Starts then Dies!

**1999GTP1999** · 12-31-2009

I have a 1999 GTP with 240,000 kms. About a month ago I was driving home one night, and while I was driving (about 50 km/h) the engine cut off! I tried starting it back up a few times but it would only start for 1 second then die. I knew it wasnt low on fuel, because I recently put 20 litres in, but still decided to put 10 more litres. After 2 or 3 failed attempts to start the car, I decided it was to late and cold to figure this out right now, so I ended up pushing it to a friends house nearby. When I got it to my friends house, I had really high hopes that maybe by some miracle the car with start with one more try, however, the car wouldnt crank at all this time, so I gave up.

2 days later I came back to deal with the car. The first turn of the key and the car started perfectly! I let the car idle for about 5 minutes to see if it would shut off, and it didnt, so I decided to drive it home. 2 minutes away from my driveway it dies again while driving, so I ended up pushing it home.

Since then I've changed the fuel pump, fuel pump resistor, and the fuel filter, by doing so, the problem seemed to have worsened. The car does not crank at all anymore. So I decided to boost it, and it boosted with little to no effort, but when started it idled really rough at first then idled normally, but after letting it run for a while, I turned it off then tried to start it back but it wouldnt crank at all. I boosted it again the next day and it displayed very wierd symptoms, it would idle high then low, back and forth, and the headlights would dim high and low also. I dont think its the battery or the mas air flow sensor because those were changed within the year, but then again anything is possible. Also, I scanned it for any codes, but none came up.

If anyone has any thoughts of what can possibly fix the problem, please let me, it would be greatly appreciated

Thank You

**kfish** · 12-31-2009

are you bringin up any codes?

**1999GTP1999** · 12-31-2009

Oh sorry I forgot to mention, no, absolutely no codes are showing

**kfish** · 12-31-2009

the rough idle sounds like a vacuum leak to me. and if its big enough it will also cause the car to die randomly.

**1999GTP1999** · 12-31-2009

How would u check for a vacuum leak?

**kfish** · 12-31-2009

get a can of carb clean, and spray around the engine. if you hear the idle change, wherever you sprayed was a vacuum leak

**1999GTP1999** · 12-31-2009

Oh OK, I'll definitely check that first thing in the morning. Thanks for the advice.

**1999GTP1999** · 12-31-2009

I was wondering....what's the possibility of it being the alternator?

**Deimos** · 12-31-2009

Except vaccum leaks will cause it to idle high since its fuel injected. Did you check your fuel pressure regulator? If you get it to idle for 5 minutes that usually rules out clogged cat. Usually if it idles rough after being dead it's because the battery lost power to the computer and its curves are a little off.

**CTRIDER** · 01-28-2010

I don't know if you found the solution to your problem. But i registered to try and help you or anyone with a GTP that may have this problem. I ran into this last year with my wifes 2000GTP. On the GTP there is a resistor that is for the fuel system that only kicks in when the supercharger is used. However it will cause the engine to turn on and run for a few seconds and then shuts off. It drove me and a mechanic friend nuts trying to figure out what was going on with it. We checked the fuel pump and pressure reg etc. Found no problems. We didnt have a manual handy either. He went to work the next day and looked up the wiring diagram for the GTP and found the resistor. I physically checked it and it was damaged (cracked off part of the porcelin). Replaced it and has run great since. The resistor is located on the frame by the front passenger wheel. It was a white horseshoe shaped part with a 2 pin connector. I think it cost about $50 from the dealer. Autozone etc. didnt have it. Hope that helps someone. I know it drove me crazy for a couple days trying to figure out what was wrong.

**JoshMcMadMac** · 01-28-2010

Originally Posted by CTRIDER

I don't know if you found the solution to your problem. But i registered to try and help you or anyone with a GTP that may have this problem. I ran into this last year with my wifes 2000GTP. On the GTP there is a resistor that is for the fuel system that only kicks in when the supercharger is used.

Originally Posted by 1999GTP1999

Since then I've changed the fuel pump, fuel pump resistor, and the fuel filter...

It is a known issue. The easy solution is to bypass the resistor altogether.

**CTRIDER** · 01-29-2010

Well it wasn't known to me at that time! lol. Mitchell online didn't mention it as a known problem and I hadn't found this forum either. Wish I had there is a ton of great info here. Also I missed that the OP changed the resistor. So oh well I tried to give some helpful info. Now from what I understand that resistor is used to dissipate heat for the fuel pump circuit. By bypassing it wouldn't that overload the circuit and cause a problem long term? I replaced the part so not a big deal to me now but would be nice to know if it happens again. And we did bypass the resistor to check and be sure that was my problem. We were just not going to eliminate a part that seemed to serve an important purpose at the time. Thanks.

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