Car dies during start., Hmm possible problem? Options

[LeonStryfe]

Hey guys, I'm not exactly sure whats wrong, well I have an idea but I wanna hear your infos. When I start the car, the car fires but then the RPM doesn't pass 1k rpm and goes ot near zero to zero. The car vibrates for awhile (since the rpm is really low) then the engine just shuts off. The battery and light is still working. TI's just the engine suddenly just shuts off. Usually happens when Im starting the car. Spark Plug perhaps?

[ferngt4]

does it start up and rpm just goes althe way down to zero? i had a similar problem and it would happen pretty much whenever it wanted.

[pabel89]

that happen to me once and it was my altenator would drain the battery.does the car stay on for like 5 sec when it reaches zero? you can test your altenator by turning the car on and taking the negative terminal off the battery, if it shuts off then its bad if it stays on its good.

[CelicaST_CALI]

nah a plug wouldn't turn the car off,i say check ur alt.

[ferngt4]

im not to good at this, but when mine had somewhat the same problem i checked my starter battery and all was good. i dont know if you have the same problems i did but on mine it ended up being the igniter, atleast im hoping, havent gotten the part yet so cant say if it was that. would it shut off on you while driving or it wouldnt even start?

[LeonStryfe]

I'm starting to think it might be the igniter. I put the keys in, turn it on and the car starts as it should. Then once the engine starts it doesn't do what it usually does.

Normally, once the engine is turned on, the RPM hits 1.7 then idles at 1 or so after heating up. In my situation right now, when the car turns on, it only goes .75k RPM then goes very low, near 0 and then the engine just shuts off. The lights and everything is still working btw. It feels like theres not enough juice to push the car or something. In order for me to actually make it work, is once I start the car, I have to step on the gas immediately to push the RPM up there and the car works fine afterwards.

[MaskedMan]

When you say 1.7 rpm, what do you mean? 1,700rpms? .75k rpm means 750rpms? Your car is supposed to idle at 750 rpms. Why it's dies, could be a few reasons. Have you done anything to the car recently? Did it just start acting up today? Yesterday? Has it always done this? What kind of maintainence have you done to your car? How's your timing? When you say your car runs fine after you step on the throttle, do you mean just as long as you stay on the gas, or it's fine to drive until you turn the car off again?

[D-Man]

might also check your fuel pump. They'll do something like that when they start to go out (if it shows signs) and oneday it just wont stay running. it'll almost start when it's totaly out.

But sometimes they do give warnings, and its a possibility. Check your groundings and altanator also...

[trdproven]

normally, fuel pumps are really rare to give out but you could hear it if you take off the back seat.

[D-Man]

normally, fuel pumps are really rare to give out but you could hear it if you take off the back seat.

LOL, that's what i hear, but i have Serious bad luck with em'.

the last 3 car's i've owned (including this celi) have had the fuel pumps go out...

[LeonStryfe]

I guess I have to be more clear. Usually when its really cold outside, the car goes and starts at 1.7k rpm and then idles after heating up usually 1k rpm - .5k rpm. However in my scenario, it's really acting funny.

When I start the car, it doesn't even reach 1krpm and immediately drops to near 0 rpm, in which it begins to vibrate. then it just dies and shuts off (engine) although all electrical units are open and working. So I try again and this time once the engine starts up, I step on the throttle (while park) to push the RPM up and then the car is fine. While driving it doesn't die or anything like that. However, when I park and shut the car off and leave for awhile and come back afterwards, the whole problem begins again. The car keeps dying doing start and the remedy all the time is that as soon as the car starts up, I have to step on the gas to make sure it doesn't shut off.

the car is maintained very well. this just happened recently as well.... I probably need a tune up as someone suggested to me though.. although every fluid change is up to date and all.

[D-Man]

oh well then its not your fuel pump, not at all. NOPE delete that one from the record books. My fault.

I'd check your Alt. Make sure it's connected really well, or possible replacement may be in order...

[airforceb2cc]

Fuel filter maybe. Clogged injectors? Sounds like a fuel delivery problem because once you get the gunk out of the way (stepping on the gas at start-up) it will stay running. If it was an electrical problem...it would persist IMO.

Oh yeah, check your vacuum lines too...one might be cracked.

This post has been edited by airforceb2cc: Mar 31, 2008 - 10:38 AM

[D-Man]

Fuel filter maybe. Clogged injectors? Sounds like a fuel delivery problem because once you get the gunk out of the way (stepping on the gas at start-up) it will stay running. If it was an electrical problem...it would persist IMO.

Valid point airforce.

buy sometimes when alt.s start to go out, they have a weak start. That's why i recommend checking that first. Although it never hurts to check the filters and run some fuel-system cleaner of your choice through. never ever hurts. Try that first, it's cheaper. But test the alt if possible. Or take it to auto-zone and tell them to test it for you. do it all at the same time

[LeonStryfe]

Hey guys, yea I just got back to college and the first I did was check up on my car lol.

So I tried to turn it on, it turned on but then within 2 seconds (it gotten worse) it bogs down and just dies. Did this twice, second time I tried my previous remedy (stepping on the throttle) and it started but then 5 seconds later it dies.

third time I ask my dad to do it and it just doesnt even turn on anymore, wont turn over.

Based on all of your good advise, I concluded its not my fuel pump as well.

However, it might be several things... My first guess would be the alternator. Since the car no longer turns on I'm leaning towards that. Second might be as stated above fuel enjection or filter problem.

At first I thought though it might be something fuel delivery since the car does turn onbut needs the throttle to be stepped on for the that needed "push" but since it doesnt turn on anymore... might be the alternator. BAttery is good and brand new. I can turn all electrical stuff on the car... the thing just wont turn on. Might it also be the igniter?

What diagnostics could I do to determine the problem?\

Problems are always lovely. BTW is a 7gc 2000 GT-S 6-speed for 4.8k a good price? I checked it and everything is good cept its mileage is a lil tab bit high. 105xxx. I might be picking one up soon.

This post has been edited by LeonStryfe: Apr 12, 2008 - 10:28 AM

[trdproven]

this worked for me. When you first turn on your car, put some gas into it. This worked for my celi and my friends eclipse. Put some gas and then see if it shuts off again. Happened to me once, have not seen it since.

[airforceb2cc]

Hmm...when it would start before, could you hear your starter disengaging after it fired up? If it wont even turn over now and didn't stay running long before, I'm leaning more towards a starter if you are getting power but no crank. Try hitting the starter with a hammer and then starting the car.

[trdproven]

The starter gives you signs that it is engaging or clicking. The starter hitting it with a hammer only is temporary assuming it works. If it is the starter you might have to rebuild it or buy a new one.

[LeonStryfe]

I can hear the starter engage. But yeah I tried turning the car 3 times, it cranks, then turned on again, but died 1-2 seconds laters. Then the fourth time I try openning it, it doesn't even crank anymore. Sorry for late reply I went back to College since I figured I wont be able to fix it with the lack of time I had.

[scothaniel]

Any error codes being thrown? Dash lights?

Here are some thoughts:

To check the alt, hook up a voltage meter to the battery and start the car. If it jumps from 12 volts to 13/14vols, its likely fine.

If holding the gas pedal down keeps it running, then it could be the idle control vavle, which regulates the amount of air the engine takes in while idling. Clogged injectors or fuel filters usually strike at higher rpm first, unless you bought a really bad tank of gas that clogged everything up at once.

The ignitor issues I've seen in the past generally fall into the all or nothing category. Your driving fine one moment then the car dies and never starts again. But when this happens, you can crank the car until your battery dies - its doesn't stop the starter from engaging and rotating the engine.