Here is the common sense G.M. service technician approach to you dilemma Because there is no fuel getting to the engine [make sure there is truly enough fuel in the tank as the gauge is often wrong]. The starting fluid is temporarily acting as the fuel until it quickly burns away. Start with the simple things first, in this order: !] Check for a blown fuse in the fuel and/or ECM circuits in your fuse panel. 2] Check for a bad fuel pump relay in your relay/fuse box. 3] Replace the in-line fuel filter [under the vehicle, along the frame, ahead of the fuel tank]. Replace this regardless, as it is the most ignored and damaging item to the expensive electric in-tank fuel pump. 4] Last and most difficult & expensive: Remove the fuel tank and replace the in-tank fuel pump. FIRST though, a simple test for this is to remove the gas cap and put your ear to the filler neck. Have someone turn the ignition key on. If you hear a whining noise from the neck, the pump does run. If you hear nothing, get a heavy rubber mallet or heavy block of wood and hit the bottom of the fuel tank hard while the key is on. If you still hear nothing the pump is most likely bad. If the pump starts to whine or the engine will now start, the pump is still bad. You have only temporarily jolted it back to life so don't count on it working again. bestoflucktoyou
no
The fuel is not getting from the tank to the carburetor.
Fuel pump problem
It always gets back to fuel, ignition and compression. If you're getting all 3, it will start. If it's not starting, find out which is missing. Start with a little starting fluid while someone attempts to start the engine. If it starts briefly, it's a fuel problem.
Your engine may be running lean, or have a vacum leak
I had same problem -- fuel pump went out.
Timing belt.
Take the ignition control modual out of the distruboter and have it tested at your local parts store. The have a tendency to have that exact problem. They willl not inject fuel on the enital start up.
Does the engine continue to run on it's own after you gave it a squirt of starting fluid? If so, try replacing the ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor. If the engine runs only on starting fluid but not on it's own I would suspect the fuel pump is bad.
A partially blocked catalytic converter might cause the engine to run poor, but it wouldn't keep it from starting. Always go back to the basics. Fuel, ignition and compression. Starting fluid is a good tool to have around when an engine won't start. If the engine runs when starting fluid is being sprayed into the air intake then dies when you stop spraying, you have a fuel delivery problem. If the engine WON'T start when you are spraying starting fluid, it's probably ignition or something internal.
You have a fuel pressure problem it sounds like b/c you spray starting fluid & the car runs & then shuts off after the fluid has burned off. If you continued with this starter fluid - it would keep running. So if you had adequate fuel pressure - the car would run. Maybe faulty fuel pump or vacuum loss in fuel system not allowing fuel to flow where it is needed.
You need to determine if it is spark or fuel to blame. The next time it won't start try spraying a little starting fluid into the throttle body and see if it makes an attempt to start and run. If it does you have a fuel delivery problem. Start with changing the fuel filter first then the fuel pump relay then the fuel pump. If starting fluid makes no difference you probably have a spark problem. I would suspect the ignition module located on the lower passenger side of the engine block.