Turns Over, Fire at the Plugs but Won't Start????

dbailey · 05-25-2008, 11:19 PM

My baby is starting to become a nightmare of a black hole all of a sudden.

Everything's fine and without any warning, it won't start. Turns over fine, checked for spark at the spark plug and plenty of that. Any ideas as to what to check first from a fuel standpoint? Anybody ever had this happen to them before? Hope its not the fuel pump. Don't guess a throttle body engine will vapor lock will they? It was parked all day on a slight incline with the nose pointed up and was pretty hot today if that makes any difference. I have in the past noticed it having a slight problem starting when it has been pointed uphill. Hmmmm.....any suggestions? Thanks guys.

dbailey · 05-25-2008, 11:27 PM

P.S. I can hear the fuel pump running when I turn on the key until it pressurizes or whatever it does.

00oldsalero · 05-25-2008, 11:57 PM

check fuses and relays and or possibly timeing chain not sure what the aleros have in the car will crank but not start

Vinalero · 05-26-2008, 12:04 AM

I guess if it was timing chain, he would have heard it the last time it was running.

But liek he said, Id start from the basic like you did and go up like with fuses, etc.

I'm thinking, you were on an incline with the nose up, is your fuel tank almost empty? (I know its dumb, but I've seen it too often)

AftermathAlero · 05-26-2008, 01:26 AM

I've had a sounding fuel pump and not work. To really check the fuel pump is to unscrew the cap at the shredder valve. stick a philips screwdriver in the needle thingy (forgot the term, LOL). put a towel over the area tho as gas will spray out. then put the car in run real quick. If there fuel coming out then its not the fuel pump. If there is nothing, then its ur fuel pump. Or low on gas.

check that tho.

misslindseysue · 05-26-2008, 10:25 AM

All I know about making a car run is it's a three term equation. You need fuel, air, and spark. If you know you have spark, follow the other two back to their source and make sure you have them in the correct amount and at the right time. Fuel could be a low tank, bad pump, clogged line, bad injector, etc. Air could be a bad sensor or something worse, but that's usually the one you don't have to worry about.

blueolds01 · 05-26-2008, 10:52 PM

has your security light come on at all?

dbailey · 05-27-2008, 11:39 AM

Thanks all. As stupid as it sounds, I had just less that a quarter of a tank of gas and the pick up must be in the front of the tank. After I rolled it onto flatter ground and cranked on it awhile, it started up.

Thanks for the ideas though for future reference!