99 trans am cranks but then dies!!!????

my 99 trans am got water over the roof by katrina.
did all post flood things to save it.
but ever sense, it cranks and stays cranked for a little bit but then dies.
i found that if i squirt gas or throttle body cleaner directly in to the throttle body it stays cranked longer. i touched the throttle plate and it was ice cold is this normal.
obd2 scanner gave me a "tps/pedal position low input" code , what exactly does this mean.
i was also told that the passkey feature could have something to do with it.

i had similar probelms with my 94 formula a yr ago and there was a probelm with one of my ignition switch wires could this be the case with my 99 trans am.

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It sounds like you aren't getting fuel if it hits when you put gas in the intake.

i checked fuel pressure and it is fine.
if its not getting fuel then why does it crank up at first.
would a few of the injectors being clogged cause it to die.

water in the fuel.

no have already dropped the tank and cleaned it out

My LT1 does that sometimes to, it will crank up, and run up to about 600 rpm and then die off again.

on a lt1 its most likely your ignition switch. or alarm causeing a probelm with your ignition switch.
i had the same probelm with my lt1 but cant get it fix on my ls1

I had the same problem with my car its a 95 had to put a new filter and fuel pump in it...works great, but i don't know about yours, sorry i am no help...ur sure its not the pump though?

i am positive it is not the pump.

You aren't getting fuel. If it fires up when you put some flammable liquid in the intake that tells you its a fuel problem.

it fires up with out the flammable liquid.

when i turn the key it fires up like normal for about 2 sec and then dies.
if i have my brother spray the flam liquid in it , it stays cranked.

i dont know if the computer is shuting it off , if its my ignition switch (like in my lt1) , or if it is gettin a constant flow of fuel to it.

do you think if the injectors were clogged could have something to do with it.

I meantioned it is happening on my LT1, but could my choke be sticking open when it doesn't need to be? Just something that crossed my mind. I am thinking about giving it a fresh tune-up this weekend though.

i would try the ignition switch.
i found that if turned the key back and forth just right it would stay cranked.

but my 99 trans i cant get this to work.

i would try the ignition switch.
i found that if turned the key back and forth just right it would stay cranked.

but my 99 trans i cant get this to work.

It could be your Vats system. I don't know if yours is the same as an LT1 car but the vats system can shut down the fuel.

what is the vats system. ive never heard of it

if its giving you a code related to tps, why not try changing it. The tps cant be all that expensive. In a ?96? lumina we swaped a motor in to sell the tps was only like 26 dollars. Just a thought.

-Crakpotjoe

VATS is Vehicle Anti-Theft System.

if its giving you a code related to tps, why not try changing it. The tps cant be all that expensive. In a ?96? lumina we swaped a motor in to sell the tps was only like 26 dollars. Just a thought.

-Crakpotjoe

^^ I agree. I'm surprised nobody mentioned this until now. Maybe water got in the TPS and it is giving bad output. This bad output could easily cause the engine to stall/die.

replace the TPS.

i have replaced the tps.
no change
i secpect the vats.
how do i check this.

i have replaced the tps.
no change
i secpect the vats.
how do i check this.

Is the security light on?

If the problem were the VATS the car would not even crank. When the VATS module goes into "tamper mode" is disables the starter and the fuel injectors.

Is the security light on?

If the problem were the VATS the car would not even crank. When the VATS module goes into "tamper mode" is disables the starter and the fuel injectors.

I believe you are wrong. People have had times where the car will crank but won't start and its been the Vats. There are actually a few posts in LT1 tech this week involving it.

I believe you are wrong. People have had times where the car will crank but won't start and its been the Vats. There are actually a few posts in LT1 tech this week involving it.

I just tested mine by covering the resistor pellet on my key with a piece of tape. the result:

It wouldn't crank, and the security light came on. The VATS module disabled the starter just like I said it would.

I suppose it would be possible for the module itself to malfunction and allow the starter to crank. I suppose if the module is fried anything is possible.

I believe you are wrong. People have had times where the car will crank but won't start and its been the Vats. There are actually a few posts in LT1 tech this week involving it.
I have been thinking about it, and I belive it depends on how and where it fails

if the VATS module(BCM in 95(?) up) sees the key, it will allow the theft deterrant relay to allow the engine to crank/start, but if the signal from the module to the PCM is not there, or degraded(open/shorted wire, faulty BCM out, ect.) the engine will start on the fuel pressure from the F/P prime, but will not stay running, due to the PCM not running the F/P

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398459

I just tested mine by covering the resistor pellet on my key with a piece of tape. the result:

It wouldn't crank, and the security light came on. The VATS module disabled the starter just like I said it would.

I suppose it would be possible for the module itself to malfunction and allow the starter to crank. I suppose if the module is fried anything is possible.
all this did is simulate a input failure, not the 2 outputs(relay and signal to PCM)

I have been thinking about it, and I belive it depends on how and where it fails

if the VATS module(BCM in 95(?) up) sees the key, it will allow the theft deterrant relay to allow the engine to crank/start, but if the signal from the module to the PCM is not there, or degraded(open/shorted wire, faulty BCM out, ect.) the engine will start on the fuel pressure from the F/P prime, but will not stay running, due to the PCM not running the F/P

OK, that makes perfect sense. But, he says he has good fuel pressure. I'd assume from that the pump is running?

Also, I always thought the VATS cut the injector pulses, not the pump. Does it do both?