ok..my ex has been incapacitated for a week now..i'm getting desperate..suddenly it almost stalled a few times as i tried to accelerate from stop signs on the way to the library..then it wouldn't start when i left the library..it just cranked and cranked..half an hour later, i got it to start up, and drove it home..since then i have been searching here hardcore.. i have replaced the spark plugs and wires(PITA), fuel filter, and cleaned the MAS and IAC valve....to no avail..am i correct in assuming that since i hear the fuel pump come on, that there isn't a problem with the power to the fuel system? (i.e fuel pump relay, eec relay, ect??)..wouldn't that mean it's a spark problem..sorry, i'm still stupid (but learning), and my girlfriend needs her Geo Deathtrap back soon...it will only start about 50% of the time..i've been searching to no avail..whats going on??

thankz..

jeremy..

I had a wierd no start problem that was finally traced to a bad O2 sensor.

Take a look at this thread....http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34619&highlight=alarm+system+woos

have you tried fuel pressure regulator?

Jeremy,

"am i correct in assuming that since i hear the fuel pump come on, that there isn't a problem with the power to the fuel system? (i.e fuel pump relay, eec relay, ect??)" - A fair but not guaranteed assumption.

"..wouldn't that mean it's a spark problem" - Not definately, no.

Your driving around in a Geo???!!! - All street-cred has been evaporated!

Try this and let us know - Key On, Engine off, wait until fuel pump kicks off, key off. Repeat this 4 times WITHOUT attempting to crank. On the 5th time, crank engine .... start right up?

Colin

for a while that clear up, It could be the fuel pressure regulator. Cut mine open and found only wear on one side that caused sticking. One way to check is monitoring the fuel pump current at the fuse connection. I drove around for a week monitoring the current. It usually was about 5A. Every time there was a problem it would drop below 3A. A little easier than hanging a guage off the hood. Normally current only varies 1/2 A. Many connectors will push into the fuse clips. About 8 feet of wire and you are all set. Make GOOD connections. Don't want one falling off in traffic! The fuel system is high bypass so the current is roughly proportional to fuel pressure, not fuel use.

What does your exhaust (or lack thereof) smell like? When my O2 sensors went bad my car ran like poop and would stall and sometimes not start (only tolerated it for 3 days). Made me run really really REALLY rich which was why I was stalling and all, so if your exhaust smells rich... I would look into the O2s.
-----Nate

Make sure you have spark first. You can do this by removing a spark plug wire and inserting a old spark plug and grounding it to the engine. If there is spark the next thing to check is if there is enough fuel pressure. You said you could hear the pump run, but, is it "pumping" enough pressure. I should be around 35 psi. There is a fuel pressure test port (shrader valve) located on the right hand side of the intake manifold.

If there is no spark, check the crank position sensor located on the frt of the engine. I have seen a few of those go bad.

If there is low or no fuel pressure you probably have a bad fuel pump.

thanks all for your replies..i'll try them all as soon as i can, but this thing keeps going deeper and deeper..i was changing my air filter and decided to look at the coolant..it was a THICK ORANGE SLUDGE!..i just figured out that this is most likely rust..so i've been flushing tha radiator and resivoir for the last few hours, and i just ran some cooling system cleaner through..thought maybe thats why my heater stopped working too, but i'll prolly replace the thermostat anywayz..and to top it off i noticed i'm 'definatly' smoking more than normal out the exaust (whitish grey)..it doesn't smell like coolant though..and i hafta go to emmisions this month, so i'm not sure what tha #$%$ to do..hard to tell wether or not all these problems are related or not..gosh..can it get any worse?..and the next guy who cracks a joke about me driving around a geo metro gets it in the eye!!..peace..

jeremy..

well whadaya know..flushing the cooling system of that nasty orange crud gave me back my heater!..must have been a clog in the thermostat or something..a small victory..and i've still got the other issues, but ah..one less problem in my life..i think i'll have a beer..peace..

jeremy..

well finally it's fixed, and here's how it worked for me..after replacing and cleaning everything else i mentioned, and flushing thru the radiator 10 zillion times, i went out and bought that prestone backflush kit thingy you insert into your heater intake hose..that REALLY cleaned out the system..then i sprayed some carb cleaner into the air intake while fiddling with the throttle linkage..then i added 5 gallons of premium along with some fuel injector cleaner..it has stopped smoking, starts alot smoother(and everytime), and idles better than ever..hope this helps someone..thanks again all for your replies and help..peace..

jeremy..