It's actually a '96 Sable. Maybe someone here can help. This link will explain everything I've done so far: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=633593

I know someone else must have encountered this problem.

Thanks.

 

if you give it gas when it starts will it stay running?
if so, i would just replace the idle speed motor(iac)
sometimes cleaning it wont do anything
hope this helps

 

Giving it gas doesn't help. It will run if I spray carb cleaner into the TB. I'll check the IAC, though. My son said it looked worn but that once the throttle is opened the IAC should affect the engine's running.

 

Try the fuel pump relay it is under the hood in a black box called the power distrubtion box swap the fuel relay with the A/C relay.

 

I'll check the relay, but unless it is intermittant it wouldn't seem to be the problem. The FP always works at initalization (key "on"). The system is filled with gas at 40psi, but quits when the engine starts up.

It failed all day long Monday, then fired up and ran fine Monday night as we were checking before locking it up for the night.

Go figure!

 

The relay can cause this.[hr]They do work half *** when going bad

 

Started up again this morning.

On the pump relay: if the relay is intermittant, why would it ALWAYS work when the system is initialized (key turned to "on")? Is there a current load difference when the car tries to run that would cause the relay to malfunction sometimes?

 

The contacts go bad.

 

After trying everything except changing the fuel pump we accidentally discovered that one of the sets of keys wasn't deactivating the security system. It would allow the doors to be opened and the ignition to be "excited"....but not allow the engine to run.

So far, everything is normal when using the other set of keys.

Go figure!