Drove 5km home then fails to start

DERICKM04

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
2.2L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
190,000 MILES

Bought the car listed above that drove 5km home then fails to start. I've replaced the plugs, plug connectors, fuel filter (fuel filter was clogged with brown fuel from previous owner who had passed away and the car sitting for the winter). I did an oil change as soon as I bought it then gave the engine a rinse (yes I realize I'm an idiot) to which the car drove less than a km and stalled out from 2nd to 3rd. Any ideas of what I could do for a novice DIY person?

180,000 kms

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

I assume the engine is cranking but not starting?

Here is a guide that will help with this:

https://youtu.be/dCjmRL3p4Cs

If there was brown fuel that came out of the filter then that was in the tank as well. So we need to check the fuel pressure to start and see what we have.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

If the pressure is low then we are going to have to not only replace the pump but clean the fuel out as well. So let us know what you find with this and we can go from there. Thanks

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Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 AT 3:36 PM

DERICKM04

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for the reply, I will drop the fuel tank tomorrow and Inspect it as with the fuel pump. Also I must note that today I went back to it to try turn it over and after a few tries I shut the key off and now all the dash lights stay illuminated causing the battery to drop and still no codes on my obd II?

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Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 AT 3:36 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

That may be as simple as a loose battery connection or other loose ground. However, let's get a new post started for that issue as we need to keep each one to one issue so that others can find the solutions if they have a similar issue.

Let us know what you find in the tank but worse case, I would drain the fuel that is in the tank and try to clean it as best as possible. You can spray it out with parts cleaner if needed.

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Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 AT 3:36 PM