Very strange car problem/mystery! (Full Version)

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nightowl207 -> Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/16/2008 1:42:28 AM)

My sister in law has a 2001 chevy cavalier. She went to start it today to leave and it just turned over. She told me that it always does it, but wait EXACTLY ten minutes and it will start. Me just thinking "Ok, if she lets it sit a lil bit it starts back up, ok whatever." Well she first tried it at 8:41 approximately halfway through the minute (she times it, LOL). While she was waiting I took a quick look at it. Had spark, fuel pump was running.....I was thinking "maybe a ground problem or something with the injectors". Well, 8:50 turns on the clock and I told her to try it, it just turns over. 8:51 turns on the clock and I told her to try it again. She said it wont work for another 30 secs or so because it was about halfway through the minute when she first tried it. She tries, Just turns over. She says "wait another 20 secs or so and it will start, gaurenteed. We wait another 20 secs or so, she tries, Bang starts right up. I couldnt believe it. I told her, see you later I want no part of it. I have enough mystery car/boat/lawnmower/chainsaw etc. problems i have to figure out all the time, LOL, Give someone else that headache. I could not believe it. Maybe something wrong with security system or something, if it even has one?  



pghmarty -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/16/2008 2:23:18 AM)

A fuel pump relay me be stuck.



Cold -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/16/2008 8:08:33 AM)

I've had a 98 and an 02 Cavalier, and while, if that happened to me, it'd go to the shop the next time it felt like starting, I agree that it's probably in the fuel system somewhere.  My 98 was a bit eccentric in that dept.  If it got to 1/4 of a tank on the gauge, you needed to find a gas station before you got home, because while it'd RUN till it was empty (empty was at about 1/8 on the gauge...found that out the hard way), it wouldn't START much below a quarter tank.  Not sure exactly what's up with the ten minute deal, but the fuel system is suspicious in the Cavaliers. 

Still, I loved everything else about that car, which is why I got another!  The '02 seems to be a little less finnicky all around, FWIW.



indsguiz -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/16/2008 11:30:06 PM)

nightowl,
    Some of the newer fuel-injected engines have an open loop fuel supply system.  This means that the fuel pump always supplies fuel to the system and bypasses the unused fuel back to the tank.  Thats why there are usually two (or three) lines running to the tank.  Now on some of the motors there is a starting/cold start enrichment switch that controls fuel pressure when initial starting.  Then it opens/closes as per fuel demand.  Sounds to me like this valve is sticking in either the full rich (open) or full closed (no fuel / all fuel being bypassed) position and after the initial attempt to atart the car it takes the ten minutes (normal warm-up time) to get to the normal running mode which is allowing the motor to start.  ? Does it run rich or lean when it finally does start and then mellow out in about 20 seconds?  Then the bypass control valve is malfunctioning.  Easy fix by your friendly chevy dealer.  Hope this helps.



ROCKHARD -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/17/2008 1:21:56 AM)

get a priest for excorcism,, just joking



nightowl207 -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/18/2008 12:38:04 AM)

Thats a good suggestion indsguiz. Ill have to check that out when shes over again. I dont believe it ran high idle when it did start but i wasnt really paying attention to it, she was is a hurry to take off (after the 10min holdup).



indsguiz -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/18/2008 10:56:42 AM)

nightowl207,
    My nephew had a 97' grand am that did almost the same thing.  When we finally found the control valve we removed it (not something you want to try with vice grips and a screwdriver) sprayed some carb cleaner on it and it worked for about 3 months till it started doing it's thing again.   Since it took sooooo long to do it ourselves the first time I just told him to take it to a GM Dealer and have them replace it.  Worked fine for the next two years till he traded it in.



lhazlett -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/19/2008 8:35:27 AM)

instead of waiting 10 min cycle the key to on no crank then off wait a couple seconds do this 5 or 6 time then try and start if it works fuel pump check valve is bleeding off. the valve is part of the pump..open loop is something all obd 2 cars run in till warmed up



jon_e_si -> RE: Very strange car problem/mystery! (7/21/2008 5:59:11 AM)

FWIW!!! - I had what I thought was a problem with my "tow haul" switch - Two different GM dealers told me it was fine. Sometimes it would engage for me, sometimes not - finally learned (observed 18 year old step-son) to just tap it lightly to engage.



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