1. Battery terminal connections loose or corroded. Check the cable terminals at the battery; tighten the cable or remove corrosion as necessary.
2. Battery discharge ot faulty. If the cable connections are clean and tight on the battery posts, turn the key to the ON position and switch on the headlights and or the wipers. if they fail to function the battery is discharged.
3. Automatic transaxle not completely engaged in PARK or clutch is not completely depressed.
4. Broken, loose or disconected wiring in the starting circuit. Inspect all wiring and conectors at the battery, starter solinoid, neutral start switch and ignition switch.
5. Starter motor pinion jammed in flywheel ring gear. If manual transaxle, place transaxle in gear and rock the vehicle to manually turn the engine. Remove the starter and inspect the flywheel at the earliest convenience.
6. Starter soliniod faulty.
7. Starter motor faulty.
8. Ignition switch faulty.

2. Engine rotates but will not start

1. Fuel tank empty
2. Battery discharged (engine rotates slowly). Check the operation of electrical components as described in section 1.
3. Battery terminal connections loose or corroded. See section 1.
4. Carburetor flooded and or fuel level in carb. incorrect. This will usually be accompanied by a strong odor of fuel from inder the hood. Wait a few minutes, depress the accelorator pedal all the way to the floor and attempt to start the engine.
5. Chock control inoperative - Carborated models only.
6. Fuel not reaching Fuel-Injection system or Carb.
7. Fuel injector or fuel pump faulty (Fuel Injected vehicles)
8. Excessive moisture on, or damage to, ignition components.
9. Worn, faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs.
10. Broken, loose or disconnected wiring in the starting circuit.
11. Distributor loose, causing ignition timing to change (HEI ignition only). Turn the distributor as necessary to start engine, then set ignition timing as soon as possible.
12. Broken, loose ot disconnected wires at the ignition coil(s) or faulty coil(s).
13. Broken of stripped timing belt (OHC engines only).

3. Starter motor operates without rotating engine

1. Starter pinion sticking. Remove the starter and inspect.
2. Starter pinion or flywheel teeth worn or broken. Remove the cover at the rear of the engine and inspect.

1. Battery discharged or low. See section 1
2. Choke control inoperative or out of adjustment. Carb. models only.
3. Carburetor flooded.
4. Insufficient fuel supply reaching the carb. or fuel injection system. Check the fuel pressure.
5. Leaky fuel injectors, fuel lines or fuel pump outlet check valve, causing fuel pressure to bleed down while the vehicle is sitting (Multi Port Fuel Injection system only)
6. Caruretor/fuel injection system malfunctioning.
7. Distributor rotor carbon tracked.

1. Choke sticking in the closed position. Carb. models
2. Carburetor flooded.
3. Air Filter clogged.
4. Malfunction in the carburetor or fuel injection system.
5. Insufficient fuel supply reaching the carburetor or fuel injection system. Check the fuel pressure.
6. Leaky fuel injectors, fuel lines or fuel pump outlet check valve, causing fuel pressur to bleed down while the vehicle is sitting. (Multi Port Fuel Injection system only)

1. Pinion or flywheel gear teeth worn or broken. Remove the cover at the rear of the engine and inspect.
2. Starter motor mounting bolts loose or missing.

1. Loose or faulty tlectrical connections at distributor, coil or alternator.
2. Insufficient fuel reaching the carburator/fuel injectors - check the fuel pressure.
3. Vacuum leak at the gasket surfaces of the intake manifold and/or carb./TBI. Make sure that all mounting bolts (nuts) are re-tightened securely and that all vacuum hoses connected to the carb./fuel injection unit and manifold are positioned properly and in good condition.

8. Engine "lopes" while idling or idles erratically

1. Vacuum leakage. Check mounting bolts at the carb./tbi and intake manifold for tightness. Make sure that all vacuum hoses are connected and in good condition. Use a length of fuel hose held against your ear to listen for vacuum leaks while the engine is running. A hissing sound will be heard. A soapy water solution will also detect leaks. Check the carb./tbi and intake manifold gasket surfaces. Also check where the injectors are attached to the intake ports (MPFI).
2. Leaking EGR valve or plugged PCV valve.
3. Air filter clogged.
4. Fuel pump not delivering sufficient fuel to the carb./fuel injectors. - check the fuel pressure.
5. Carburator out of adjustment or clogged fuel injectors.
6. Leaking head gasket. If this is suspected, take the vehicle to a repair shop or dealer where the engine can be pressure checked.
7. Timing chain and or gears worn.
8. Camshaft lobes worn.

1. All of the causes listed in the previous section, plus:
2. Spark plugs worn or not gapped properly.
3. Faulty spark plug wires.
4. Choke not operating properly - carburated models only.

1. Fuel filter clogged and or impurities in the fuel system. Also check the fuel pressure.
2. Clogged fuel injectors.
3. Faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs.
4. Incorrect ignotion timing.
5. On early models with HEI ignition, check for craked distributor cap, disconnected distributor wires and damaged distibutor components.
6. Leaking spark plug wires.
7. Faulty emissions system components.
8. Low or uneaven cylinder compression pressures. Remove spark plugs and test compression with gauge.
9. Weak or faulty ignition system.
10. Vacuum leaks at the carb/TBI, intake manifold or vacuum hoses.

1. Idle speed incorrect or automatic idle speed control circuit malfunctioning.
2. Fuel filter clogged and or water and ipurities in the fuel system.
3. Choke improperly adjusted or sticking - carburated model.
4. Distributor components damp or damaged - early model with HEI ignition systems.
5. Faulty emissions system components.
6. Faulty or incorrectly gapped psark plugs. Also check plug wires.
7. Vacuum leak at the Carb./TBI., intake manifold or vacuum hoses.

1. Incorrect ignition timing - early model with HEI ignition systems.
2. Excessive play in dristributor shaft, early models with HEI. At the same time check for worn rotor, faulty distributor cap, wires, etc.
3. Faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs.
4. Carb/Fuel injection system excessivly worn.
5. Faulty ignition coil(s).
6. Brakes binding.
7. Automatic Transaxle fluid level incorrect.
8. Clutch slipping.
9. Fuel filter clogged and/or impurities in the fuel system.
10. Emissions control system not functioning properly.
11. Use of substandard fuel. Fill tank with proper octain fuel.
12. Low or uneven cylinder compression pressures. Test with compression tester, which will detect leaking valves and/or blown head gasket.

1. Emissions system not functioning properly.
2. Ignition timing incorrect.
3. Faulty secondary ignition system, (cracked spark plug insulator, faulty plug wires, distrbutor cap and/or rotor).
4. Carb/Fuel injections system in need of adjustment or worn excessivley. A clogged fuel injector may also cause this problem.
5. Vacuum leak at the Carb/TBI, intake manifold or vacuum hoses.
6. Valves sticking or burned.

1. Incorrect grade of fuel. Fill tank with fuel of the proper Octain rating.
2. Ignition timing incorrect.
3. Carb/Fuel injections system in need of adjustment or worn excessivley. A clogged fuel injector may also cause this problem.
4. Improper spark plugs. Check plug type against Emissions Control Information lable located in engine compartment. Also check wires for damage.
5. Worn or damaged distributor components.
6. Faulty emissions system.
7. Vacuum leak.

1. Vacuum leaks.
2. Idle speed too high.
3. Ignition timing incorrectly adjusted.
4. Thermo-controlled air cleaner heat valve not operating properly.
5. Excessive engine operating temperature. Probable cause of this would be; malfunctioning thermostat, clogged radiator, faulty water pump.