2000 Chevy Cavalier Car wont start

APRIL026

MEMBER
2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
106,000 MILES

I just bought a 2000 Cavalier and its been great for about a week. Today I went to the gas station, put gas in it, went to drive away and it wouldnt start. I then made sure that it was all the way in park and it started. I got home and tried to start it again later but nothing. The engine doesnt even turn over. The radio comes on and all that but thats it. We checked the battery connections, tried to boost it, tried the shifter again, it still wont start. The only noise that it makes when I try to start it is a faint hiss for about 3 seconds and thats it. The guages on the dash also slowly go up and down. Any suggestions?

Sunday, June 8th, 2008 AT 5:36 PM

2 Replies

WILDFIREV9

MEMBER
49 POSTS

Sounds like you may have a bad starter or neutral switch. That hiss, is it coming from the rear underside of the car? If so, it is the fuel pump which is normal. Comes on for about 2 seconds and shuts off until the car starts.
On the starter solenoid, try jumping from the large outer post to the smaller one and see if the starter engages. If it does, starter is good, neutral switch isn't (or a breakdown somewhere in the wiring or ignition switch)
MAKE SURE IT IS IN PARK AND THE BRAKE IS ON before trying any remote starting procedures.
Hope this helps, VIC

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Monday, June 9th, 2008 AT 4:14 AM

APRIL026

MEMBER
1 POST

So we replaced the starter and it still wont start. But my mchanic looked at it and said the same thing, that it might be the ignition switch or the neutral switch. That noise that I was hearing was the fuel pump. So the car is still not starting but we're gonna try the ignition and the neutral switch and hopefully that will do it. Thanks for your help! It's good to know someone elses opinion is the same. Thanks again.

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Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 AT 11:43 AM