Hi, I'm hoping that someone has experienced this issue and can help. My 04 cavalier cranks, but will not start. I sprayed starter fluid into the air intake manifold area and the car started for a brief moment then stopped so it was getting a spark with no gas to engine. When I turn the ignition to the on position I hear a click from the relay and then what appears to be the fuel pump engaging then after 2 secs I hear the relay click off, which is normal, but there is still no start. I checked the fuel pressure and I'm not getting a reading. I then noticed that gas was leaking from the fuel pressure regulator into the fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose so I replaced the fuel pressure regulator, but I'm still not seeing any fuel pressure and the car still won't start. Just in case the sound I heard wasn't the fuel pump engaging I also pounded on the gas tank to see if it made a difference and it did not. Since it still wouldn't start I sprayed more starter fluid into the air intake manifold area and it now tries to start but then misfires and I see a plumb of smoke coming up from the engine area so I'm now thinking that the bad fuel pressure regulator fouled out at least one of my spark plugs. When I had the fuel pressure regulator removed there was gas present in the fuel rail. I also checked the fuel pump fuse and relay along with the power and ground connections and everything there appears to be solid. Just in case I also replaced the relay. I connected an OBD2 scanner and it's showing a P0455 code, which has been present for years now and has never caused a problem. I also researched that code causing no start issues and didn't find anything concreate stating that an evap failure would cause this issue. I'm also hearing a clicking noise coming from the air intake manifold area after I turn the key back to the off position so I'm not sure if the problem lies there. I'm also wondering if the ECM is causing the no fuel pressure issue, but the scanner is not showing any issues there. I'm going to check the spark plugs and replace if necessary, but without seeing any fuel pressure I'm not sure if doing so will resolve the problem.

Thanks!

 

if you have no fuel pressure...check for power and grd to the fuel pump. if its ok. replace the fuel pump. if it has an external fuel filter, replace it at the same time to keep warranty on the new fp. inspect the fuel pump connectors...some fuel pump kits come with updated connectors.

 

Good call tech2. Yeah the Cav has an external fuel filter. Sure wish my Bu' did.

 

engineering reason for no external filter: the returnless fuel system doesn't need an external filter as they only filter and pump the fuel needed. A return fuel system pumps 5x the amount of fuel needed thru the filter and returns 4/5 of it back to the tank. Over a lifetime 50 000km on an external filter equals 225000km on the in tank filter. Another way R&D has reduced maitenance. The only fuel filters being changed any more are on diesels.

some cobalts with a returnless system had an external and intank filter.....????

 

Makes sense to me. I always buy gasoline from major brand companies like Chevron, Shell, and Mobile, so the chances of dirty fuel are nil. The Cobalt got people killed, as the notch pin (might be called something else) in the ignition switch would go to "off" at the slightest reason. It would not have harmed me as I keep both hands on the wheel but at freeway speeds with people tailgating, it could have been a problem. On a clear road, assuming that I didn't switch it back to 'On" nothing would have happened. Bothers the hell out of me that I can change the auto trans fluid filter on my Malibu, so every 25000 the fluid gets changed with Dexron 6 synthetic fluid.

 

gm engineering has told us that performing complete fluid exchanges at the required intervals from new; negates the need for filter changes. In a proper functioning transmission, the 80% of the debris that circulates thru a trans in its life is removed during the first fluid change. japanese trans don't use depth filters...just a mesh screen...their transmissions are holding up pretty good.

the ignition switch problem would have been handled by an experienced driver in most instances without concern. However, It should have been addressed from the start

 

Yeah, I have heard that the Aisin brand automatics are really well built. Might be right about the fluid change. Mine was pretty dirty looking first time. Second time it still had lots of red color, but I will still go with 25k changes. Its easy to change out 4.5 quarts of fluid on the 6T40 transmission, and dex 6 can be had for 8 USD easy.

I agree about the ignition switch issue. Problem is that with tailgating, a loss in power can lead to an accident, even for a pro like me. Too many people are simply poor drivers here in the US. They really ought to make the tests tougher. Taking the class C license test is easy, and I have to take 6 tests for my commercial license.plus the motorcycle exam.

About two months ago, I was parked in a store parking lot, getting ready to go home. The engine was off, and a mini-van bumped into my Malibu. Dented the license plate a bit, but what was sorry about this is the older guy (82) has a disabled license plate, but parked way out in the parking lot instead of using the handicapped spaces up by the store. The man had a back and neck brace on and walked awkwardly, yet he is allowed to legally drive? He is going to get someone killed or kill himself, IMO.

 

Did you get this problem
fixed? My 2004 cavalier is doing the same thing and the same P0455 code comes up on the obd2 scanner…..

 

My 2004 cavalier almost didn’t start today. It cranked over and over and over but didn’t want to start. It’s never done that before. It finally started on the third try…… is this a common problem with this model?

 

Fuel pumps don't last forever. If you don't want to drop the tank, remove the rear seat, cut a hole above where the F-pump is and pull it out that way.