need help ASAP please car wont start

[gabemiranda]

Hey everyone kinda stressed out. mechanic says I need to replace my engine which i really cant afford. I have a 2001 alero coupe. Ok a week before my car wouldn't start, then i tried again a few times and it finally started. It happened again the next day and this time my friend gave me the idea to put my foot on the gas while trying to start it and when i did i revved up hard and started. The next morning when i try to start it and put the foot on the gas it just kind of stutters and tries to start but wont. keep trying with the gas pedal but it still wouldn't start. I figured it might be a fuel pump issue but the mechanic says it isn't. Has anyone else had a similar problem? I'm sorry I forgot to write down what exactly the mechanic said, something about a timing something, or a chain something... ill write it down when i talk to him tomorrow but i have to get to work and school so im really stressed about finding rides. really just want to know if anyone ha a similar problem and if i should take it somewhere else.:cry: :cry: :cry:

[04PONTIACGA]

If you have a broken timing belt, odds are you bent some valves as it is an interference engine. If that is the case cheapest way would be a J/Y motor. It wouldn't be worth it to do a tear down on what is probably a pretty high mileage motor. Hopefully this isn't your case, this is just worst case scenario, but from the small amount of info you provided it seems to be accurate. Report back with mechanics findings and more info, when you can a will be glad to help the best I can.

[xXManwhoreXx]

When the car started did it run fine? If it ran fine the timing is fine. What motor do you have?

[04PONTIACGA]

He has the 2.4.

[gabemiranda]

yea manwhore after i put my foot on the gas it started and ran fine. I started it while giving it gas for 3 days and each day it ran like normal. but yea i do believe my mechanic said it had a broken timing belt. it just seems fishy because it drove fine after i did the gas and start.. and yea its the 2.4

[gabemiranda]

ok so the thing is wouldn't i have noticed the timing belt break i mean i would have felt it or something. theres no way i would be able to be driving around with it broken right? what cause my car to need to be gassed to start and then ultimately end up not being able to start even while gassing it?

[xXManwhoreXx]

Could be bad fuel pump or a clogged filter. Try this. Put key in and turn to on position to let it prime for a while then try to start.

If belt was broke the car wouldnt even start. I call bs on this mechanic he sounds like an idiot. Describle what you hear when you turn the key.

Also your car is fuel injected the pressing the gas while starting does nothing. And if it does anything its washing out your cylinders and yiur cold revving which is terrible

[04PONTIACGA]

Actually if you hold the pedal to the floor it cuts off the fuel, so you don't flood it. Not sure if this is what he's talking about, but I agree the mechanic sounds like he doesn't know what he's do. I was just mearly posting worst case scenario.

[sleepyalero]

it also not very good on the car to rev on start up.

[gabemiranda]

i know but is the only way my car would start

[Shiwnath]

Well sir, I'm pretty sure the 2.4L uses a timing CHAIN not BELT... if it started once after having this problem then I highly doubt the chain snapped... if the chain snapped and you tried starting the engine you would hear a lot of violent metal on metal contact.. Mechanic sounds like he's trying to screw you..

Is there any way you can take a video of what you're experiencing?? Does the engine turn over when you try starting it? Do you hear any irregular noises?

[gabemiranda]

the car sounds normal and cranks when i turn the ignition it just doesn't start

[Shiwnath]

If you suspect the fuel system then you should get a fuel system pressure test, but before you do that, check the fuel pump fuse/relay to make sure they're functioning. Also, is your check engine light on at all?

[gabemiranda]

nope no check engine light. i could hear the pump turn on so i dont think its that

[jawa]

it could be a number of things , weak fuel pump, cloged fuel filter, bum fuel pressure reg, look into those ,
it sounds like your mechanic knows its a easy fix but whats some easy cash out of you, if it was timing the car wouldnt start

[gabemiranda]

wouldnt start as in wouldnt even do anything when i turn the ignition right? its sad because this is the triple a mechanic

[RalphP]

I'm going to bet the "timing something" is either a cam sensor, or a crank sensor, since both help set the ECU's monitor of the mechanical timing of the car.

If it doesn't do ANYTHING (and priming the gas, i.e., hearing the pump run when you turn the ignition is SOMETHING), I'd check battery, cables, connections, and ignition switch.

RwP

[gabemiranda]

Would that cause the starting problems I described ralph?

[zzyzzx]

I agree with RalphP. I would not go back to that mechanic. I would also check for codes.

[jawa]

this thread is useless with out vids

[gabemiranda]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq5jl1u49r0 sounds like this. it cranks forever but wont start

[xXManwhoreXx]

Still calling fuel filter it was a cps or another sensor he would be throwing a code

[billytheman1188]

Yea could be a clogged fuel filter....replace that first....it's easy and cheap. Well....it's easy AFTER you get the stock one off....careful not to twist the fuel line when trying to loosen the nut. And be careful with the clip... after you finish putting it on....turn the key to on....give it like 10 seconds to get fuel through the lines and try starting. Hopefully it's just that...but it really doesn't sound like anything too crazy.


Start looking/asking around for an honest mechanic. DO NOT go to big chain places (like monro muffler, jiffy lube, etc.). Small shop ftw...their usually the hard working/honest ones. ;)

[gabemiranda]

the mechanic said the timing chain must have skipped a tooth and that is why it wont start. he said no codes came up on the computer. what do you guys think?

[gabemiranda]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOGz4vYgKwY my car sounded similar to this when i cranked it and gave it gas :(

[gabemiranda]

also i got the timing chain tensioner replaced fairly recently. do u think a bad installation of this could have caused these problems? and sorry for the triple post.