Car starting up but not connecting

Tiny
AMARA S
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 162 MILES
My car is starting up but it is not connecting to actual start up and drive it. I have got three opinions and they said from the sounds of it it could be the alternator or the fuel pump. I just want to get another opinion to know exactly what is going. It is not the battery, it is not drained. The lights still come on and it still cranks up just not actually starting to the point where the car can be put in drive.
Friday, June 1st, 2018 AT 8:57 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,292 POSTS
Okay. Just to clarify, your car is cranking when you turn the key, but not starting (the engine will not run). Right? If that is the case, there are a lot of things that can cause that, unfortunately. I can tell you that it is not the alternator. There is a diagnostic process that I use. Here is how it goes:

Engines need several things in order to start. They need (1) fuel, (2) air, (3) compression, (4) sparks, and (5) 1-4 have to be on time, in the correct strength/amount. Unfortunately, when you get over 150,000 miles on any vehicle, any of those could be the problem. The most common causes are with (1) and (4).

I would start with simply listening for the sound of the fuel pump coming on. When you turn the key on, without turning the engine over, the pump should come on for two to three seconds. It makes a humming sound. If you can, get a helper to turn the key on while you listen for it. If you do not hear it come on, try tapping on the bottom of the tank with a hammer or other blunt object immediately after the helper turns the key on. If you then hear the pump come on, then you need a new fuel pump. Simple as that. You freed up the brushes in the electric motor inside the pump. This is a very temporary fix (might give you an hour or two of running time).

If you still do not hear the pump come on, then you need to check the fuses. There is a fuse box diagram attached below. The fuse box to look at is the one that is under the hood, along the left side. In particular, look at the fuses for "fuel pump", "ECM/TCM," "PWR Train," and "ENG Ign."

Just because the pump receives power and comes on, does not mean that it is pumping enough. We will circle back to checking the pressure output later on, if necessary.

If the pump is coming on, the next easy thing to check is for sparks. You can do this with a tester that is available at AutoZone or any other auto parts store. Here is a link for one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-20610-Inline-Spark-Tester/dp/B0002STSC6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1501325755&sr=8-3&keywords=spark+tester

Basically, you pull the plug wire off of the ignition coil (also pictured below) and plug in this tester between the coil and the plug wire. Then get someone to turn the key while you observe it. If it flashes, then you have spark. Check all of the cylinders.

Let us know and we will go from there. There are more advanced tests that you can do for free or very cheap. We will go through them if needed.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 AT 3:47 AM
Tiny
AMARA S
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Could you please watch the video then tell me what you think it might be?
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 AT 8:23 AM
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,292 POSTS
Okay, I watched the video a couple of times and cannot tell for sure what the problem is. At the end of the video it does seem like the battery is draining. Try getting a jump start and see what it does. If it does not start (which it may or may not), then you will need to start checking things. One question though, is the security light coming on? If so it could be as simple as a bad chip in your car.
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Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 AT 4:47 AM

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