Two days ago i was picking up my girlfriend and my car had been running fine for the last year previous to this. So i put the car in park and turn it off my girlfriend comes out and when i try and start it up it turns over and fires but then dies right afterward. I repeat this process and then next time the car starts to sound very poorly with some interesting sounds coming from the engine. I try to start it a few more times and it continues to sound bad and not start without gasing it and then it wont idle for more then a couple seconds.

I have it towed to my barn and lift it up. I look at some information in the chiltons and i start to think its the fuel pump or the in-tank fuel pump because of the inconsistent idle.

I change the fuel filter and try turning it on again this time the engine sounds fine but it still wont idle. I try it a couple more times and sometimes it sounds fine and sometimes it soulds like the idle is very inconsistent..

Also i think i should mention the only problem i would have sometimes before this is that when it rains here in oregon at night in the morning when i start the car it has always had problems and takes a while to warm up. but if there isn't any rain the car would start up perfectly.

I dont know if i should go buy a in tank pump or a regular lh jet tronic pump or if it could be a number of otherthings any advise is greatly appreciated its just kinda wierd cause it worked and i turned the car off and then it wouldn't start. thanks brittany

If it backfired while you were trying to crank it, you may have blown a hose off of the intake. Check all the rubber hoses and the bellows on the intake.
steve

Fuel pumps are way doen the list of things I would look at (but possible the main pump died) and the last thing I would spend for. I can't remember how the 002 AMM fails but you should try unplugging its big connector and see if the car idles. Then I would tap the fuel pump relay, although the silver version you have fails less often that the others. Also, the 25 amp fuse by the battery needs contact free of crud.

Thanks so much for all of your help!!! This morning i went to the car and unpluged the AMM from the ECU. To my suprise and delight the car started up fairly well and idled fine. (for not having the AMM working). I then in turn pluged the AMM back into the ECU and the car would not idle for more then 2-3 secs. So from what this tells me i need a new AMM. Thanks again. And if you think maybe there is something else i should check before replacing that please do tell. Thanks again everyone Brittany

I think you have found the problem. Remember to turn the ignition off when plugging and unplugging the AMM. A used 002 (Bosch 0 280 212 002) should run less than $100 in fine working condition. I do not have any but my friend might have one for you. If he calls me back, I will put him in touch with you.