I know this doesn't go here, but please show mercy.

So I drove from Portland to Seattle this morning to get my passport. No problems driving up, made 3 stops total on the way, car started perfect. I went to my passport appt, go back to my car, start it and finish a phone call. Then right after hanging up, the rpms drop and it sputters a bit before dying. Now, I can turn it on, starts up but stays at 1k or lower for 5-10 secs then dies. I've been stuck now for over 2 hours and need to get home!

No cel
battery connections look good
battery power is good

I am parked so the front of the car is facing down hill at a 80 degree angle to the curb, so I can't roll it anywhere.

I took my tools out of the car and forgot to put them back....sigh

ANY help or even responses for a bump are greatly appreciated as I am pretty much screwed.

 

Is it the 2.5 or the 3.2? The 2.5's are notorious for main relays shitting out.

 

Posted here because the tl section is dead and I'm literally stranded 180 miles from home.

The car is a 96 2.5 tl

I've checked everything I can think of, I really would appreciate ANY ideas

 

Is it stumbling when it is running? Or does it run seemingly fine and then shutoff by itself?

 

If your running out of time like literally and you get no help before 6pm, I highly recommend you just bite the bullet and tow it back home.

Or better start getting some numbers right now.

 

What happens if you try to hold the rpms up at 3-4,000 or so?
Does it still cut off?

 

Do you have gas in it? The car facing down hill and the low gas level might be starving it.

 

The starving was my first instict, I'm sitting at about an 1/4 to 1/8 tank. If I give it gas it dies almost instantly with no rpm increase. If it starts it will sputter instantly and fights to break 1k rpms

 

My next plan is to see if I can get a tow truck to get me to a level street and see if I have better luck. If that doesn't work I'll probably have to just have it towed to a shop up here and get a ride home from my roomate, but he wouldn't even be able to get up here until around 9....

ThAnks for the help fellas, truly appreciated

This sucks

 

Well 80* angle is steep LOL but at 1/8 of a tank I will say that is your problem. Borrow a gas can and put a couple gallons in. Will the tow be free? If not try putting gas in first.

 

I actually learned something from this thread.I Hope that's the issue OP.

 

Yeah, fuel, try getting it to a level place and let the pump prime for a little while.

 

Do the dash lights turn off when the car dies? Those cars are notorious for ignition switch contacts to fail. Once started, hold key so ignition stays in the ON position. See if that helps./

 

Thanks guys, I'm going to try and walk to a gas station and see if adding gas would help. Any reason to think the spark plugs may be bad?

It's just not my day today, I don't even have my in car tools because I let a buddy borrow them and never got them back in the trunk.

 

Dash lights don't dim, if I hold in the on position it either acts like normal or the starter makes that grinding noise. It's not staying running for even 5 secs now

 

As it normal I meant sputters and dies

 

Oh and by 80 degree I was referencing to the curb, but the street downgrade must be near 16" per meter

 

Walking to a gas station now guys

 

I had a friend with an older TL 3.2L . He had an issue where the car would just shut off after 20 minutes. Turned out it was the notorious ignition contacts. Doesn't really sound like your problem though.

What you described sounds exactly like a motor that's not getting enough fuel. If a motor isn't getting enough fuel and you press the gas pedal, it always sputters out, right?. Hopefully putting gas in will solve the issue.

 

there isn't any crystals on the battery is there?

 

God speed.

 

I say let it roll down to a more level area and give it another try. Good luck man!