I purchased a car from an auction that has been sitting for at least 2 years. It will not start on its own without the aid of starting fluid.

If I feed it starting fluid for 15 - 20 seconds it runs smoothly on its own and continues to run without a problem. Turn it off and try and start it again, it refuses to run on its own without feeding it starting fluid once again. You can hear the fuel pump run for a couple of seconds when you turn the ignition to the “on” position.

I replaced the fuel filter AND the fuel pump and it was of no help. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

What model, year, engine?

 

OOPS... 2000 Stratus 2.5L V6. Thanks

 

The computer input senses a cold engine and opens the idle air control motor to maximum to allow an enriched mixture. I would suspect. the IACM is defective, the computer is malfunctioning, the ambient temperature sensor is bad, or the engine temperature sensor is defective. If the engine is fully warmed will it start?

 

With a engine warm, it will not start up. You can run the car for 30 mins and once you turn the car off, you must feed it starting fluid once again for it to run on its own.

 

One thing that I failed to mention is that the car came with no key. (Was purchased from a DWI auction without a key) so I had a standard all metal key cut for it.

While searching the internet, I found out that some of these cars require a sentry key so I called the dealership with the VIN number. They confirmed that this vehicle requires a sentry key.

Now, what really confuses me is that I am able to get the car running (with the standard cut key) after spraying the intake with starting fluid for 15 – 20 seconds. Once I get it going, it will run on its own indefinitely. It seems as if it would not run at all without this key in the ignition. Seems strange to me…

 

Using a standard cut key on a sentry key car, will result in the fuel pump shutting down after 3 seconds (assuming the car started). There may have been a "remote starter" installed, which can have a key mounted inside the column to "trick" it into thinking a sentry key is installed during remote starting.