2003 Cavalier will not start
January 5th, 2017, 11:08 PM
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2003 Cavalier will not start
Hi there, I've been trying to get my 2003 cavalier to start. I am not by any means very good with vehicles- since this car isn't currently being used and I wasn't going to receive anything on a trade in I decided to keep it to tinker with and maybe learn more about vehicles in the process.
Background on the car: it's a 2003, 2.2L ecotec with approximately 155,000 miles on it. Before it stopped starting all together it began to feel like it was loosing compression especially when driving uphill. The engine was extremely loud and there was a strong rattling coming from where the timing chain is located. A week of the car progressively getting worse, it stopped starting altogether.
When trying to start the car now, it sounds like something is spinning but just not clicking to actually start it. All the lights and radio power on normally, and the car just clicks. (The battery is brand new and the alternator was replaced with a used but fully function part)
Got told by a mechanic that it sounded like the timing chain, so I went to investiate that and it's in mint condition. Looks brand new.
Plugged the car into a code reader- no codes thrown, just telling me there's a misfire.
So I replaced all four spark plugs per suggestion. Still no change.
Hooked the battery up to a battery charger for a couple hours to see if maybe there wasn't enough power- still nothing
Had someone check the fuel line to see if there just wasn't enough gas going where it needed to be, there's plenty of gas, the oil is full, there's just no starting.
Someone told me I might need to replace the "starter coil." I mentioned that to a mechanic and they told me no such thing exists but to try replacing the ignition coil- I haven't had a chance to do so yet, so I'm not sure if that's the solution I'm looking for.
If anyone may be able to help me narrow things down, or needs any more information I am all ears and eager to provide any answers I can! I would love to learn a bit and maybe get this damn car up and running!
Background on the car: it's a 2003, 2.2L ecotec with approximately 155,000 miles on it. Before it stopped starting all together it began to feel like it was loosing compression especially when driving uphill. The engine was extremely loud and there was a strong rattling coming from where the timing chain is located. A week of the car progressively getting worse, it stopped starting altogether.
When trying to start the car now, it sounds like something is spinning but just not clicking to actually start it. All the lights and radio power on normally, and the car just clicks. (The battery is brand new and the alternator was replaced with a used but fully function part)
Got told by a mechanic that it sounded like the timing chain, so I went to investiate that and it's in mint condition. Looks brand new.
Plugged the car into a code reader- no codes thrown, just telling me there's a misfire.
So I replaced all four spark plugs per suggestion. Still no change.
Hooked the battery up to a battery charger for a couple hours to see if maybe there wasn't enough power- still nothing
Had someone check the fuel line to see if there just wasn't enough gas going where it needed to be, there's plenty of gas, the oil is full, there's just no starting.
Someone told me I might need to replace the "starter coil." I mentioned that to a mechanic and they told me no such thing exists but to try replacing the ignition coil- I haven't had a chance to do so yet, so I'm not sure if that's the solution I'm looking for.
If anyone may be able to help me narrow things down, or needs any more information I am all ears and eager to provide any answers I can! I would love to learn a bit and maybe get this damn car up and running!
