I drove my new Caprice home yesterday, but now it won't start?

Tiny
9C1CAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • 170,000 MILES
I drove my new Caprice 9C1 home yesterday, but now it won't start. It will crank and sputter sometimes, but now it won't even catch if I don't spray starting fluid in the intake. It's almost as if it has no gas. I know that it has gas in the car because it has a quarter of a tank. The check gage light is on and I have no clue what its doing. I've tried everything I can, and I checked that it has gas and spark because it did this yesterday and I let it sit and it started again. I have no clue what is wrong now.
Monday, October 21st, 2013 AT 12:18 PM

19 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
How long since a tune-up? Use a gage and check fuel pressure. Some of the national brand auto stores used to loan out a fuel pressure gage. You may have to put up a deposit to get the gage, but, you get the deposit back when you return the gage. That's how they used to do it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

If the vehicle has mfi fuel injection, there should be a Schrader valve on the fuel rail, for the gage. If tbi fuel injection, then you will have to tee into the fuel supply line, different type gage.

You should be able to check for applicable trouble codes? If your fully obd1 compliant, you don't need any special tools to check codes, a jumper wire should work fine.

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Monday, October 21st, 2013 AT 1:41 PM
Tiny
TUT8282
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
Engine Mechanical problem
1994 Chevy Caprice V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic

car was running and shut off, won't start, replaced battery, when I turn the key I hear a click but it will not turn over
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
No crank at all/nothing/nada:

Could be the starter, starter relay, park and neutral switch and ignition switch assuming the battery and connections are good.
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
66JALEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • 188,000 MILES
The engine rotates butwill not starti replace all these parts, timing gear and chain distributor, ignition coil module and the car still doing same thing whatyou could be problem.
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Verify the valve and ignition timing-start here
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEG510
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
1994 Chevy Caprice V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic

the engine cranks but won't fire and run. Just put in a new fuel pump
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Test fuel pressure at fuel rail with gauge. If OK, inspect spark at each plug. If OK, check compression at each cylinder.

Post results and I will follow up.

Thanks for using 2CarPros. Com!
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANTHONYJOE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Engine Performance problem
1994 Chevy Caprice V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 180000 miles

stalled while driving towed to shop. No spark, fuel pump not turning on, no injector pulse, no codes stored. Able to set codes. Computer able to read and set codes and displays data. Have checked all fuses and wiring
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi:
Is the security light flashing when you turn on the key?

Joe
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ARTHUR KUHN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
Engine Performance problem
1994 Chevy Caprice 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

I can start my car only after the day warms up a bit, but it won't start in the morning when cold. Why?
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
My first thought would be check the battery to see if it is low. Have the altinator output checked. In cold weather a battery will loose some of its cranking power. There are a few items out in th market to aid in cold weather starts, example, a block heater it helps your oil stay a little thinner for a easier start A trickle charger keeps you battery charged for more cranking power
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TREJAC03
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 186,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1994 Chevy Caprice V8 Front Wheel Drive Automatic 186000 miles

My car wont start like it should. Heres the problem my engine like is on my car acts like it doesnt want to crank. But when my engine light goes off my car cranks up fine but it cuts back and backfires.
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Try retrieving code/s from the computer-start here
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIRCALE
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • 150,000 MILES
Replaced ingnition coil and distributor still wont start no fire to distributor
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOC MARTIN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • RWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Started car gas hand shot all the way to full it started but ran rough. Cut it off, start it back up same thing. Put it in drive it sputtered and cut off. So I change the fuel filter. At first it ran rough then it smoothed out I could even give it gas while in park, but if I put it in drive it sputters and cut off. Eventually it stopped turning over. So I changed fuel pump still no start. Gas hand still jumping to full. Before this happened the car ran great. Came home parked it thirty minutes later this happened. What could it be?
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Monday, August 14th, 2017 AT 8:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AMACBOI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Did you find the problem? Here we are 8 years later I’m having the same issues and it’s driving me crazy. The gas gauge is stuck at full, and the car will crank but not start. Was running fine.
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Saturday, October 5th, 2024 AT 1:24 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
It sounds like the fuel pump when out. I would go over this video which will show the easy stuff and let me know what you find.

https://youtu.be/lXLJbuAZ4CE?si=u7uA-NQ2EXzyF-1u

Please go over this guide and get back to us.

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Monday, October 7th, 2024 AT 8:54 AM
Tiny
AMACBOI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I just replaced the fuel pump. It is working and I do have pressure at the rail.
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Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 AT 3:47 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Does the engine start and run now? If not did the engine run using starter fluid?
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Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 AT 5:30 PM

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