Starts and dies immediately

**STS** · 01-03-2012

I have an 05 base model. 162k miles. Well maintained, I'm the second owner. Recently when I would start the car, the starter sounded like it couldn't decide whether or not to disengage. Now, it only starts and then dies immediately. If I do not turn the car off, and attempt to start it again, the starter continues to be indecisive, but if turned completely off, the car starts and dies. The theft system seems to function fine. I checked fuses and relays in the fuse panel. No other strange issues have shown themselves either. I heard there is a starter relay that receives a signal to disengage when the engine starts. Maybe a TPS? I remember one more change, the car seems to idle a bit high and occasionally fluctuates about 300 RPM in spurts. It's currently idling between 900-1000. When it fluctuates, it drops down to about 7-800 and then back to around 900-1000. Any suggestions where to begin?

**Explicit_Spade** · 01-03-2012

My guess is vacuum leak.

Is the check engine light on?

**accuab** · 01-03-2012

Vacuum leak could be the problem like said above. Sometimes the iac valve can have carbon build up that causes it to act funny and mess the idle up. You know you have spark so has to be your fuel or air having the issue.

**CTKGP09** · 01-04-2012

high fluctuating idle sounds like a bad MAF, but like stated a vacuum leak can make a car go crazy

**STS** · 01-05-2012

I checked fuel pressure today and there isn't any. Heard conflicting opinions on the fuel pressure regulator being a potential problem. How do I check the regulator? The fuel pump primes, I can hear it. Is it possible it is still not functioning?

Thanks for your help!!

Aaron

**STS** · 01-05-2012

The check engine light is not on.

**accuab** · 01-06-2012

Look up how to test your fuel pump completely. Check all the pressures under each circumstance. Also have you changed your fuel filter? The pump can prime enough to start the car sometimes but not maintain pressure for it to run.

**BillBoost37** · 01-06-2012

Let's take things one at a time.

Starter: You can check the soleniod power by hooking a multimeter or even a light bulb and a test lead to it and ground. Then have someone watch the bulb vs how long the starter is held. It's possible improper shimming or tolerances on a starter can allow it to stay hung up on the engine for a moment. It's also possible a bad stater isn't retracting properly.

The engine stalling/idle. IAC is idle air control, I'd pull it off and clean both it's pintle (end of cap) and the hold it sits in to start off.

**STS** · 01-08-2012

If my anti-theft system is malfunctioning and disabling the fuel pump, will the fuel pump shut down completely or will I still hear it prime when the key is turned on?