2000 Chevy Cavalier 2.2 - Turns Over but Won't Start

Sounds like you have more than one electrical gremlin to deal with. I would suggest eliminating each problem one at a time. Double, and tipple check the ECM wiring. Make sure you are getting spark at the plug. Make sure you are getting fuel to the engine, IE fuel filter clogged? My guess is either you don't have spark, or you don't have fuel. You will need to verify proper function, and pressure of both systems.

Use the "search this forum" box at the right of this screen. Just type in "Cavalier".

If you do a search for "cavalier" on CR4 you will discover an awful lot of threads dealing with Chevy Cavalier and the problems that beset them...

Note to Mods; How about a separate section called Chevy Cavalier? You guys could list all the cavalier threads there, maybe even as a "sticky". Just a thought...

Check the gas tank. check the gas gage, see if it matches the gas tank.

One time, long ago, I had a car that was parked on a hill with less than a 1/4 of a tank of gas. It wouldn't start either. Not till I got it on flat ground.

Check the timing.

Sorry my reply was so short I had to leave in a hurry yesterday.

As said further in the descussion I would check the ignition switch, it could be going bad or just bad. Another thing I would check for about the dash lights staying on would be the light switch.

I use to have a cavalier and sometimes when I got a jump the electrical system would act up doing crazy stuff untill I would unhook the battery cables and reconnect them, then it would act fine again. Just a thought of something else you might want to check out.

Your comments "I have gone through all of the fuses and relays and everything is fine." and "Also, the battery dies because the dash lights stay on constantly." are mutually exclusive. One statement or the other might be true, but both are not true.

As with most of the Cavalier questions we get at CR4, there seems to be more than one problem at work here.

Does a Cavalier have a trouble code report? Nobody ever speaks of it, so I guess not. That would, of course, be way too obvious.

You might check the ignition switch under the dash,on the steering column. If the dash light's are staying on sounds like the switch is out of adjustment or gone bad and need's replaced. This is a problem on a lot of earlier GM cars and trucks and a few Chrysler's that used Saginaw steering column's. The switch's tend to loosen up and slide out of adjustment and do just as you describe.and some time's the switch come's apart on the column and lose contact or make's contact when you don't want it to. also is this a tilt column some time's the tilt mechanism (aka) the rack assembly will break and do the same thing

If you live in a region where crazy ants are a problem You might have an electrical short. I have a 99 cavalier With a similar problem that was parked for a period of Time where there is a problem with crazy ants. Lyndon Lozano

Welcome to the insanity.

The first thing to check is the fuel pressure. Next what lights: all lights, illumination lights, or just normal lights like key on engine not running.

Pull a plug wire install a good spark plug. Put the plug wire on a good plug hold the plug to the block with insulated pliers. Have someone crank the car and check for spark. If you have spark check for a fuel problem.

If you have enough fuel in the tank:

As already suggested by other members, start with checking for spark ( remove one sp plug wire from plug, hold close to engine--very close but not touching. Let some one crank engine.) If you see a spark at the wire, you have spark and your ignition system is OK. Your timing may be Off but usually it does not happen with electronic ignition. If the timing chain was broken, you will not have spark.

Next check if your injectors are firing (remove the pigtail from one injector and connect a 'noid light' you could buy from auto zone for less than 10 dollars. Crank engine, if you see the noid light glowing, your computer(ECM) is OK. Next check for fuel delivery to the injectors. Normally there is a port where you attach a pressure Gage. Fuel can be checked there and preferably fuel pressure. If you have fuel then let us know because serious diagnostic will start. I will suggest subscription to ALLDATA manual for your car on line---it used to be 15 dollars per car for a year. It will give you step by step procedure. Good luck. Let us know what happened.

Don't forget to check the fuel relay. Cheap and easy to replace, and MANY times the culprit when car won't start. The lights on all the time sounds like a malfunctioning light switch. Suggestions: Keep the car ON the road.

I might suggest to the site moderators that they create a special section within Automotive just for the Cavalier.

When did the "lights on the dash" start? Was it at the same time as the "no start" issue?. The post about the ignition switch being out of alignment might be the one to start with. The switch being out of alignment could be causing both problems. Do you have a repair manual for the car? (I could make a fortune selling Cavalier manuals here.) If not, and of the GM cars with steering column locks should be the same ignition switch adjustment procedure. Try that first. Let us know. Good luck.

Crank, ignition and dash lights are all controlled through or by the ignition switch.

It is a common point and would be a good place to start.

Bill