Mitsubishi Repair: 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, little cars, newer cars

Question
My car will turn over, but will not start.  It has a 1/2 tank of gas in it.  Battery and starter are both good.  Could it be the fuel filter or spark plugs? Or something worse?

Answer
Christy: Are you sure the cables on the battery are tight, in that you can not move them. As these little cars like those cables tight. When turning it over does the belts move? Did you driving the car home from work or something like that; park it come out to start it, now it will not start? Or was the car acting up while you were driving it? Did it die in the drive-way? If when you are trying to turn the engine over, have a friend watch to see if the belts are turning; if so then the timing belt would be ok. If not then the timing belt is broken. But heck, your car is not very old. With this high cost of fuel more people are running their cars down to empty before filling them up. With these newer cars you should only go to 1/4 tank then fill the car back up, because the fuel is what cools the pump. Do that to much with time you will cook the pump.Does the car try to start, in that can you hear it firing? Or nothing. Well listen you may have to have the car pulled to a shop and get them to check it out. Without knowing what the car was doing before this all came about is hard. If it just drove fine and now nothing, even if the belts are turning with the engine; then I would say the fuel pump went. They often go out like a light. But it could be something easy too. Best have a shop look at it. Hope this helps and God bless. Linda