SPONSORED LINKS

Intermittent hard start

Tiny
GOJO2010
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 119,452 MILES
I just bought this Chevy cavalier. It's a 96, when accelerating thier is a loud metal rattling noise coming from the drivers side right behind the wheel. Over the weekend I replaced the brakes and rotors and inspected all around the front of the car but their didn't seem to be anything loose or wobbly. I took it to autozone to have it put on the machine for a check engine light and they said it was an o2 sensor? However the mechanic I had do the oil change said he doesn't think so. On top of that it has issues starting sometimes. For example.
when the key is turned the engine turns over the rpm goes slightly between 1 and 1 1/2. Than it dies. Turn the key a couple more times and the engine gives a rough shake about the third time and starts.
today however I was stuck outside the BX and we couldn't get it to stay running. It'd start rpm go to 1-1 1/2 and than die. Thiers an obvious leaking of the power steering fluid which that's being fixed this weekend but, i'm dumbfound as well as the other mechanics who work with me
any ideas? Oh and did I mention it has a whistle that is only present when accelerated and that the rattling went away after we got it started?
SPONSORED LINKS
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 AT 9:20 PM

22 Replies

Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
I know it sounds simple, but check the pcv valv, if it is clogged it will have a ruff start or no start condition, and look for a vacuum leak.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 30th, 2010 AT 11:14 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Also you will need to start by changing that oxygen sensor. Then move from there, we want to eliminate any codes before moving on, regaurdless of how unrelated they may be.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 30th, 2010 AT 11:19 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Our next move would be to verify fuel pressure and ignition. Has this vehicle had a tune up? That is something to consider.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Friday, April 30th, 2010 AT 11:20 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_an_ignition_system.htm
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 30th, 2010 AT 11:22 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_check_fuel_pressure.htm
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 30th, 2010 AT 11:23 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
It also sounds like something may be dirty, like the idle air control valve, and throttle body, airfilter, check all of that and clean if necessary
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 30th, 2010 AT 11:24 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_tune_up.htm
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 30th, 2010 AT 11:24 PM
Tiny
RAY7361
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
Engine Performance problem
1999 Chevy Cavalier 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

Car Is Hard to start, it takes 5 to 6 seconds of cranking to start. I have replaced fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel pressure regulator, coolant temp. Sensor, plugs. Still has extended cranking. But found this out, I tried spraying wd-40 on coil packs and ignition module, I let it sit on it for a little bit, then it would start on first crank, turn ignition off, couple hours later it would start right up and let it sit over night and it would start first crank, run car for a little while and wd-40 would "wear off" and back to extended cranking. I replaced coils and ignition module with salvage yard parts but got same symptoms, also used di-electric grease on ignition parts, car once started runs perfect it has no misses and idles perfect. I also took car to Advance Auto Parts to scan for stored codes but they wouldn't scan car because the check engine light was not on, any advice would be helpful, Thanks ray7361
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Did you replace the boots that snap onto the plugs?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RAY7361
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
"Boots that snap onto plugs"? Spark plug wires. If so, no.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Okay, you have the other one. And yes in that case plug wires. Somtimes you can get them to act up by misting water on them when the problem isn't present to expose it.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RAY7361
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
What does "misting water" on the plug wires do, car does not have a miss, remember if I spray wd-40 on coils and module and I guess plug wires, after the wd-40 "soaks in" it starts the first try, do you think if I changed my plug wires it will help the extended cranking?
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MUSCLES
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 114,000 MILES
My 1998 caviler is hard to start, check engine light does not work checked all the fuses, fuel pressure ok, spark is ok, need to find why check engine light does not come on. May be injectors? Needs computer? What next.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Need more info.

When is it hard to start?

IT does start though? Drivibility problems after that or runs fine?

What is "hard to start" mean? Long crank. Doesn't want to crank etc.

On the CEL, when you first turn the key to the run position before cranking, does the light illuminate for a few seconds, or it never comes on?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Moisture can set into the wires, not providing good spark. Thus the reason you are spraing wd-40.A moisture displacing chemical. Since spraying the fluid on them results in the condition being absent temporarily, it would give the impression of bad wires.

If there are only two cylinders that are not firing in the AM when the problem happens, it isn't going to start. Bad wire can exhibit both a missfire or a no start such as you have. Does that mean that is your solution? No.

Misting the wires when the problem is NOT happening, but they start arcing, giving a runnibillity problem or stall, will help to narrow it down.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MUSCLES
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for your help. The check engine light does not come on, even with the key on. Maybe a bad computer, do not want to change it because the dealer said it would have to be reprogramed. I talked to the dealer. Fuel pressure is ok. Hard to start cold or hot. All of the coils have spark. Compressinn ok. Exuast is not stopped up. The car runs fine long as you spray fuel in the intake. How do you test fuel injectors. What next. Did somebody take the bulb out of the dash. What next?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PH8ED4LIFE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Ray

I have the same problem I am trying to diagnose on a friends car, the exact same year, model, etc. It has started in this manner for years, and has gotten slightly worse lately.

Do you notice, when you are cranking it, when it finally catches and starts, it is rough to idle up and something under the hood or under the dash clicks real hard/loud?

Thanks!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
On the light, yeah pull the cluster and check the bulb, may be a burned out bulb.

You can check the injectors to see if they are pulsing with a noid light that hooks to the injector connector.

If this was mine I would go take a look at the pcm. That year had a problem with moisture getting into it as it was not protected from salt and moisture. I have seen some split wide open. It is located in the right front wheel well/behind the bumper area.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LARRY89
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hey I was just wondering if you found out what the permanent problem was I just recently bought a 99 cavalier with the exact same problem.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+3
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TMMFLO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
The car is hard to start, mostly when hot, but runs good when it finally starts, noticed gas in the oil.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Saturday, April 20th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Hard To Start Content

Hard Starting
GUIDE
Hard Starting
Popular Hard Starting Causes
VIEW MORE

Sponsored links