I own a 91 Cav 4 cyl 2.2 liter. Recently, the car sat for about 5 months altogether due to a radiator leaking and needing replaced and the hood cable snapping. Without money to take it to a shop, I used my girlfriends car for work and such until a buddy of mine could help me fix the hood cable and replace the radiator. I also bought a new battery for the car. Everything was running great. Eventually I bought a motorcycle during the summer and left the car sit for a few weeks without being started. Go to start the car, and she doesn't start. A few friends of mine say "replace the fuel filter", so I go that route. It takes a minute but she starts up just fine other than some smoky exhaust. I assume from the gas that has been sitting.

So I drive it for a few weeks every day without any problems. Then, I let the car sit for just one day without being started, and she doesn't start again. I've spoken to a few people and they say "fuel injectors need cleaned" or "possible kink in fuel line" all of which sound like that could be the problem. Another friend told me to throw the situation up on a forum and this is the one I found. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Battery has enough juice, and seems that the car almost wants to turn over but doesn't. Fuel pump hums, although I'm not sure if it's putting out enough PSI. Also, spark plugs look in decent shape, but not sure of the quality. Replaced a couple years ago, but the car barely gets driven, just to work and short trips. Thanks for all your interest and help.
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you said it doesnt turn over, does the engine turn while starting? if no then batt is dead, if yes then try changing the plugs, wires cap and rotor and do a thurough tune up to it to eliminate all of them (oil change air filter) ill bet it runs after. when it is running take it for a good run on the highway this will clean the carbon out of it try to find a hill and make it work hard for a few minutes (after you change the oil) if it still wont start you may have some water in your lines, if so you will need to flush the fuel tank and line (i would dump a can of methyl hydrate in to see if that works before i drain the tank)
good luck

 

Thanks so much for the advice! Sorry it has taken so long to reply. I had it towed to a local mechanic who took everything apart, (fuel injector, etc), cleaned it, and got it running. The mechanic didn't replace any parts and got it running just fine. I drove the car for about a month without any problems making sure to start it everyday. I added some Lucas Fuel Injector cleaner to it right after it was running. I let it sit unstarted for about 2 days as I was out of town and I'm back to the old drawing board. It does'nt start again. I could kick myself in the *** for not having someone start it. The car seems like it's about to turn over, but sputters as it continues to turn without starting. The mechanic said I either need new spark plugs or fuel injectors. I don't think the mechanic is trying to screw me, since he only charged me 40 bucks to clean everything out the door. Would it be worth it to replace the fuel injectors, and how long/difficult would this be? Could it be something else? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Bad, old, cracked spark plug wires do that. When car is not used moisture makes those wires fail. Same problem can be caused by bad coils, though, but less likely.

 

Seg, thank you very much for the input. I will definitely put some new spark plug wires on. The thing that blows my mind the most is that sitting for more than a day without being started is what seems to be the root of the problem. After the mechanic took stuff apart and cleaned everything, he got it running just fine. I'm sure the spark plug wires have never been changed and she has 119k miles on her. That and the plugs is step one. Any idea what plan B should be in case it's not starting then? Thanks again for any advice, greatly appreciated.

 

ok...here we go, this is my thought as to your problem, your car is old and has low miles that means it sat lots, and ill bet u have either water or dirt in your fuel system, so this is the part that sucks, remove the fuel tank, empty it, clean it, replace the fuel pump sock, replace the fuel filter, have the mechanic clean the injectors or what he did before, and this problem shouldnt come back on you again