So i get home from school and my car is sitting outside for about 3 hours and when i go to start it, it shuts off in about 1/2 second. Then I try it again right after it cuts off and the idle shoots up to 2k then to 300, but this time its stays on. What the **** is going on. It has happened to me like 2 more times before.

 

check ur vaccum lines

 

vaccum lines, bad spark/starter, check ure fuel pressure. that could be too low

 

i also get that sometimes or when im at a light, the engines just bumps and the rpms drop fast but sometimes the computer can catch it before its stalls and keep it idling again. But your engine light goes on and puts your car in "limp mode". That means you cant go past 3400rpm about. So check the code your engine is giving out (search HT if you dont know how) and voila. I got a code 04 which means "crank position sensor"...which also means i gotta change my distributor...thats lots of money i dont have...currently saving.

 

I doubt that it's your spark, or starter. what does it sound like when it's getting ready to cut off, does it struggle to "stay alive" or does it just turn off without any struggling?

 

it fires up perfect for that half second without struggling, then just cuts off.

 

mine kept shuttin off like that and then once i waited it would start back up and etc... turned out it was my ignitor...