Correct. The check engine light breifly came on twice and went out. Once when on it "flickerd".

I bought a fuel filter today at lunch and will change tonight.

jbrew - thanks for tips. My start attempts were brief, so hopefully I did not run dry.

bruce...

 

No problem . Post back with the results - The fuel filter can be a bear to change sometimes. When you shove the filter clamp release tool inside the clamp - pull forward then back - it should release easier that way..

This is most likely the problem IMO - I might have tried swapping the Fuel relay , but it's better knowing your getting the fuel past the filter first and yours is do for a change. By your description - My thought - this is the problem.

I think Patrick was referring to a battery problem that can happen - If your battery is weak (dead cell) and is pretty close to it's life expectancy - it can have the same effect. - Don't know for sure - Patrick never said what he meant by his first post?

Good Luck

 

I asked the parts guy if I needed a tool & he said no. I'll go back & see if they have one.

I just changed battery a couple of months ago, so should be good. Thanks to this site, I learned that when the console needles peg out on start up, battery is going

 

looking for further clarification. I was asking b.c the battery AND alternator can throw battery light and CELs

 

I had the same symptoms about a year ago driving down the interstate. I ended up changing both the coils AND the fuel filter (had one or two bad coils and a clogged fuel filter). So I'd definitely narrow it down to one of those two.

 

Ok. Here's where I'm at. I changed the Fuel Filter. I tried starting it 10 - 15 times 3 - 5 seconds each time. During this time bleed shrader valve three different times. (seemed to have gas come out each time). In blowing through the filter, it did seem clogged.

Also, swaped fuel pump relay with known good one. Tried starting about three times.

What should I try next? Would a couple of bad coils keep it from even trying to start?

Again, thanks for all the suggestions.

bruce...

 

Remove pass side kick panel - make sure the inertia switch hasen't been tripped . Push to reset..

 

edit

 

Forgot to mention I checked that also. No Trip.

 

Idunno - let it sit for awhile and try again - I'm baffled.. You check all your fuses everywhere ? You did disconnect the battery before working on it right?

Clean the MAF sensor - worth a shot. It's not COP's , so forget that .. Strange one here..

You would of had a check engine light on before it quit if you had primary failure with your ignition system..

Does your fuel pump prime up when you turn the key to run - you should here it - if not - you need a pump ...

 

I have not checked fuses yet. And no did not disconnect battery. Fixing to check fuses when son gets home to hold flashlite.

What is MAF sensor? Air intake?

 

M***
Air
Flow

its that square thing on the intake hose let me find a pic

Brice

 

---------------------------^^^^^^
that square thing between the blue band and the filter

 

I cleaned the MAF with contact cleaner, checked fuses. Also, when listening for sound of the fuel pump by putting ear to fuel tank filler tube what should it sound like when turning the key to the on position.

Listening, all I get is a kinda "thunk". Not sure if this is normal or not.

 

With your drivers side window open - turn your ignition to the run position. You should be able to here your fuel pump turn on and pressure the lines.

If you don't here nothing - the fuel pump is bad.