2004 Aveo: No Codes, will not crank/start Aug 2014

Hello,

This is my first posting on the Aveo Forum, thanks for reading.

Before this happened, there was some oil seepage around the spark plug gasket, my father says that is not related to the starting problem.

For weeks my father and I have been trying to get my 2004 Aveo to start with no luck. It all started when the battery was seeming to be dying for a couple days. If cold, the Aveo would not easily crank. If I pumped the gas I could get get it going after a few tries. It would sound like an old lawnmower for a few seconds when starting, but then sound normal and smooth. After starting, the car would restart just fine for a few hours. If left for a long time, it was a struggle to get it to restart again. After 3 days, it wouldn't start at all.

We have replaced 3 parts, the spark plug wires, and the camshaft and crankshaft position sensors, still it will not start. We checked the timing belt, the sparking and the spark plugs, the suction on the cylinders, these were all OK. he fuel injectors seem to working ok. The spark timing when cranking seems to maybe be badly off? The other weird and frustrating thing about this, is when we attach a scanner, there are NO CODES. We are puzzled with what to try next. Please help us with ideas on how to fix the problem and get my poor Aveo started again! Thanks!

Charleston, SC

Have you tried spraying a SMALL amout of auto starting fluid past the butterfly into the throttle body? If it runs for a couple of seconds and then quits, you have a fuel problem - likely the pump. Do not spray lots of that stuff - it's just a quick test. You could also do a fuel pressure test to confirm the fuel system.

If your spark timing is off, I'd investigate the ignition coil.

Edit: see Scanman's post right below me, he's very likely right!

When that valve cover gasket starts leaking, the oil goes down into the plug wells. "IF" the oil seeps past the crush gaskets on the bottom of the plugs, they will foul and fail to spark. Be sure you have new, properly gapped plugs, and be sure to clean out the plug wells with carb cleaner. The best one is Berryman B-12. Tighten the new plugs correctly & get that valve cover gasket replaced! It's about $45.00 + silicon if you do it yourself. Do the plugs first. If it starts, do the gasket.