Car does not start

It will start will starting fluid, then it dies

Ok thanks I will try it, getting the fuel pump replaced is pretty expensive i'll bet

I was driving my 1998 Chevy Lumina (3.1 V6), then heard a loud pop and the car cut off. It will crank but won't turn over. Any ideas?

Hey I recently changed on my 1998 lumina 3.1 one of my bent exhaust valve and pushrod and changed all gaskets from head up. I tried starting it and it wouldn't start at all. It cranks but it doesn't start. One thing I notice was after trying to start the car I took out a spark plug which were brand new and notice that they were a little wet and it smelled like gas. Another thing I noticed was right where I pour the engine oil in I'm able to see like 2 or 3 rocker arms and the spring and stuff and when I had someone crank it for me the rocker arm and all that were not moving at all. So u think it could be out of time? Are the rocker arms suppose to move while the engine is attempting to start or do they start moving when the engine starts. What do you guys think?

K. One think I noticed when it was apart was that number one cylinder is not at the top. It's at the bottom. That's not normal right? Thank you for your answer. How easy is it to put it back to time to align the camshaft and crankshaft.

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Son's girlfriends 98 lumina will shot off when driving, like you would when turning the key off. She had the battery replaced two weeks ago still doing the same thing had the starter checked and the alt. The last time it did this they where 25 miles from home, I tried to start the car and it would not start, like the battery was dead. It tried to start and ran for 2 seconds then the moter died like it was shut off. I jumped started the car and it ran all the way back home, 25 plus miles. It did it again today. Had one dealership look at it and it would not do it for them. Had another place change the battery for a new one. They checked the alt. For charging and its working fine, they too could not find the problem even driving the same route they did when it died.

My 98 lumina 3.1L has starting problems. On the first start of the day it is fine. After that, you have to hold the gas pedal halfway in order to get it to start, and when it does, more often then not it stalls out at least once, but sometimes twice and even three times. Once you get going you are fine the car runs great, although come to think of it it does seem to idle pretty rough at random times. I have recently did a tune up that included plugs, wires, gas and air filters, pcv valve and oil change. I did notice alot of black carbon like stuff around the gas fill compartment of the vehicle. Could it be that my gas cap is faulty and not holding any pressure in my tank. Is that why the first start of the day is always fine? I'm just trying to rule out all the inexpensive stuff before I get into major repairs. Anyone have any ideas?

Is the viehcle running cold, or not very hot if you are driving it hard. I am thinking it may have an EGR valve stuck open. Exhaust gases are inert, meaning they don't really reburn that well. So the EGR valve puts burn gases back into the cylinders to be compressed and burned again. However this is on;y done when the vehicle is hot! If it is happening prior to the vehicle reaching operating temperature, it will make it idle rougher and it can stall.
Where are you located? Do you have to bring your vehicle for emissions testing?