if i give it gas, it will run for some time (up to a minute) but eventually it just fades away and dies with a backfire.
fuel pump, fuel filter and spark plugs are brand new and known to be good.
sometimes the car won't start at all. most times, if it's started without giving it gas, it'll sound fine, run for 3 seconds then slowly sputter out and backfire.
if it's started and given gas, it'll run and sound great, then fade away and backfire.
please help with any ideas!
just tested the throttle position sensor, it's fine. all sparks looks good too.
are the spark plugs oem or aftermarket? also did you have a look at the IAC? also check the crank position sensor (not sure it is the issue as the car would usually just shut off without any sputtering). basically i'm guessing but at least you've eliminated the fuel pump and filter.
the IAC sounds like an interesting culprit, but why would that be killing the car when it's running at high rpms? it runs fine with the pedal down, then after a while sputters out.
i don't know if the fuel regulator could cause that, or air in the fuel lines after fuel pump replacement, but i might try running the engine until it starts to sputter, then spray some starter spray into the throttle body to keep it going - if it does keep going, that'd tell me for sure that i'm not getting fuel, right?
i wish there was a company that sent mechanics over to people's houses, i can't pay $150 to have this towed somewhere and possibly back, but i'd happily throw someone some money to come over here. i just don't know how to diagnose this anymore.
plugs are all fine, we re-gapped them then bought new ones to be sure
problem solved. here's what i've pieced together.
- car died. thought it was out of gas, so added gas, still dead. this i guess was because the pump couldn't re-prime itself with all the sludge in the tank
- fuel pump seemed dead - when key was turned you'd hear it spin up, some gas gurgling, but nothing would come through the lines
- removed gas tank, cleaned tank, put in new pump, car still wouldn't reliably start because pump apparently is terrible at priming on these cars
- after many many many cycles of starting and dying, the fuel system got itself fully primed and now runs like a dream
- i only spent $50 on parts, thank god, instead of how bad it could have been
what really surprises me is how many start/stop cycles it took to get the fuel system working again. i must have started the car about 50 times until it finally ran for a minute (roughly!!), and on the 51st it ran like a dream.
thanks for all the help
