Your fuel pump is encased in a plastic bucket which keeps the pump immersed in fuel to keep it cool. If you run extremely low, you risk emptying the bucket and over heating the pump.
When my pump went bad, it primed and idled at spec pressure, but at WOT, it would drop down to 20 psi. Other times when a pump goes bad will result in a no-start condition. You won't know for sure if your pump is bad unless you hook up a fuel pressure gauge which I already suggested in my first post.

 

sounds most like a bad MAF. easy to check out too, unplug it. if it runs again and lets you rev then the MAF is bad. and then it could as well be the fuel pump. about as likely since i would assume failure while operating would happen in about the same manner.

 

Well first time it happened, The car would be hard to start when it was warm, or like after driving ofr a while and then trning it off.
and it would run really bad like if it wanted to shut off............

Second time it just wouldnt turn on at all

 

okay, well i bought a spark checker and on the five plugs i could get to i had spark. the thing that concerns me is that i could only acheive a spark at about a quarter of an inch or less... is that common or is it still possible i have an ignition issue? i also bought a fuel pressure tester... and at key on, engine off the guage reads about 42 psi i double checked this a couple times by turning the key off, relieving the pressure at the guage and then turning the key back on again... same reading, about 42 psi. i had my girlfriend use her digital camera to record what its doing and if i can get the stupid thing to upload onto youtube, i will post a link... also i tried to start it with the thottle all the way to the floor to see if the pressure on the guage increased and it did not... is that normal or a symptom? one other thing... after it set for like a couple minutes i noticed the pressure on the guage dropped from about 42 psi to about 32 psi. i remember reading something about the pressure dropping on the guage, but i cant remember where or what it was... i possibly plan on saturday, disconnecting my exhaust just after the manifolds to see if i have a blockage in the exhaust that is causing the problem... im almost at my whits end with this right now... lol... please help!

 

tried that test, and no change... for better or worse...

 

finally got the video to upload, please watch it and let me know what you think...

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/etp5wBUDMjo"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/etp5wBUDMjo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>

or if that one doesn't work, try this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etp5wBUDMjo

thanks again! by the way, the last two times i tried to start it, i had the throttle to the floor that explains the difference in the sound of the car chugging0 after i let off the key...

 

Yes, you have good fuel pressure.
At the very end of the video, where after cranking you can hear the car sputter for a few seconds, thats exactly how my car sounded when my rotor detached from my opti! Not saying that I know that's the problem, but is sounds like a no spark issue.
Did you test the coil and the opti yet?

 

Yeah fuel presure is fine.
Use your spark tester to see how strong the spark is at the coil, if it is still only sparking out a 1/4 inch then it is most likely your coil, if it is giving you a good spark from the coil then it is most likly your opti.

 

whatever it turns out to be.....dont run the car low on fuel! hehehehe I should know.

 

Agreed, it is a no spark issue most likley. (what you mentioned about the spark jumping, is not enough)

Assuming you checked the wires and plugs already....... Like I said earlier in the post, go to Autozone, and get a coil, and swap in and check. If no difference, then take back. I would test the ICM also (the chip that is on the coil bracket), as those can wear, but mostly act up under heated conditions.

If that does not work, start checking into opti harness, opti etc.

 

well i guess its time to stop trying to avoid the inevitable... im going to have to start removing the mass of parts off the front of the motor to get to the opti, and the wires, etc... but okay... lol... now i gotta go out and buy a multi-meter... well, ill let you know what i find out...

 

internet diagnosis is fun.

 

well, this is kinda sad, but i found out what one of my issues most likely is... i finally got a hold of my other tools yesterday, and started pulling the plugs to check them out and you'll never guess... they're pretty badly worn... so yeah... no i feel kinda stupid, but to me that doesnt really explain why it just suddenly decided to die and not want to restart... im still going to buy a multi-meter and check out the coil and if o have to, ill check the opti and the ICM...

 

Not only that but your plugs are the product of the underlying problem most likley.

 

so what do you think the underlying problem could be? im hoping that at most its just the coil... but im going to test the other parts just to be sure.