chevy cav 98 round 3 help?

Question

hi..quick run down..98 chevy cav
engine turns over very rough on starts of late
.I can hear the starter clicking.hear the piston engageing..it's like a very slow turnover like a bad battery??
.first time I turn the key the engine doesn't catch..second time I give the car a lil gas and it fires up.
runs fine on highway..on hills etc. like there is no problem
had it to oreilys..engine light stays on..obd meter showed no codes
I replaced the battery..put in new air filter..fuel filter..had engine tuned up 3 months ago..new spark plugs/wires etc..
just cleaned the whole starter/battery/connections etc..and rough start still happening..
oreilys tested the starter..said it is good?? battery and alt.tested fine.
if it was the starter is the problem..why would stepping on the gas cause the car to "catch"...what do you think is really going on with this car??
if the starter circuit was going bad..would stepping on the gas cause the car to catch?/?
help

I didn't mean to imply that I'm flooring the gas when I'm turning the key..just giving it a lil gas and it seems to start up..I can then audioably hear the synoild engage as the car starts..
I can hear the fuel pump start up when I turn the key..and the car drives fine on the highway after start up..
if the problem was a leaky fuel injector wouldn't that effect the way it drives on the highway as well??
the car does fine on hills..excellerates great..just starts like it's battery is drained???
the car is "odd' one day it will start fine..the next it will barely start up..
I'm thinking it's synloid is going bad in a big way..getting stuck
I will investigate all your suggestions

Answer 1

i am leaning towards a loose or corroded negative battery connection at the engine block.. regarding a slow cranking speed.... stepping on the gas pedal (opening the throttle blade to start may indicated a leaking fuel injector ? that is flooding the engine with fuel....

Answer 2

Slow starting is either a bad battery or starter, now, the starter can check out fine, but that doesnt mean the starter solenoid is not bad, another thing is, the alternator can check out fine, but the regulator can be bad... so those are two things that can check out fine during bench tests, but it sounds more like a bad regulator, which will drain the battery which will make it start slowly... another thing is, if it starts better with pedal floored, that could be a bad fuel pump..

so, check the starter solenoid, alternators regulator & the fuel pump.

Answer 3

id say bad starter or wiring heres why...

the wiring could be coroded or the starter may have a short. i had a bad starter in my wifes 95 cavalier. it would sound like it grinding metal, but what was happening is the starter piston was hitting the fly wheel and not engaging the teeth. it needed to be replaced.

you might have a short in the solinoid as well. with all you have done i would check wiring and the starter. maybe even fuel pressure at start - regulator maybe...

Answer 4

Fuel presser regulator The fuel is draining back down the fuel line. When you step on the throttle it manipulates the fuel and air mixture to send more to your fuel rail. When you start it with out your foot on throttle your only starting with the fuel that's in the fuel rail hence not enough fuel to keep it running. so it just sputters until the main supply of fuel comes up