Hi,
I have a 99 2.3CL and in the last three weeks out of maybe 25 times starting the car twice it did not want to start. It turns over and will just keep turing over for like 10 seconds or so and then the first time it started and ran real rough for 10 seconds or so and the second time yesterday i turned the key back to off and then tried starting it again and it fired right up. Any thoughts?? Could it just be a battery going and if so why does it work 90% of the time and not the other 10 % any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

 

Ignition recall it sounds like check out to see if you qualify

are you lights dim? does it make a click when you try to turn it over?

if it has trouble starting and then starts up i would say a starter probelm and your starter maybe going out, but chekc to see if you are qualified for the ignition recall cause that may be it also

 

My vote goes to ignition recall. Thats exactly what a lot of people described when that problem was discovered.

 

i thought the ignition recall was on 97's only. Mine is a 99, does this still pertain. The car will crank and try and start for as long as i have the key turned but it wont fire up. Then when i try to start it again right after it fires right up. I just went out to lunch and started it 6 times no problem. I am baffled????

 

Your starter could be going bad. I had a friend with a cavalier that did that same thing. Most of the time it would start but occasionally it would just crank and crank but never go. It turned out that the gear on the starter had started to strip its teeth, and sometimes didn't get a good enough grip to kick the car over.

 

NO THE RECALL IS FOR I BELIEVE '98 AND '99, I ALREADY HAD MY '99 2.3 REPAIRED FOR THE IGNITION RECALL
i would test your battery as well and make sure its working
if not it could be your starter possibly

 

I can't believe I'm having this same problem right now. It started yesterday I tried to start the car and it wouldn't fire. After trying to crank it two times, it finally fired and the car sounds fine. Its idling okay, sounds normal. Then it happened this morning again. Tried to crank it a couple times, its turning, but no fire. Then it finally fired. I noticed that I have some copper build up around my battery. Would that affect the start? Or am I having the same problem with the starter?

 

yes the corrosion on your battery is probaly the cause
put baking soda and water in a cup and pour it on your battery
then get i belive its called a terminal cleaner that goes around your battery terminal and it removes the corrosion and gives it fresh metal to make a good connection

 

Yup. Corrosion is bad. That is almost certainly your problem. I would check that out on your car too Robertpel.

 

Thanks guys!!!!! I just hope thats the only problem.

 

I checked and have no corrosion at all. Also if it was battery related wouldnt i be having this issue everytime i start the car?? I used the car all day yesterday starting it maybe 18-20 times and no issues at all. I am baffeled. Any other thoughts?? I dont want to pay some jerk 60 bucks just to find out why it is happening i'd rather know whats happening then fix it. I already had to spend 700 bucks on the car this week getting new front tires and replacing the exhaust from the cat-back. Any input is helpful. Thanks,
Robert

 

I got a 98 and I did it a little over a year ago. Starts up a lot betta, I was like WTF it not starting.

 

Check on the recall. There is a good chance your in it. If thats not it, check your starter out.

 

IT IS NOT THE RECALL....that's what they told me.

It's your starter man. I'm 100% sure of it.

 

thats what i said in the first post, check your starter, take it out and take it to kregans or autozone, i took mine there and i found out it awas the silinoid and not the whole starter but i was able to rebuild it

hers an idea, look in your local phone book under automotive and look for electrical rebuilding places, i got mine done for only 95 bucks and a new one was 177 from autozone

hope this helps

good luck