Thread: Been reading for days. Time to finally ask for help

Saturday I bought an 02 GTP from a friend. Car had a 160,000 miles and was well maintained. There was a coolant leak from those coolant elbows. That was it. They drove it 2hrs up to me. I started it and lookEd around. Then started it again a little later and pulled it in the driveway. About 4hrs later I try to start it and it starts really hard but then levels out and everything's good. Drove it around. No loss of power or hesitation or anything. Well the hard start condition gets progressively worse. 6-7 cranks, won't start without giving it gas, finally won't start at all.

I've replaced the coolant elbows. I replaced the fuel pump. Replaced the fuel filter. Depressed the valve on the rail and have gas there. Took another plug and wire and connected it to each terminal on the ignition coils and saw spark off each. I'm just at a complete loss as to what it could be. The first day, when I was still able to drive it, it popped code po300. Put some fuel injector cleaner in the tank and topped off with 93 octane. That code cleared the next day for the 5min I drove it after replacing the coolant elbows.

Im just at a complete loss as to where to go next. My friend swears up and down they never had this issue. I've known them for 14yrs so I'd like to trust them. I'm assuming it has to be something stupid then, but god knows what. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

1) Checked the oil at the dipstick and looking in through the fill hole. Oil looked normal and brown. Nothing like coffee creamer.

2) Yesterday I pulled the battery terminals off and took a wire brush to them. There was some corrosion on the positive terminal. Also wire brushed that ground connection just below the battery to the frame. Not sure if there's others I should do too. Don't know what the fuel pressure is. I never put a gauge on it, but it is there and the plugs are wet (least the one I pulled to check).

3) Battery was fine as far as I know. From me trying to crank it the past few days and never getting it to run it finally died. But I've had jumper cables from my truck hooked up to it and still nothing.

check the fuel pressure even though you changed pump and filter. my pump had bad connection and wouldnt pump, do you here it prime when the keys on?

Yeah the pump definitely primes. I can hear it kick in as soon as I turn the key.

you say you checked for spark? check with some of the guys before you do this, but take the intake tube off and spray starting fluid through the throttle body and see if it starts.
i did this when my pump stopped, before i knew it was electrical.

bumbed it for ya

Try disconnecting the MAF and try starting it. May have to feather the gas for a minute but it should eventually run on its own.

I disconnected the MAF and tried to start it and got nothing still. It was basically trying to start the same way it has been. I guess I'll check the O2 sensor next when I get home from work tonight.

Clean/reset your IAC valve.

I'm planning on going crazy with a multimeter tomorrow morning before work if nothing comes up. Check the TPS, the cam sensor, the crank sensor, etc...

I'll check the O2 sensor, but isnt it deselected during startup so it wouldn't keep it from starting? Same thing with the IAC valve? It's still worth checking and eliminating though I guess.

I just still don't understand how when it was running I didn't experience any problems the few times I drove it. Idled slightly rough, but nothing to worry about. Accelerates smoothly. Super kicked in no problem etc... It was just the starting was hard. And has since progressed to a no start condition. Just has me so thrown here guys.

Haha. I was just going to respond but you beat me to it