car cranks, starts and dies but start back up and runs fine. When warm it cranks seven or eight times and starts as if I have my foot on the gas (2500RPM) for a couple of seconds. I sometimes hear a knock on the driver side like something may be loose, and can hear a chirping sound. Fuel pump replaced and tune up done about three months ago. Car still starts and run fine, just this problem that started a week or so ago. Any ideas?

 

Could be a vacuum leak... The chirping is either your serpentine belt being too loose (due to belt age, or a loose/failing pulley or tensioner), but I assume the chirping could also be a timing belt slipping but the car would run like **** if it was off a couple teeth.

 

I didnt mention it, but the car has a bad pulley either air compressor or water and the shop is too busy when I stop by and then there were the holidays. Its been bad for more than a month. Hey man, I really appreciate your response and your ideas, It'll give me some fire power when I take the car back to my mechanic. Hopefully keep him screwing me around and ripping me off for a problem that dont exist. Thanks, I post the outcome when this is resolved.

 

It could be a fuel pressure problem, initial erratic operation of the IAC or throttle plate caused by carbon build up in the throttle body, or the result of the cam/crank sensor. If you have a bent pulley that could be causing the chirping sound you're hearing.

If you don't have confidence in the mechanic you are currently taking your car to then you need to find someone else to work on your car. Contrary to popular belief, most mechanics are not out to rip you off or charge you for problems that don't exist. If you go to a licensed, bonded shop that employs ASE Certified mechanics they should be able to correctly diagnose and repair your vehicle.

 

First off, it wasnt a bad pulley bearing chirping, the serpentine belt was the cause and was replaced ...it had been replaced less than two years earlier and never had a problem until after the tune up. The start problem turned out to be a bad fuel pressure regulator. When the car was cold it started the first time just fine, but after running a bit, it would crank/turnover seven or eight times before starting and the RPM's would rev to 2500/3000 rpm then settle back down to normal (about 1000 rpm). I was able to confirm the fuel pressure regulator was defective by pulling the vacuum line from it and observing fuel leaking from the line, there should not be any fuel in a vacuum line. So...I had two different things going on and both were solved with a new serpentine belt and fuel pressure regulator. The mechanic replaced the belt (no charge), and I bought a new regulator and replaced it myself ($35.00)..I think I saved a bundle. Thank you guys for your help, the biggest thing was that you got me to actually work on solving this problem and not sitting around feeling helpless.