starts then dies, need quick ideas
 

I'm planning on buying a TurboII since I wrecked my car last night (fixable, but probably cheaper to just pick up another)

The car I'm going to look at starts, idles, and will build boost if you get on the gass, but after 10-15 seconds it dies.

Anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong, or what to look for when I go to check it out?

Thanks,

Sounds like a big intake leak or the air flow meter is unplugged. Check the area around the air flow meter, make sure everything is tight.

I'm not ontop of turbo's like I am w/ N/A's but I know on my car, the car really won't run at all if the AFM is unplugged or there's a huge intake leak.

When I talked to the guy he said that it would start and run for at least 10 sesconds like it was running normal, then die.

thanks for the reply,

I agree with the first reply. Sounds to me like the MAF is unplugged, or there is an intake leak. I'd just totally remove the intake and check everything to make sure it is not damaged. Then, put everything back together very carefully, in order to make sure there are no leaks. Then make sure to plug the MAF back in. What does it do when it dies? Just shut off like it has lost power, or does it sound like the fuel is cut off, or what? Sure someone didn't add a part onto it that is making it cut off like that? Maybe a turbo timer malfunction or something?


Derek

Does it run alright when it is warmed up or cant you get the car running long enough to get it warmed up?

Hmm... turbo timer that's a good suggestion. I haven't actually looked at the car yet, so I'm gathering ideas, but I think being able to drive it home will be the selling point :)

The guy said something like it seemed like the computer was turning the car off after 10-15 seconds. As far as I know, there's nothing in the EU that will just turn a car off, I don't think its a fuel problem either since the car does run for a little bit...

Probably a vacuum hose is broken or undone or just the intake has a big leak. My cone came off and my car ran, but would die without gas.

Try wiggling the main wire harness, my car did this at one time and thats all it took, my harness is SHOT!

Check T.I.D for cracks and see if it is clamped on Turbo....
Check all Vaccum Lines.....

i had the same problem except mine was the fuel pump
check that

The car actually will run with a huge intake leak though. I had just a straight pipe, no AFM or filter & it ran fine. Just had to constantly give it gas or it would die at idle.

I say fuel pump.

Okay, bought the car. Here's the story...

the car would start, but after about 5 or 6 seconds I could hear the fuel pump relay under the dash click off, the car would die almost immediately after.

We replaced the fuel pump resistor pack under the airbox with no difference.

To get the car home, we jumpered a switched power supply right to the fuel pump. The car ran fine after that. (save for overheating after about 30 miles, but I'll save that for another thread)

based on this info, anyone have any ideas?

try a new fp relay (the one under the dash)

are they the same as an n/a fuel pump relay?

I have had this happen way many times, just as everyone is saying check for air leaks and cracked vacume lines. Also its pretty easy for the TID to come slighly off and cause this, pull it completely off an inspect it for leaks, cracks, or holes, also make sure all the IC piping is connected securly. More than likely it *is* an air leak....

I won't be able to get to this until after the 27th since I'm leaving for Daytona tomorrow morn, but you think an air leak would cause the fuel pump relay to quit like that?

I was looking at the factory service manual and it doesn't look like the fuel pump relay has any inputs that relate to the intake system, I'm just tryin to think through all the possibilities.

thanks,

^