What have you tried so far? Did it stall while driving or did you park and turn the engine off like normal, then it wouldn't start next time?
I know the chime can be distracting, but try to listen if the fuel pump runs for about two seconds after turning on the ignition switch, (not to "crank", just to "on"). You can also listen under the tank or by the filler pipe while a helper turns on the switch. It will make a soft whirring sound. If you do not hear it run for two seconds, the brushes in the motor might be worn. Very often you can get it started by banging on the bottom of the tank while your helper cranks the engine. If that gets it going, it will most likely fail again pretty soon. Pump replacement is the only permanent fix.
If you do hear the pump run for that short burst, it will turn on again when the engine computer sees engine rotation, (cranking or running). Next, pull a spark plug wire to check for spark while cranking. Most commonly it will be missing AND the fuel pump will not be running during cranking. The most common cause is a defective camshaft position sensor. Its pulses tell the computer the engine is turning and it's time to turn on the Automatic Shutdown (ASD) relay. That relay also turns on for that two seconds when you turn on the ignition switch. It sends power to the fuel pump or pump relay, the ignition coils, the injectors, the alternator field, and the oxygen sensor heaters.
A fuel pump with worn brushes will continue to run once it has started; it will not quit while you are driving. The camshaft position sensor will usually die while driving. It isn't likely to fail while unpowered and just sitting overnight, although "hot soak", a condition where engine heat builds up right after shutting it off rather than blowing away, can cause heat to migrate up to the sensor. That heat will not damage a good sensor, but it can be "the straw that breaks the camel's back" to a sensor that is about to fail.
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Sunday, January 10th, 2010 AT 12:18 AM