This is a weird one...

I just went outside to start my car, and it started fine...
Then I hear this hissing, the car stutters, and dies...
When it dies, it continues to hiss for about 30 seconds, and then the hissing dies.

The hissing sounds like a tire is deflating, and the sound seems to
be coming from the front of the engine bay.

The car starts OK...but "OK" lasts about 3 seconds.

WTF??? Does anyone have a clue what it might be?

FLO_BOY

 

anyone?
i'd search, but can't afford to yet...

vaccuum leak? aren't the vaccuum lines toward the firewall?
fuel? nothing dripping or overly smelly...
electrical? no codes have come up...

I'm leaning vaccuum line, because of the hissing sound...maybe
the engine compression is gonzo (wouldn't know how, but?)?

thanks!
FLO_BOY



FLO_BOY

 

if you put your foot in the gas does it stay started??

id check all my hoses by the TB and all vacume hoses, if it keeps doing that same thing over and over again.

 

sounds like a vacuum leak to me, can you find where the hissing is from?

 

IACV try checking that.

 

Flo Boy - does it idle real rough and then die?
If you step on the gas will it keep going?
Does it turn over normal , idle normal and then just quit?
D

 

Check the throttle body. Do you have an intake? Is it well attached?

 

Uh, basically...

Quote:

If you step on the gas will it keep going?

yeah, but it doesn't move up the RPMs smoothly...

Quote:

Does it turn over normal , idle normal and then just quit?
D

The car turns over fine...if it starts, it stutters and hisses and
dies...the hissing continues, even after the engine dies.

FLO_BOY

 

I tried...but it so damn cold out, it was really hard
to have the patience (or lack of a bitter cold breeze)
to really find out.

the frustrating thing is that it *sounds like* its coming
from the front of the engine (well, the "front" being the
engine side near the headlights).

FLO_BOY

 

I would start witha vacuum test. On the top of the intake manifold right in front of the firewall there is a black hose you can disconnect and get a reading from. You will need to purchase a gauge. I got one for like $19 at Autozone. Haynes has the specs for the manifol. It may be a good place to start.

Other option is to get about a 3 foot section of 1/2 inch hose. Have someone else start the car and place the end of the hose in the area you believe the leak is coming from. You will be able to hear clearly if there is a leak between upper and lower manifold.

D

 

my only problem was that I had ice frozen in my tailpipe from backing
into my parking spot at work!!! G'head, laugh now!!! I must admit,
it is a dumb-a$$ mistake, but, who'd check that???

So, a la Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop, the backpressure was just
too much to have my car run...live and learn...

FLO_BOY

 

Dude, glad you figured it out. Simple solution can't beat it