2001 Monte SS strange issue.

Hey folks, new Monte owner here, I have an issue that for the life of me I can't figure it out. The car starts fine at cold, and it ALWAYS kicks over when you just turn the key for a billionth of a second, but once the car has been warmed up and shut off for a few minutes, it kicks over and dies. Once you kick it over again it is fine. I have checked the plugs, wires, alternator, battery, etc. The reason I checked electrical things is because the instrument panel above the rear view mirror and the Heat / AC blower won't come on until I hit one of the instrument panel buttons (for example the built in garage door opener button).

Let me give you a bit of the history of this car:

It was owned by my late father in law in Wisconsin, and he has ALWAYS babied his cars. It has 45,000 miles on it (8,000 put on it in the last year), and has always been driven VERY lightly. He was a Nascar fan so of course he did some upgrades like Headers, Exhaust system, Suspension, simple body trim kit, all done at the chevy dealer he worked at. He passed a couple years ago, and the car ended up staying with my wife's aunt for a while, then it went to us when the estate was finally divvied up between family members.

I would love to get this car running smoothly again and it is such a pain in the butt issue because it won't throw a CEL. I should add one more thing, during normal driving, it shifts to second, then third, but at third it kind of gets a little jumpy, not bad just enough to make it sound like a manual transmission that is driven by someone with very little experience. It kind of "bounces" a little bit.

I noticed a sensor harness / plug(?) behind the engine on the top above the valve cover, plugged into nothing, and I can't find anything for it to plug into. I am thinking maybe it goes to something on the stock exhaust manifold? (Which no longer exists..) All the fuel injector wires are in place and good, i jiggled every sensor wire I could put my eyes on, and no leads to anything.

Please help! Thanks.

It sounds like the same thing as my 97. First of all, is your check engine light on? It could be your cam sensor. Mine does that from time to time. You also might want to check all of your vaccuum hoses. I snapped one about a week ago changing my battery and it did something kind of like that.

thanks for the response, no the CEL is not on, i checked all hoses, all good. I think I will try fuel pressure regulator next...

fuel pressure reg sounds like the next likely culprit. try pulling the vacuum line off it right after you shut car off, if fuel comes out, replace it. for a car sitting for awhile, i would replace that anyway given the symptoms you have described. let us know what happens

It could really be an electrical or mechanical problem. Your symptoms do not rule out either one. Your symptoms remind me of an experience I had with my old Toyota Celica (EFI; 1983). The concept is the same for modern vehicles but I do not know if they still use what was called the cold start injector. The principle was that a sensor registered the outside temperature and upon starting would pre-fire the injectors to give the engine that extra kick. On my Monte Carlo SS (2002) I believe the Intake Air Temperature control sensor does the same thing. Anyway, my Toyota would start up fast on a cold day. Once the engine was warmed up to operating temperature, and I shut it off, I would have trouble starting it again. Ignition was there but it acted like it was not getting any fuel. The cause was both a sensor and a dirty fuel filter.

You have a couple other symptoms that suggest to me a sticking Torque Coverter Clutch valve. That would not cause the starting issues but could explain the jerkyness in third. That jerkyness is the TCC engaging and disengaging when your driving goes from acceleration to a steady throttle cruise and back again. It occurs in third and fourth depending on throttle position. Count your gears as you accelerate holding throttle position for five to ten seconds between each shift and you will feel what seems to be a mysterious fifth gear in our four speed transmissions. The operation of the TCC can also be identified by watching the tachometer drop around 100 rpms when it is engaged. However, if it were acting up it would throw a code.

When was the last time you cleaned the throttle body? Does your gas pedal feel stiff or sticky sometimes? Before you start your car in the morning gently press the gas pedal and see if you feel a pop or stick. If you do that would suggest that the throttle plate in the throttle body has become gummed up. If the vehicle is not getting enough air it can cause starting issues and transmission hiccups. By reviewing the mods that were made on the vehicle I would guess that the air intake was replaced with a K&N high flow air intake system that could allow oil carryover, and various other debris to coat the throttle body and/ or damage sensors. If that were the case they may or may not throw a code. The one thing I can tell you about modifying any vehicle is that the more modified it is the more maintence it will require.

As for the electrical issues our cars were not known for sturdy wiring. I have replaced a number of switches and sensors just at 53,000miles that have lasted a lifetime on my other vehicles. The 2000-2003 Montes were know for trouble with the body control modules.

Awesome responses! Thank you. I will check out the fuel pressure regulator. As far as the intake, it's stock with a fairly new filter. (~1500 miles on it) So no oil in it. I will check that anyway though as I was thinking of upgrading the intake anyway. (Any suggestions?) I will let you know how it turns out.

EDIT:
OK, I pulled the vacuum hose off the FPR after shutting it off, and there was no gush of fuel, but a tiny bit came off on my finger when I touched it. Is that bad? My guess is: any fuel being introduced into a vacuum line is not good.... amirite?

Well folks! I replaced the FPR, so far I have had 2 FLAWLESS starts with just a tiny click of the key to turn it over. It started nicely and went down to a nice smooth idle. I think I nailed it. Thanks for your help folks!

glad we could help. exactly right about fuel into the vacuum lines...not good. didn't figure you'd get a gush, but any comes out, is good idea to replace. as for that plug behind the engine that is hooked up to nothing, i have seen those on some 3.4's while i was doing lower intake gaskets.....never found anything to plug them into either. if you find something let me know as it drives me nucking futs not knowing...lol!