2000 SE trouble starting? Please help!!!

[Amandaxyo]

Ive been having trouble starting my 2000 SE bonneville. when I turn the key, the headlights dim, the lights on my dash blink, the gauges go crazy, and the car sounds like it's trying to choke itself out. And it will stall if I don't turn it off and try to start it again. It takes me from 4 - 15 mins to actually get my car started to where it will be drivable. And it occasionally stalls out while driving. I've talked to several people and no one knows why it does all this. It's very very frustrating. I've replaced the catalytic converter 2 months ago and the fuel pump 3 1/2 months ago and still does all this. It seems to start up quicker when it's like summer weather out, I don't know if that has anything to do with it. It does smoke and stink when it spits and sputters and tries to stall out. It smells like regular fumes and sometimes like sulfur. Please help me !!!

Here's a video I recorded of how it acts when I try to start it: http://youtu.be/mNU6avT24BQ


Also, where my oil cap is on my engine and where the dipstick tube is, it sucks air in? Nobody knows why it does that either. Any suggestions/ideas?

[myfirstbonnie]

What voltage do you have on the battery? What does the gauge show when the key is turned on and motor is off?

[Gumball]

Try starting with the MAF sensor unplugged.

[myfirstbonnie]

I guess it helps if i have sound. We don't get that at work.

[Amandaxyo]

What voltage do you have on the battery? What does the gauge show when the key is turned on and motor is off?

When the key is turned on and motor is off, the gauge shows that the voltage is like a couple lines below the 14. And yes the sound would help lol it just sounds like it's trying to choke itself out. But the RPM gauge goes crazy.

[Amandaxyo]

Try starting with the MAF sensor unplugged.

Ill have my dad do it tomorrow because I don't know where it is or how to unplug it lol I'll let you know what happens.

[RJolly87]

First off, for reference, this is a 'by the book' cold start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TvCfxGgWPk

You will notice the gauge sweep when the car starts. This is normal, especially since you are essentially starting your car over and over.

What do I see? I see the tachometer jumping around, because the engine speed is jumping around, a lot. I also see a flashing Service Engine Soon light, which usually indicates a possible catalyst damaging condition, usually caused by a misfire. If I had to venture a guess, I would suspect something ignition related, namely a bad coil, or a bad ICM. Given that it likes to stall out while driving, I would lean more towards the latter.

Might not be a bad idea to stop in somewhere and have the codes pulled from it. Usually places like autozone and others will do this for free. Bring us those codes, and we might be able to get a little bit better idea what is going on.

Also, do you have aftermarket mufflers on it or something? Doesn't sound stock.

[Amandaxyo]

First off, for reference, this is a 'by the book' cold start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TvCfxGgWPk

You will notice the gauge sweep when the car starts. This is normal, especially since you are essentially starting your car over and over.

What do I see? I see the tachometer jumping around, because the engine speed is jumping around, a lot. I also see a flashing Service Engine Soon light, which usually indicates a possible catalyst damaging condition, usually caused by a misfire. If I had to venture a guess, I would suspect something ignition related, namely a bad coil, or a bad ICM. Given that it likes to stall out while driving, I would lean more towards the latter.

Might not be a bad idea to stop in somewhere and have the codes pulled from it. Usually places like autozone and others will do this for free. Bring us those codes, and we might be
able to get a little bit better idea what is going on.

Also, do you have aftermarket mufflers on it or something? Doesn't sound stock.

Ok, I'll take it to see what codes it's throwing. The check engine light stays steady on when its running. When the RPM gauge jumps around while trying to start it, the check engine light doesn't blink "normal". Which originally, when it started doing all this, made me think it was electrical.

And I don't think its an aftermarket muffler. I think it just needs to be welded.

[Amandaxyo]

Ok, I took it to Advance and they gave me the codes for the Check Engine light.

P0171 - System Adaptive fuel too lean
P0507 - IAC system rpm higher than expected
P0133 - Upstream heated O2 sensor slow response (lazy sensor) (Bank 1, Sensor 1)

[torero500]

It's also very possible your ignition control module is on its way out. They burn out over time due to the high heat in the engine compartment where they're located.

[RJolly87]

Just had a realization. I would get the fuel pressure checked to make sure it is where it should be when the car throws its fits. That would account for the P0171 if it is running out of fuel, and the cold start is when it uses a lot of fuel. I know you just had a fuel pump replaced recently, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

[1oldman]

Just had a realization. I would get the fuel pressure checked to make sure it is where it should be when the car throws its fits. That would account for the P0171 if it is running out of fuel, and the cold start is when it uses a lot of fuel. I know you just had a fuel pump replaced recently, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

A lot of parts made today are defective at manufacture. I've seen it take up to 10 items to just find 1 good one. That's not good. - BC

[Amandaxyo]

A mechanic told me that he thinks it could be the key ignition switch, but I'm not sure if that's the only thing wrong with it. :/

[1oldman]

A mechanic told me that he thinks it could be the key ignition switch, but I'm not sure if that's the only thing wrong with it. :/

Did you take Rjolly87's suggestion and check the fuel pressure? Try to isolate the trouble before you start throwing parts and money at it. - BC

[wake]

Try to isolate the trouble before you start throwing parts and money at it.

THIS!