i am thinking maybe fuel filter/pump? i was sitting at the drive thru window and it died and would not start back up. I have lights and electricity, it trys to crank over but will not. If I change the fuel filter do u have to relieve the fuel pressure first? and I read the schrader valve under the car will decompress. any help/ideas would be great. Thanks!

 

We need some more info. Starting with vehicle specifics, like year, make, and model. Is there ignition spark? Did it run out of fuel?

 

What make/model car do you have? Regardless, a dirty or plugged fuel filter or bad fuel pump isn't going to affect whether the car cranks or not. So, need to clarify whether the car cranks but doesn't start...or, it simply doesn't crank at all.

 

its a 1997 cutlass supreme, completely forgot to mention that haha. its cranking but not starting, the battery sounds a little weaker from trying to start it. so yeah it cranks but no start. It has 70k miles on it and it probably sat awhile from the original owner. I changed the front 3 spark plugs earlier this year but was not able to get to the back 3. Maybe the crank sensor?

 

Plug it into a code reader and check the codes.

 

Why, oh, why do people always want to throw new parts at a problem BEFORE figuring out what is wrong? Do you have too much money and need to spend it?

First, get a fuel pressure gauge and see if there is the correct pressure at the test port. Should be somewhere between 45-60 PSI. If not, figure out why. It could be as simple as a blown fuel pump fuse or all the way to a bad pump. If there IS fuel pressure, then obviously changing anything in the fuel system is a waste of time and money.

Second, see if there is spark when cranking. If not, figure out why.

Third, if there are more than 100,000 miles on the car, you might want to check the timing chain.

 

And check the manual for getting to the rear plugs. I believe you remove a mount and rock the engine away from the firewall, but not sure.
You need a factory manual.