san3r16

i turn it on and 2-4 seconds later it turns off? my friend says its the fuel pump about to check it out. if its not the fuel pump what can it be?

bangsund6970

alot of things. and how does it die? just plain shuts off? kinda bad idle to die? is the idle normal?

Former User

When the engine shuts off, do the cluster warning lights illuminate and stay on or are all of them off?

PerfectionIsKey

Make sure it's not just a cold start. Turn it on and when it turns off try turning it on again. Mine was doing that just a week ago.

san3r16

thanks for the replies. i turned it on more then one time and its always the same result. it starts of normal and it dies off slowying and the oil and battery lights illuminate. battery is good replaced it not so long ago.

Former User

Give some background.

Has this engine ever run? Is it a new engine install?

CEL codes?

Are all sensor connectors matched to the correct sensors?

Is the mechanical timing correct?

Do all 4 spark plugs have bright white spark?

Are the plug wires installed in the correct firing order on the distributor cap?

san3r16

before this happen was running good and the car died on my in mid traffic. Yes it has was running good before this happen. no new engine install.
Dont know how to put out CEL codes.. Still a newbie.
yes, yes and yes.
has been my daily driver for 2months now.

Former User

What car/engine?

See Codes sticky at the top of the forum. It shows how to pull codes.

Do all 4 spark plugs have bright white spark?

Does the fuel pump prime for 2 seconds when the key is turned from off to ON(II)?

san3r16

eg hatchback d15. all white spark.
Checking on how to pull codes right now.

"Does the fuel pump prime for 2 seconds when the key is turned from off to ON" by this you mean the sound the rings when your turn the key right?

Former User

The fuel pump makes a low humming or buzzing noise when it runs. It's located in the fuel tank, so the noise comes from the rear. If you are unsure, remove the fuel fill cap and put your ear to the fill hole while a buddy turns the key from off to ON(II).

san3r16

yea making sure thats what you meant i havent tried that waiting on my friend to swing by. would the IACV affect this? my car rpms sit at 1 when car is on? sorry im still new to this ! its my first car and still learning alot.

Former User

Will the engine stay running if you partially hold the gas pedal down?

san3r16

no the car will not. holding it or pumping. can it be the main relay?

Former User

Then the IACV is an unlikely cause of the problem.

Former User

Not if there is spark at the plugs.

san3r16

okay so my buddie came by already and check the fuel pump and its good! so whats next on the check list?

Former User

Also, do the injectors pulse fuel when the engine is cranked or does the engine start with starting fluid?

Have you compression tested the cylinders?

san3r16

can you put that in other words?

and no havent done that! will be doing alot more tomorrow!

Former User

Test edited. Sorry for the typo.

san3r16

how do you check for this never done this ;o

Former User

Remove intake system. Buy starting fluid and spray into top of throttle body while cranking engine.

san3r16

i did almost everything i ran out of ideas?! my other buddie of my said its the pump still. it primes but turns off. so going to change that and see what happens..

san3r16

Okay, so did a check again now all 4 spark plugs black??
what does this mean

spotrep

How much of the spark plug is black? Is it an oily black or a dry black? If the outer part is black and the inner porcelain is beige/brown then that's pretty normal. If the whole plug is a dry black, then it's either running rich or the plugs are too cold (probably running rich, though). If it's wet at all though, that's a very bad sign.

Racer02gtstang

Possibly a bad electrical part of the ignition switch. If you hold the key forward slightly after starting does it stay running?