Serious, but very strange problem - Need pros on this one!
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Hey guys, let me outline the problem for you. I have a '99 SLE with nearly 107k miles on it. Here about a month ago, I went to start the car, it started up, then starved out and died. I tried it again, started no problem. Didn't do it again for a couple more weeks. Any how, few days ago, it wouldn't start up at all. Turned over fine, ran for about two seconds, then died. I just replaced my fuel filter two months ago, checked it, left the filter off then turned on the key. Couldn't hear the fuel pump turn on..and fuel just barely came out of the line. So, bought a new one, and tonight me and my unlucky father changed it out.
We're both novice mechanics, with me being a little more mechanically inclined than him, and it took us from 8 til 11 to get it done, with the reassembly being easier. After that was through with, I turned on the key, could hear the pump start up fine. Started the car with high hopes and...it died after running for about two seconds. Also, it'* started doing something very weird - when I turn the key to 'run' I hear a loud, fast-paced clicking sound from the firewall, that doesn't stop, almost like the ABS pulsing. I touched the gas pedal with my hand and could feel it vibrating strongly with each click. The door alarm started to sound very rapidly also. Continues to do this when I start up the car.
Giving up on it for the night I disconnected the battery to let the computer reset while I'm sleeping tonight, and I'll check on it tomorrow. Could this be a VATS issue or something with the ECM/PCM? Please help - I start my new job Monday that'* 45 minutes away and I'll be damned if I have to drive my dad'* gas guzzling V8 1500 chevy!
We're both novice mechanics, with me being a little more mechanically inclined than him, and it took us from 8 til 11 to get it done, with the reassembly being easier. After that was through with, I turned on the key, could hear the pump start up fine. Started the car with high hopes and...it died after running for about two seconds. Also, it'* started doing something very weird - when I turn the key to 'run' I hear a loud, fast-paced clicking sound from the firewall, that doesn't stop, almost like the ABS pulsing. I touched the gas pedal with my hand and could feel it vibrating strongly with each click. The door alarm started to sound very rapidly also. Continues to do this when I start up the car.
Giving up on it for the night I disconnected the battery to let the computer reset while I'm sleeping tonight, and I'll check on it tomorrow. Could this be a VATS issue or something with the ECM/PCM? Please help - I start my new job Monday that'* 45 minutes away and I'll be damned if I have to drive my dad'* gas guzzling V8 1500 chevy!
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Another thing I noticed, when I start up the car, the oil pressure gauge goes up quickly, and right before reaching 120 the car dies. I've looked around the forum and found another guy with a similar problem, he replaced the Oil Pressure Sender I believe..fixed the gauge, but not the problem with the engine dieing. Ended up replacing his PCM and something called a mem-cal. Any idea what/where that is?
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Toxic...welcome back..haven't seen you in a while. Sorry it'* not under better circumstances.
When you changed out the fuel pump. You get air into the lines. I'm thinking you didn't turn the key off and on enough times and start it enough to get the air out. Once it'* running for a couple minutes all the air should be out and it should start fine after that.
When replacing the pump, did you replace the white strainer sock on the bottom of the pump as well?
The clicking..were you and your father able to pinpoint the clicking sound? The door alarm etc might be connected as well. Sounds electrical in nature, by chance has your carpet been wet lately? Possible issue might be a corroded ground buss near the drivers door under the carpet.
When you changed out the fuel pump. You get air into the lines. I'm thinking you didn't turn the key off and on enough times and start it enough to get the air out. Once it'* running for a couple minutes all the air should be out and it should start fine after that.
When replacing the pump, did you replace the white strainer sock on the bottom of the pump as well?
The clicking..were you and your father able to pinpoint the clicking sound? The door alarm etc might be connected as well. Sounds electrical in nature, by chance has your carpet been wet lately? Possible issue might be a corroded ground buss near the drivers door under the carpet.
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I've had this problem with my 99 intermitenly, too. It seems to have gone away. It was happening around 110K miles. At 115K miles I did a lot of work to her (fuel pump, filter, UIM, LIM gaskets). It hasn't returned since then....and I'm at 147K.
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Originally Posted by Netscion
A faulty fuel pump relay perhaps?
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