Got a question about my other car...

[240sxOwner]

I just bought my friend's wrecked cavalier for 400 bucks....the accident was so minor the air bags didn't even pop out....i just need another fender and bumper for it. Right after the accident my friend shut his car off to check on the other driver....and when he got back in the car wouldn't start. it sounds reallt dry when it turns over....i though maybe it had an electronic fuel pump cut off, but it does not according to the dealer. I checked for spark and there was no such luck. what should i start with on the car? I mean right after the accident it was running, but he shut it off and now it will not start. i need this thing running...my 240 only gets 18 mpg!!!

Thanks for the help

[navysnail]

check the fuel pressure to see if it is making any, and also listen for the fuel pump when you turn on the car.

when you say "no such luck" when you checked for spark, did you mean it does or does not have a spark

[NISTECH]

Where is the damage on the car and how substantial is it? as in how much got moved from the impact.

[240sxOwner]

sorry...ive been out of town. there was no spark. the damage was in the right front. needs new bumper, fender...The airbags didn't even come out. Nothing but body damage to the car. Nothing in the engine bay was touched at all

[NISTECH]

Is this the 2.2 or 2.5l engine? Check the coils pack to see if it has power to it. shoul be a plug into it with 2 wires one is your power.

[240sxOwner]

THIS IS THE 2.2L. IM SORRY FOR BEING IGNORANT BUT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CAVALIERS. WHERE CAN I FIND THE COIL PACK ON THIS THING? TODAY I GOT IN IT TO GET SOMETHING OUT, AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY: "ALL" DASH LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING IN UNISON WITH A DOOR OPEN DING SOUND (DOORS WERE SHUT)...IM HOPING THAT SOMETHING CLEARED AND IT WILL START NEXT TIME I TRY IT. THE BATTERY IS DEAD AND IM TOO TIRED TO TRY RIGHT NOW.

I JUST REALIZED THAT I AM TYPING IN CAPS...I APOLOGIZE.....THANKS GUYS FOR THE HELP

[NISTECH]

They are located between the engine block and the fire wall, below the head near the transmission. It sounds to me like you might just have a bad connection at one of the side post battery cables. take them off and clean the corrosion off and resecure them. This is pretty common on the GM battery set ups.

[240sxOwner]

ok..now only the airbag light blinks when i put the key in....is it possible that the computer needs to be reset? because not only am i missing spark, but i do not hear the fuel pump come on.

[NISTECH]

Did you clean the battery terminals? also check all the fuses.

[240sxOwner]

all fuses are good...yes battery is clean

[NISTECH]

You need to back trace the circuit. When you say fuses are good ,did you use a test light to see if the fuses even have power? A volt meter would be better. Check your fuel pump fuse and see if it has power to it. I would not worry about the spark at the moment if you know your fuel pump isnt working. If you have power at the fuse move to the fuel pump connector and see if you have power there next[do this with the volt meter,do not use a test light there.] I know on some chevy's they use a oil pressure cut switch ,if the oil pressure gets to low it will cut the fuel pump, I dont know if they use that on the cavalier though.

Honestly this sounds like a power issue to me. Having so many things dead after a slight impact I am thinking a fuse link or something is blown somewhere. I have worked on this engine a few times but I am no master on how its complete system works. Just not enough exposure to it. I am sharing with you more basic knowledge then anything at this point.