We bought our Cavalier brand new, drove it and paid it off. We decided to keep our Cavalier due to it being a great car and knowing that our daughter would be old enough to drive and would need a car.
For the past 3 years we have not needed the use of the car, we would go out once twice a year and crank it over but did not drive it (mistake I know) Before we let it sit, we did a full maintenance. For the past year, we had to jump start the car due to the battery being dead. Well, our daughter is now 16 and ready for the car. (Yikes)
I went and bought a new battery thinking the car would crank right over.. no go. We have 3/4 tank of gas, spark plugs seem to have spark - not sure how much spark it needs, when I turn the key I believe I hear the fuel pump, air filter is brand new.
Any suggestions of what to do? We will be taking the car in for full lube, new hoses, new belts, complete maintenance, brakes, and tires... we would just like to be able to drive it in rather than tow it.
Any help is appreciated!!

Does the engine turn over or does it just not do anything when you turn the key to "start"???

It does crank and acts like it wants to start

"seem to have spark"? or are they really sparking?

how many miles? check the plug wires and ignition coil, as well...

Before we let the car sit, we put new spark plugs and wires on the car. I say seems to spark because we took the spark plugs out and put them in the wire tried turning the car over to see if we saw spark... there was spark, not a big spark... but spark. We did this to all four wires and spark plugs.
Does gas go bad? Would gas that has sat in the tank for this long cause this problem?

Does gas go bad?
it does.


if that same 3/4 tank of gas has been sitting for 3 years, it would be wise to drain the tank. put in some fresh fuel, and then try starting it. worth a shot:)

Easy way to test to see if the gas is bad would be to put some gas down the throttle body and see if the engine runs that way. More than likely if your gas is 3 years old that is the problem.