so my car has been sitting for about a 1 1/2 months. no more. My alternator died on me and it was too cold to fix it so i was driving my other car. So since this past fri was so nice out, i went to napa n bought an alternator. Everything is fine and i put everything back together the right way. But now the car doesn't start correctly. It clicks clicks clicks clicks, mening the the starter is fine, n then finally turns over, n then wants to die, n then goes to normal rpms. This happens frequently, and the car didn't do its obviously before i had let it sit. the only codes that i'm getting are 02:15 and 07:04 which are both evap codes. 02:15 is the evap canister and the 07:04 is evap control shystem pressure sensor. But from what i've read both shouldn't ruin how the car starts and runs.

Also the battery is new since my alternator overcharged my old battery. So the alternator is charging fine, battery is fine, starter seems fine, changed the fuel filter recently, cleaned the iacv vavle recently, tehre's enough engine oil, the car is grounded correctly, all the sensors that i unplugged are now all plugged back in, cleaned terminals throughly. If it was a spark plug or coil, it should throw a code right?? but i had changed the spark plugs like 35k ago. The only thing that i can think of is that my snorkel is a lil bit loose, and on my 98, there's this lil tiny sensor on the snorkel that detects air flow. Thats the only thing i can think of, but i've left it out before, and i don't believe it had any trouble starting. could it be just the gas sitting for a long time?? but i didn't think that 1 1/2 months was THAT long. Didn't think that it would of been a problem....thanks a bunch!!!

 

I'm not understanding "It clicks clicks clicks clicks meaning the starter is fine then finally turns over. Something is not right if the starter dosen't snap it over instantly. I know your battery is new but the car has sat for an extended period. I'd put a multimeter on the battery and confirm greater than about 12.2V.

 

i've put a multimeter to everything. The battery reads 12.9v when the car is off and reads 14.4 when the car is on. everything is normal. funny thing is, my brother was like lets try the gas cap. Twisted it off and then all the vapors came out. Car started normal. so i just went to go get gas, and everything seems fine. kinda wierd.........

 

When ever you hear CLICK CLICK CLICK the battery doesnt have enough power to turn over. But since you have a new battery and its started let it run for like 15 ~ 20 min and let the battery charge up

 

but i've driven the car for like 2 days and had let it sit idle for more than 30 minutes. It should be charged by now. Thats what i thought at first that the battery needed to be charged a lil bit. But when i test with my battery pack jumper connected to the battery (one of those things that you can jump yourself if your battery dies), same crap, so thats why i know its NOT the battery, plus its at 12.9 volts. thats why i'm so confused. Maybe it was just the fuel vapors. Hope it is, cause i need a new windshield, the cold made a huge crack in da front where a lil pebble had chipped the windshield, and i ever fixed it with the windshield repair kit immediately....

 

Yea, 12.9 is a GOOD battery. You didn't say so I didn't know you'd checked the voltage. I'm still not clear if the starter is spinning the engine like it should, or not. The fuel tank pressure release affecting the problem is interesting. Could it be something like the fuel pressure regulator. Or does it seem more like an electrical problem? (the click click thing)

 

seemed more of an engine problem. I don't wanna put some fuel cleaner since i did it not too long ago.....i dunno, i'm on my bike anyways cause the weather is kinda nice...-= )

 

so i started my car tonight after i had let it sit for about 24 hours. Started horrible, worse than ever. I have no clue whats going on anymore....this is really getting annoying.....i'm guessing noone has a clue just like me....

 

maybe fuel filter ? spark plugs ? ENgine coolant temp sensor ? Clean the TB ? What kind of startup were you getitng one of those sumbling start ups or what

 

You talked earlier about it running normally after venting the fuel tank. Code 0704 has to do with venting the fuel tank. While the stickies indicate that the component does not directly control engine parameters, a problem with the fuel tank vent could affect the engine. From the stickies - This malfunction is detected when the EVAPCSPS sends an out-of-range voltage signal to the Engine Control Module.
Possible causes include...
- harness or connectors (The EVAPCSPS circuit is open or shorted.)
- bad EVAPCSPS
- EVAP Canister Vent Control Valve is stuck open
- rubber hose connected to EVAPCSPS is clogged, bent, kinked, disconnected, or improperly connected
- EVAP Canister is damaged or saturated with water
- rubber hose from EVAP Canister Vent Control Valve to the water separator
- EVAP Canister Purge Volume Control Solenoid Valve
I'd focus on the evap canister and it's plumbing as a starting point.