2003 Chevy Cavalier Starter Turns But Engine Not Starting

First, some terms.

Kicking over engine? Does the engine turn, or does the starter just turn? high pitched whine?

Check engine light on?

With EVERYTHING turned off, turn ignition to the "on" (NOT start) position and listen carefully for the fuel pump in the tank. If it runs for 2-5 seconds, you have gas.

Go try this and get back to us.

A Cavalier forum may give better advice

just starter turns over i have gas i checked intake gas valve at engine

engine light has been on for awail

fuel pump does come on

Starter solenoid inoperative. There's a solenoid on the top of the starter that pushes the starter gear into the flywheel to turn the engine.

That has nothing to do with check eng light.

Does fuel pump go off right away?

Borrow a code reader or take it to Auto zone/O'reilly's/Fly-by-Night auto shop etc. They will check it free and tell you what it needs.

Or, take it to a reputable shop and say, "fix it, call me when it's ready".

i was told that might be the problem of the speed sensor since last nite it was loping while in idle then it wouldnt start today

It could also be one of 20 other things caused by a sensor or part malfunction.

The last thing you want to do is listen to people who say, "yeah, mine did that and it was the framus thingy".

My Ford did that (rough idle) and it was a broken plastic fitting letting the engine run lean. It always started fine.

You can't self diagnose new cars and you can spend $$$$$$$$$$$ replacing good parts you think may be bad.

Don't let your buddies (or me) tell you to put on a new doohickey and expect to get it fixed.

Get a code reader and go on the internet (not here) and see what the trouble codes say.

If the starter run but the engine does not turn over, The battery needs charging or the starter bendix clutch is slipping [oiled up] or sticky on its splines.

1. Charge battery or couple up a good battery in paralell.

2. Still not turning the engine: Remove starter, free bendix on sticky splines or wash out the bendix clutch with petrol, or spiritus,or thinners.

3. Good time to overhaul or check starter bushes and brushes.

4. Check if timing belt is broken or some teeth stripped off. On some engines the valves will be hit by the pistons, bending valve stems if the engine is turned while the camshaft is stationary or visa versa.

I hope this is not the case, needind a valve job!

I have 1 suggestion...dont buy a string of parts hoping one might be the problem. clearly identify the issue before spending a dime

Sounds like the rotor....probably just change the distributor cap and rotor......or the coil might be shorting or failed....also would check the air filter....

I was thinking timing chain tensioner but I can see it from here

Of all the crap cars that turn up on CR4 needing attention, the Chevy Cavalier is by far ahead of the rest as regards topic count. There are other sites specialising in Chevy Cavalier problems. It is very tempting to report this thread as a duplicate...

true true true

Pull a spark plug wire and hang on to it...this tends to be uncomfortable but will identify if it is a high voltage 'electrical' problem and if the engine is turning over. You may have more than one problem.

That particular problem can be solved by removing a spark plug as well, attaching it back onto its spark plug lead, and arranging for the plug body to touch the engine block while turning the engine briefly on the starter motor in reduced lighting conditions. Blocking the spark plug socket with some rag is usually a good idea while doing this, just in case...

As long as the rag doesn't disappear on the intake stroke>>>>>>>>>>>

<Rejoices - someone took the bait.>

Perhaps the rag could be made of Chevy Cavalier threads (pun intended). :-)

<unsubscribes>

I don't think I'd try that. Years ago with mechanical contact-breaker/coil systems you could get an unpleasant shock from a plug lead, but there wasn't enough energy there to do any harm. But on modern systems there's a potentially dangerous amount of energy. That's what the handbooks say, anyway.

http://cr4.globalspec.com/search/sitesearch?do=show&order=asc&sort=textmatchrank&srch=chevy%20cavalier

How about that lot for some bedtime reading (rhetorical question - NNTR)?