Won't start-no fuel-HELP PLEASE!

2000 Z24
61,000 Miles
Automatic

We have been working on this car for about 6 months now. It used to stall intermittently going down the road but would start rite back up again. It didn't start doing that til it warmed up after winter. Then the fuel pump wouldn't kick on most of the time, when it did it would start. Now it won't stay running for more than a second, it seems when the small amount of gas is used up from starting it quits immediately. The fuel pump hardly kicks on, so it won't start but maybe once a week. So far we have replaced the fuel pump and filter, had the ignition module tested twice and passed all the tests. Replaced the crank sensor and finally the ignition switch. Still no better, no change. ANY ideas? They would be greatly appreciated!

I've been reading of associated problems that concern hard-starting. One of these items is the factory anti-theft system. Apparently it may be giving erroneous firing pulses during cranking. I would check with the stealership and see if there are any computer updates available or if there is an active recall that addresses your problem. Asking questions is still free, right? So take your VIN to a service writer at the local GM dealer and ask him to run it through the GM vehicle database. You may have an issue that can't be solved by any parts that you throw at it, only by re-flashing the PCM. Just my two cents. Good Luck -Chris

I've been reading of associated problems that concern hard-starting. One of these items is the factory anti-theft system. Apparently it may be giving erroneous firing pulses during cranking. I would check with the stealership and see if there are any computer updates available or if there is an active recall that addresses your problem. Asking questions is still free, right? So take your VIN to a service writer at the local GM dealer and ask him to run it through the GM vehicle database. You may have an issue that can't be solved by any parts that you throw at it, only by re-flashing the PCM. Just my two cents. Good Luck -Chris

Here's another thought as well.

Check the fuel pump relay.

Could still be tied to the anti-theft system, it will control the relay.

If you can find the relay, check for power on the coil input side. Or, you can check it a slightly different way, 2 of the 4 contacts should have power. If so, then the system is sending the signal to the relay properly. A replacement relay shouldn't cost too terribly much.

Since I'm not familiar with that car, it may or may not have a relay for the fuel pump.

Here's another thought as well.

Check the fuel pump relay.

Could still be tied to the anti-theft system, it will control the relay.

If you can find the relay, check for power on the coil input side. Or, you can check it a slightly different way, 2 of the 4 contacts should have power. If so, then the system is sending the signal to the relay properly. A replacement relay shouldn't cost too terribly much.

Since I'm not familiar with that car, it may or may not have a relay for the fuel pump.


Thanks for the response. I forgot to mention the relay, we switched that out first, guess it wasn't it. It seems its a short some where because as a last resort before closing the hood for the day we hosed the engine compartment down. It started fine for the rest of the night as long as it was wet. The clock on the radio wouldn't turn off tho which made the battery go dead. But we know it starts whenever it's wet. The "stealership" (excellent term) guy said it must be a wire between the engine & firewall, said there were 3 important wires to check. Any ideas on where to get a wiring diagram? Also is there any way to bybass the anti theft system if thats it? Thanks a bunch for your input!

Thanks for the response. I forgot to mention the relay, we switched that out first, guess it wasn't it. It seems its a short some where because as a last resort before closing the hood for the day we hosed the engine compartment down. It started fine for the rest of the night as long as it was wet. The clock on the radio wouldn't turn off tho which made the battery go dead. But we know it starts whenever it's wet. The "stealership" (excellent term) guy said it must be a wire between the engine & firewall, said there were 3 important wires to check. Any ideas on where to get a wiring diagram? Also is there any way to bybass the anti theft system if thats it? Thanks a bunch for your input!

A decent wiring diagram can usually be found in the back of the Haynes manual for the car. Unfortunately, it doesn't actually show you WHERE the wires actually run through the car.

If it works decent when it's wet, then I'd suggest you check the ground connections. A couple of suggestions there are to find the ground connection of the fuel pump relay, and make sure that it's clean. You said the engine compartment is what you hosed down, so that rules out the fuel pump as it's in the fuel tank.

Also, try only wetting specific areas under the hood until you get the general area where it seems to work, then, start tracking from there.

Though I can't think of what else in the fuel circuit would affect it, this should give you an idea or two.

Do you have any other gremlins in the system that you can't track down that seem to improve when things are wet?

A decent wiring diagram can usually be found in the back of the Haynes manual for the car. Unfortunately, it doesn't actually show you WHERE the wires actually run through the car.

If it works decent when it's wet, then I'd suggest you check the ground connections. A couple of suggestions there are to find the ground connection of the fuel pump relay, and make sure that it's clean. You said the engine compartment is what you hosed down, so that rules out the fuel pump as it's in the fuel tank.

Also, try only wetting specific areas under the hood until you get the general area where it seems to work, then, start tracking from there.

Though I can't think of what else in the fuel circuit would affect it, this should give you an idea or two.

Do you have any other gremlins in the system that you can't track down that seem to improve when things are wet?

Thanks, I will try to get a Haynes manual tomorrow. Should've done that in the first place probably. The only other problem it seems to be having is the clock on the radio staying on all the time, it didn't used to do that but it's been doing that lately. I'm sure the manual will help us out greatly. I'll try just wetting one spot at a time too. Thanks again, I'll let you know what happens shortly.

I have a very similar problem...my '02 sunfire started stalling out on the interstate but always fired back up until one time it didnt and left me stranded 200 miles from home. I got it home...replaced the fuel filter and drove it fine until about 500 miles later...on the same interstate it cut off again. This time it didnt start up and die immediately...it would crank good but just not turn over. I dont want to replace the fuel pump again due to the expense but what else is there to do? It still wont start...have checked all the relays...changed the fuel filter and still no fire. I took the air filter off and sprayed some ether in the intake and had someone starting it up and it cranked right up...until I ceased the ether spray. Is there something that can be ruining my fuel pumps? Any advice !!! Please!!