1996 Chevrolet Corsica car cranks but won't start

Tiny
CAR_COLLI
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 177,000 MILES
I have a fuel injected 96 Chevy Corsica and it will crank over but it will not start, it will however start with starting fluid and I can keep it running with starting fluid so I know it has to be a fuel problem. I noticed that it is getting fuel all the way up to the fuel rail, but I don't know if it could be a weak fuel pump? Clogged or bad injectors? Please help me out before I spend money on parts I don't need. Thanks
Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 AT 10:13 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,269 POSTS
First, confirm the pressure is within the manufacturer's specs. If it is, check for power to the injectors.
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Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 AT 11:03 AM
Tiny
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Thanks for your response? A few more questions for you, if no fuel pressure. What does that mean. And if the fuel injectors are good what else could it be? Could 1 bad injector cause it not to start. I know its a little hard to say without having me try what you suggested and get back to you. But I just want all the possibilities it could be and tips to do whatever it is ya know so I can go out there and do it. Thanks again your answer helped
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Sunday, April 12th, 2015 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
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Not a problem. One injector will cause a misfire, but it will run. As far as no fuel pressure, either the pump is bad, has a bad electrical connection, or the fuel filter is plugged. (Or it's out of gas, lol)

Let me know if you have other questions.
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Sunday, April 12th, 2015 AT 7:38 PM
Tiny
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Alright thanks a lot, so what I have to go look out for is, well first check fuel pressure then test to see if the injectors are bad. Alright I'm gonna test those things first and get back to you if I need to?
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Monday, April 13th, 2015 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
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Let me know what you find.
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Monday, April 13th, 2015 AT 6:09 PM
Tiny
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Okay so, I called two mechanics I personally know and told them what the car is doing. They both said fuel pump. Now, before I buy an $80 dollar fuel pump and go through all that work to put it in I want to make sure that that's for sure it. I think I've said this before but I'll say it again, its getting fuel all the way to the fuel rail, does this mean anything. Could it still be a bad pump (because my dad told me its not the pump because we're getting fuel to the fuel rail) does that make a difference? And also, the fuel pump relay? Could it be as simple as that? I don't know I just don't want to waste money and time on a fuel pump if its possibly something else. I'm not sure how to test fuel pressure on this car because once again my dad told me that there's no place to hook a pressure gauge on this car? So I haven't bought a pressure gauge to test pressure. Where should I go from here? I'm going to listen for a 'click' on the relay and if that checks out fine I guess I'm just going to replace the fuel pump. Thanks for all your help so far
P.S
What all could cause no fuel pressure? Just the pump?
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Thursday, April 16th, 2015 AT 8:43 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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No fuel pressure can be a pump, plugged fuel filter, damaged or crushed steel fuel line. As far as the issue, even if you are getting fuel to the rail, it could be too weak to run the vehicle. That is why I recommend checking pressure. That is the ONLY way I can be sure it is the pump. Also, if you have fuel to the rail, the relay sounds fine. The only other thing that could be checked is to see if the injectors are getting power.

As far as the fuel pressure test, if there is no schrader valve on the rail, you have to get a T and check the pressure at another location. Often times, it is checked right at the filter.

Please understand, not being there and not knowing the pump pressure doesn't assure me that the pump is the issue. Without following a few diagnosis procedures, we are guessing.
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Saturday, April 18th, 2015 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
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Thanks so muck for your help Jacobandnickolas, I put a fuel pump in (took about 2 hours) and it started right up and runs and drives great! Now I have just a few small kinks I'm trying to work out, like the headlights won't turn off from the switch? That's the biggest one. Are they supposed to, I'm pretty sure they are but anyways when I turn the key on the headlights come on and the only way to get them to go off is by turning the engine off. I find that to be a little weird. And little stuff like the horn doesn't work? But. Egh no big deal :) you've helped plenty! But if you could give me your opinion in the headlight thing that'd be great because I can't figure it out
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Sunday, April 19th, 2015 AT 3:15 AM
Tiny
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If the vehicle is equipped with daytime driving lights, they will come on with the switch and can't be turned off.
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Monday, April 20th, 2015 AT 8:42 AM

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