No clue.

[mikester_91]

Ok, ever since I bought my 92 si w/ 120,000 miles on it (has 130,000 now) I've had this problem. Every now and then (about twice per month, usually after turning the car off) it will start up for a second and die. Whenever it does this, it goes right to idle and in a split second it dies, and won't start back up. Come back 5-10 minutes later and it starts up. Similarly it takes awhile to start up when it's sat for a few hours. I recently replaced the timing belt and put a different distributor (not new) on. However i found a vacuum hose just the other day, disconnected and sitting on top of my fuel rail, but i can't find where it goes. No check engine light on, however i think the bulb is burnt out so that doesn't help any. Recently put new spark plugs, wires, and fuel filter in. Could this be the alternator because sometimes i'll be driving and put my turn signal on and it won't blink, just the light will come on for a couple seconds and then start blinking (this happened to my friends car and it was his alternator) or a relay maybe, something electrical? Any help would be awesome.

[ludeguy]

i'll try to help you later with the main problem - but about the vacuum - does your egr got it's line? - if it doesn't it would throw a MIL lamp but as we know (hehe) yours doesn't work - I would imagine when you remove your dash you'll find the bulb was removed - so that buddy could sell you the car without a light to explain. but maybe not (:

the EGR is at the left of the fuel rail, but mounted to the block, and has a connector and an upwards shaped vacuum port..., the vacuum port it s angled back towards the head and could be missed on a glance. It *might* have something to do with your odd idle - but as far as i know EGR is really only in operation at cruise (someone correct me if i'm wrong).

i'll try to figure out your spooked out self starting car later... but please clarify - like your keys could be out of the ignition, and your car will just start up - idle for a few - and then die again?

if so - you might be right about the alternator/voltage regulator or something along those lines, I think a collapsing electrical field is surging thru your car after you've cut the power. if you can the other posts about starting - specifically the one with the pgm-fi wiring diagrams - atleast to understand how the switching works when you start up/shut down.

chat later.

[mikester_91]

I'll try to check the EGR line after school. As for the dying part, no when my keys are out of the ignition, it won't start up. I'll just turn the key and it'll fire for a split second and die.

[ludeguy]

Originally Posted by mikester_91

I'll try to check the EGR line after school. As for the dying part, no when my keys are out of the ignition, it won't start up. I'll just turn the key and it'll fire for a split second and die.

ok so if i got this straight... you're driving around, you come home, you shut your car off - then if you try to start soon after, the car will start up - run for a few seconds then stall/quit? but this also happens when your car is cold (ie: hasn't been run around prior) - you start it and then it quits?

from most commonly the problem to the least.

Cold Stalling
------------
1) Idle Air Control Valve
2) Other Idle Controls
3) Other Fuel Supply (ie bad fuel)/Engine Coolant Temp sensor

Warm Stalling
-------------
1) Other fuel supply (ie bad fuel)
2) Exhaust Gas Recirculation
3) Idle Air Control Valve

did you find out if your EGR is hooked up correctly?

you need a manual in a big bad way my friend (: hahaha. did ya grab one of that site i posted?

[mikester_91]

I've got a chilton's manual. After i turn it off and try to start it again, it doesn't run for a couple of seconds. It will start up for not even a second and just die really quick, and you'll have to wait a few minutes to restart it. As for cold starting, it feels like it tries to fire and takes a couple seconds for it to start. Also, when i shut the car off there's a loud kind of wisping sound coming from what sounds like the head.