was brewing. Also for reference, the day before this "no start" the car fired right up with no problems.

Now, here is what I've tried:

1) Turn the key and I can hear the fuel pump running.
2) Removed a spark plug wire and tested a spark plug and their is spark when trying to start the car.
3) I have fuel pressure at the rail (I opened the valve and fuel shoots out).
4) If I spray some ether in the intake, the car will start, but shuts off as soon as the ether is burned off.

Any thoughts as to what could be going on here?

Thanks,
Robert
 
It sure sounds like your injectors are not pushing gas into the manifold. Do you have a service manual. May be time to get one. I assume the ECM controls the injectors and it does not sound like its signaling them to open.

TRAV is the injector guy I believe. Maybe PM him.
 
Originally Posted By: RH12
Hi All,

First, very nice forum...glad I found this place. I hope someone can help me with my situation.

I can't get my 2004 Chevy Malibu Classic to start. For reference, it has been running fine with no loss of power, difficulty starting, or other symptoms that something was brewing. Also for reference, the day before this "no start" the car fired right up with no problems.

Now, here is what I've tried:

1) Turn the key and I can hear the fuel pump running.
2) Removed a spark plug wire and tested a spark plug and their is spark when trying to start the car.
3) I have fuel pressure at the rail (I opened the valve and fuel shoots out).
4) If I spray some ether in the intake, the car will start, but shuts off as soon as the ether is burned off.

Any thoughts as to what could be going on here?

Thanks,
Robert


Hi Robert,

Does it attempt to turn over and then dies or do you not hear the engine crank?

I would check the following items:
(1) Make sure your battery terminals are clean and making a good connection
(2) Do you have a battery load tester?
(3) If no to question 2, can you try to jump start the car?
(4) I would also check the intake manifold and clean that.
(5) check the condition of all the spark plugs (remove them and see if one or more are bad).

Did you try checking youtube?
Regards, JC.
 
Last edited:
Injectors not firing. They have all they need apparently, but a pulse.
If you spray fuel, it fires until it's extinguished, so that means your timing is there and correct, therefore your crank angle sensor is working. From what you describe, it just seems that the ECU is not firing the injectors.

MAF?
FI fuse?
 
^^ + 2 it's your security lockout.

Turn the key on then walk away for ten minutes. Come back and it'll start.
 
Originally Posted By: JC1
Originally Posted By: RH12
Hi All,

First, very nice forum...glad I found this place. I hope someone can help me with my situation.

I can't get my 2004 Chevy Malibu Classic to start. For reference, it has been running fine with no loss of power, difficulty starting, or other symptoms that something was brewing. Also for reference, the day before this "no start" the car fired right up with no problems.

Now, here is what I've tried:

1) Turn the key and I can hear the fuel pump running.
2) Removed a spark plug wire and tested a spark plug and their is spark when trying to start the car.
3) I have fuel pressure at the rail (I opened the valve and fuel shoots out).
4) If I spray some ether in the intake, the car will start, but shuts off as soon as the ether is burned off.

Any thoughts as to what could be going on here?

Thanks,
Robert


Hi Robert,

Does it attempt to turn over and then dies or do you not hear the engine crank?

I would check the following items:
(1) Make sure your battery terminals are clean and making a good connection
(2) Do you have a battery load tester?
(3) If no to question 2, can you try to jump start the car?
(4) I would also check the intake manifold and clean that.
(5) check the condition of all the spark plugs (remove them and see if one or more are bad).

Did you try checking youtube?
Regards, JC.


It starts with ether for a few seconds.
 
Last edited:
Security does a fuel kill on these after teasing you with a second of running. VERY COMMON issue.
 
Check the fuel pressure! When cranking. And go from there others have also given good advice . But please don't use ether on that engine. It is not good for engines of today. Most mechanics don't use it anymore. It can do damage.
 
Just because you have fuel spraying out of the fuel rail does not mean you have enough fuel pressure to run engine.
+1 on all other responses.
 
Thank you all so much! It was indeed the anti-theft. I left the key on 10 mins as instructed and it fired right up. I'm embarrassed by all of the things I tried and this was the problem.

Thanks for getting me fixed up so quickly!

Thanks,
Robert
 
Originally Posted By: RH12
I'm embarrassed by all of the things I tried and this was the problem.

Happens to the best of us. Sometimes you just need another set of eyes or a new thought on a problem. One reason forums like this are so great.
cool.gif
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Security does a fuel kill on these after teasing you with a second of running. VERY COMMON issue.


Eljefino has now attained the God status along with Tegger!
 
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Question is now why the security system kick on?


There's a "thing" in the lock cylinder that when happy sends a proper resistance to the computer. When it wears that resistance changes. To recalibrate the computer you leave it on for ten minutes, too long for a thief to stick around.

You can change the lock cylinder or cut the small, light yellow wire that comes out of it when the car is running. This will result in a security nag light but, hey, it was free. Google "N-body GM Passlock" (not passkey) FMI.
 
That's exactly why I like forums like this and sites like youtube. Just having the car towed to a shop would have been $100 and that's before they even diagnose the car. And the fact that people were so confident of the problem AND the solution...that's pretty impressive.

If it happens again, I'm cutting that yellow wire!

Thanks,
Robert
 
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