Started up, stalled after 5 seconds, won't start!

[Siyko]

As the title says, the car started up like normal, I started driving, but noticed when I pressed the gas pedal, nothing seemed to happen - after a few seconds, I stalled out. After that, any attempt to start the car gives the wheezing attempt to start, but it would not turn over. The battery is fine because I can still turn the key to 2 and run the windows and whatnot.

Not knowing much about cars, I checked the internet for possible causes and solutions. The best I could do before fear of breaking something was to try to start it as my friend smelled the exhaust and said he DEFINETLY smelled gas, so it's my understanding that the fuel pump and injector are working.

From here I have no idea where to go - if anyone wants to help, I would be very appreciative. Thanks

[thefooshmeister]

have you recently done any work on the car?? give us some info about it
id check your grounds to see if they are loose..and ecu codes under your passenger carpet

[Siyko]

I haven't done any work. I don't know much about cars, and I recently bought this from a family member, and she said it didn't have any real problems. It has 140k miles, and hasn't given me any trouble in the couple thousand miles I've driven and a few months of startups.

I checked all the wire connections on the inside, and theres nothing loose that jumps out at me, so I don't know what else could be wrong in there.

As far as ECU codes, I'm not familiar with that, but after a little research, I shorted the 2 wires under the glove compartment, and on the dash the 'check engine' light came on, and the 'srs' light started flashing. I was under the impression that the number of flashes would indicate the error code, but I lost count around 70, so I figure it is just flashing indefinetly, whatever that means.

Thanks.

[Greenblurr93]

a long flash equals 10 and a short equals 1 (if it flashes 2 long and one short = 21) and it will repeat itself so after its done giving the short flashes, it will start over with the long ones again. and check for spark, the ignitor in the distributor may have gone out.

[Siyko]

I hate to ask the basics, but how can I remove the sparkplug? Do I need any special tools?

inside

If someone could step me through it, I'd really appreciate it, I am afraid of damaging anything because it would be really hard to pay for bringing this to a shop.

As for the error code, either it's not giving me one, or I'm doing it wrong. I did

this

and it is indeed shorted, because when I take it out, the engine and SRS lights don't come when i put ignition to II. When it's in (wires are shorted), and I turn the key, both the engine and SRS lights come on, and it beeps 6 times. After that, the SRS lights flashes repeatedly, at only one pace, there's definetly no long and short distinctions. Does this mean there's no error?

[Greenblurr93]

the ECU codes will flash the check engine light. not rhe SRS light, ignore that for now.

Edit, you live near me, if at last resort ill look at it this weekend.

[Siyko]

ahah, i went to high school with you man, check PM

[Greenblurr93]

hahaha yes you did... we'll figure it out this weekend if you want.

Automotiveforums.com; connecting people you didnt even know you knew.

[thefooshmeister]

such a kodak moment..

spark plugs are a sinch just pull the wires out and get a socket in there