This car sat for about 6 years before I became the lucky owner. I replaced the in tank pump, the old one was toast. I also put in a new fuel pump relay. So I got it running, it idled high at like 1500 rpm. I changed the oil and filter, started it to check for leaks and there were none. When I tried to start it again, it just turned over. It didn't even fire or sputter. It has gas in the rails, spark, pump is working, all that, but no start. What's the deal??

 

do you know what your fuel pressure is? it could be that it sucked up some bad (old, gunky) gasoline? or maybe clogged fuel filter? are you sure you're getting spark?

 

Its sparking, and has fuel. Would a gunked fuel filter really cause this? The engine was RUNNING literally 5 minutes before this problem. I shut the car off, it didnt stall, and when I went to start it, no cigar. What the heck?

 

You're assuming all requirements for combustion are met. "Its sparking, and has fuel" is an incorrect statement, or else it would be running. If your spark plugs are good then it may have fuel & pressure in the fuel rails, but no fuel, or not enough is flowing into the cylinders.

 

well, if you're SURE there is spark, then that just leaves the fuel (can you see spark when you take the sparkplug out and put it next to the block?). Do you smell gasoline while its running? It could be the injectors might have gone bad and are flooding the engine, so it'll run for a bit...rich then richer and richer until its too rich, it cuts off and it wont start because its too wet... I'd get a fuel pressure gauge also just to make sure something isn't wrong with the pump...