Chevrolet Repair: dead cavalier, engine cranks, 2002 chevy cavalier

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
The only thing I know about the car is that it is a 2002 Chevy Cavalier 4 door automatic. My mom called and said that the car suddenly started rattling, she heard a ping, and then it died and won't start. Any thoughts?
Thanks

ANSWER: HI TONJA,YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE ME  MORE INFO THEN THAT BEFORE I CAN HELP YOU..FIND OUT IF THE ENGINE CRANKS OVER OR IS IS DEAD AS IN NO CRANK ??? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO CK FOR FUEL AND SPARK..DO THE LIGHTS TURN ON ?? A GUESS WOULD BE THE ALTERNATOR LOCKED UP AND KILLED THE BATTERY. GET BACK TO ME WITH MUCH NEEDED INFO..I CK MY TEXT MESS OFTEN,SO WHEN YOU SEND IT BACK I SHOULD ANSWER IN A SHORT TIME. THANKS TOM.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, thanks for getting back to me so quickly. My mom says that it cranks, but doesn't catch. She says that she hears an "electronic" sound from the front to the back of the car. The car has gas, she put some in right before. We don't have the ability to check for spark although my uncle did change the spark plugs a couple of months ago. I don't know if she had lights specifically, but like I said the car turns over as if it is going to start but doesn't.
Thanks again

ANSWER: HI TANJA, WELL THE ONLY THING WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. SO THIS LEAVES US WITH FUEL OR IGNITION PROBLEMS. THIS ELECTRONIC SOUND THAT YOUR MOM HEARS SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE FUEL PUMP IS WORKING,THIS WOULD HAVE A WHINING SOUND WHILE CRANKING AND 3 SECONDS AFTER THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. SO IF THIS IS THE CASE MAYBE THE FUEL PUMP IS OK..THIS IS NORMAL..BUT I STILL HAVE NOTHING TO REALLY GO ON TO GET YOUR MOMS CAR UP RUNNING. IF I TELL YOU WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO, CAN YOU DO THIS OR ARE YOU NOT WITH THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR MOMS CAR RUNNING FOR HER IF POSSIBLE..MOMS ARE SPECIAL. I WILL BE EATING LUNCH NOW SO I WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOU VERY FAST. AFTER THAT I NEED TO CUT MY GRASS 2 HOURS WORTH OF WORK. LET ME KNOW,,, THANK YOU,,,, TOM

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again Tom,
I am not with the car and currently have no way of getting to it. If you have any suggestions for me to try when I can get to the car I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Tonja

Answer
HI TONJA, WELL THE FIRST THING I WOULD NEED YOU TO DO IS FIND OUT IF THERE IS SPARK TO THE SPARK PLUGS, REMOVE ANY ONE OF THE FOUR IGNITION WIRES TO ONE PLUG, GRAB YOURSELF A SCREW DRIVER AND PUT IT IN THE SPARK PLUG WIRE TILL IT STOPS. NOW LAY THE SCREW DRIVER AWAY FROM ANY METAL SURFACE ABOUT 1/4 INCH AND NO MORE. HAVE SOMONE CRANK THE ENGINE OVER AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY SPARK. THERE SHOULD BE SPARK WHILE CRANKING THE ENG OVER, SUCH AS>>> SPARK, NO SPARK AND THEN SPARK AND NO SPARK.SO ON,OFF,ON,OFF. IF THERE IS SPARK THEN WE NO THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS GOOD. NEXT THING I WOULD WHAT YOU TO DO IS FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY FUEL. ON TOP OF THE INTAKE AREA THERE WILL BE A FUEL LINE WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A TIRE VALVE CAP. REMOVE THIS CAP [UNSCREW IT] AND PUSH DOWN ON THE SHRADER VALVE WHILE SOMEONE CRANKS THE ENGINE OVER,THERE SHOULD BE FUEL ALL THE WHILE THE ENG IS CRANKING OVER. NOT JUST AT FIRST CRANK..[THE WHOLE TIME IT IS CRANKING] IF SO WE KNOW THE FUEL SYSTEM IS GOOD. NO SMOKING PLEASE DURING THIS TEST. OK,, THIS SHOULD KEEP YOU BUSY FOR AWHILE. GET BACK TO ME ON YOUR FINDINGS.. TOM..