Car quit working.... please help
 

I went to the store, left my car running while inside the store, when I started to pull away the car just quit and won't start again. It tries turning over but won't actually start. Any suggestions?

So it turns over it just wont fire? I'd guess you lost fuel or spark for some reason. Can't think of why you would suddenly lose spark but I have had a fuel pump shit out on me and it acted fairly similar. Was just driving down the road an it died suddenly and wouldn't start or even fire at all. Don't know if you know of someone or a place with the capability but I think it would be worth checking to make sure you have fuel pressure to start. You didn't hit a bump or anything the could have knocked something loose did you?

Well I have never had to change my spark plugs or get a new fuel pump. Do you you think it could be the spark plugs? Or just still thinking it's the pump?

Don't think it would be your spark plugs because not all of them would just start misfiring at the same time. By saying spark I mean potentially spark not reaching the plug but I don't have any good guesses as to what could cause that plus I don't think it is common at all. Failed fuel pump could definitely be a possibility as when the pump dies you won't get fuel. Checking for fuel pressure is as easy as connecting the right gauge under the hood and that is why I suggested trying that first because it is fast and easy. All you can really do is eliminate possibilities until you narrow it down to what actually caused the problem. I tend to go after the things that are easy to check first. I think you could also remove your spark plugs and make sure they are grounded with the coil pack still on them and have somebody crank over your engine to see if you have spark but someone on here might know a better way to test for spark.

One thing that you could do quick and easy that I just thought of is to try and crank the car for a while normally and then remove the spark plugs and inspect the tips. If the tips are wet that is usually a sign that you are getting fuel but no spark. If the tips are completely dry than you may not be getting fuel.

My Dad sprayed ether through the air intake and it didn't try starting. He thinks if it was the fuel pump it would have started after that. He doesn't know much about my car he works on big trucks.

He seen the coils on the spark plugs and was afraid to mess with them cause he never seen them like that before. He can take them off like normal spark plugs?

Yeah I would think it would fire with ether as well if it was a fuel issue but it also depends where he sprayed it and if some actually made it to the combustion chambers. Which trim level do you have exactly? Do you know where he sprayed and was it while you where cranking?

You can take the coil on plug spark plugs out just like vehicles with distributors and wires.

My car is a 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged 2.0L

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You can poke your head under the back bumper and have someone cycle the key to the on position. You should be able to hear a hum as the fuel pump primes.

smack the living shit out of the gas tank while he cranks it if it starts ur fuel pumps done haha dont drive it if it starts tho it might die while ur driving

I don't know if spraying ether into the intake is going to work. I doubt enough is going to make it to the cylinders by just spraying through the intake - I also wouldn't recommend spraying ether through the intake as it will get into the supercharger. It would probably be better to remove the plugs and spray a little ether directly into the cylinder then see if you get any attempt at fire. That should tell you whether it is a fuel or spark problem.

Well we checked the plugs and they are still working so we're thinking it's a fuel pump. Thanks for all your help. I'm still going to get new plugs since I have never changed them before. Probably a good idea after 11 years.

if you've checked the fuel pressure and are sure its bad, if its a 08-10 check under the carpet if the tag has a nu6 option u need a pzev fuel pump it looks like a cannister with 1 hose coming off of it while non pzev has 2 of them and a locking ring. i ordered the wrong pump wen mine went bad so ya check the tag lol

My car is a 2006

Update
 

Got my brother in law to look at it and he says my engine is blown! That just doesn’t seem right. Any input?

Did you check the fuel pressure?

Does it spin over super fast when you crank it? That would be the only reason id think hed say something like that. Those LSJ have been know to have timing chain tensioner issues.I'm with exninja if its cranking normal, id check fuel pressure.

Yes, a "blown engine" would either not crank or have no compression. Timing issue as above. Did he tell you why he said that?

did it seize?

He said everything is spinning (not sure what that means) but yes it cranks over fast. Not sure if my seized. I went to the store, left it running while I was inside and when I went to pull away it just quit like it lost power and wouldn’t restart.

Check fuel pressure and timing chain. If it turns it's not seized. Why did he say the engine was blown?

He said there’s no compression 😫 please tell me it’s not blown! I love my car more than anything.

How long was the car idling? Do you idle a lot?

I know Honda had recalls on a ton of cars from cylinders getting washed by running rich in cold climates while cold.

What's the mileage on the car? Service history that you know of?

I don’t really ever let my car idle just ran in for a minute. My car just rolled over 200,000 a couple months ago. I take really good care of my car, regular oil changes, use the best gas. One thing tho I have never had a tune up like new plugs and stuff cause they still work.

Well if he said you have no compression, then you're engine or head are toast. did he do a compression check?

Well things like plugs and fluids are maintenance item. Something a lot of people don't realize and skip.

You might of just damaged your car slowly over time.

You could of had a bad injector and been running lean for a long time.