First thing I noticed: My speedometer and tachometer both dropped to 0 then back up to normal. My d4 icon was flashing. Then they both dropped again and my car felt like it wasn't getting gas. Get over to the shoulder and wait for roadside assistance. They put some gas in thinking maybe my gas gauge was reading wrong. Also checked oil, transmission fluid, and radiator level. All fine. Had to get the car towed home.....

I go to start the car and: One turn of the key = radio comes on, door chime comes on. One more key turn forward = CEL does NOT come on and NO relay click. Front panel fans don't come on. Dash board lights don't come on. Window switches don't work.

Now I turn the key to start the engine. fires up and immediately dies. If I step on the gas as I turn the key the engine just revs high for 1 second and then dies. It doesn't (sputter and die) it just dies. If you are standing by the hood (specifically the air filter) it sounds unusually loud. Like "WAAAAHHHHHHHHHHoooohhhhhh"...

It's seems like the engine isn't getting gas, but why would that affect my CEL or anything else from turning on when the key is in the auxiliary position?

Battery is only two years old. Someone said "maybe" it's the alternator - I don't know. The gauges started dropping to 0 randomly after I got my car washed in a no-touch carwash. Could the water short out a relay?

Any help would be awesome as I have to carpool until I get this figured out.

 

Anyone?

 

Tried jumping it and nothing different happened.

 

If you think it's not getting gas, put a fuel pressure gauge on it. The fuel pump should run for a few seconds when you turn the key to ON (not START). Then start it and see what happens. There could be an issue with the fuel pump relay. If there's another of the same size/type in the relay panel, try swapping it. That would be a quick and easy check.

The fact that the speedo and tach both went flaky suggests a common cause. A bad ground comes to mind, but I'm sure they share more than a ground. If I remember correctly, there's a ground on the intake manifold on the driver's side. Take the screw off and clean it up, even if it looks good to the eye. Same for any other grounds you can find. Maybe there's a common connector for the two signals. You would need to get your hands on a wiring diagram and trace it out.

If you can confirm the fuel problem, post back and I'll take a look in my shop manual to see what all is involved in the fuel pump circuit.

 

If you are having starting issues, running issues, and gauge cluster issues your alternator is probably shot. Want to know how I know? Mine went bad about five days ago with these same symptoms lol. Go to the auto parts store and have the battery and alternator tested, they could also even potentially rent out this equipment.

 

I went ahead and ordered a new alternator. Even if it turns out to not be the issue, mine has never been replaced and it is probably due.

Something I want to mention that I tried tonight. I turned the car on by HOLDING the key forward. As soon as I let go of the key, the car died. I tried to slowly ease off of it, but the rpms kept dropping until it died. So that means that the ignition switch is shot, right? I'm going to pick one up tomorrow since they are only about $60 and I can replace it is 15 mins or so. I will update if that fixes the problem.

 

a lot of these cars had ignition switch issues, they just recalled a bunch of them, but i'm sure the older ones have the same problem

 

check your crank sensor, mine had some insulation peeled away and was shorting out when wet, or when they touch. i changed plugs, rotor, dizzy, gas, and this was my prob