Gets air, fuel and spark then dies/July 4th Parade pics

[bonehead]

Encountered a peculiar issue with my '05. Let me say, I'm in no way blaming them, but this started happening immediately after I took my car in to M2K for some routine maintenance and swapping out a battery tray back in January. Drove my car home after getting some gas at a Shell station (not some janky Mom and Pop place) and parked the car for a few minutes. Went to start it up again and it fired up but then immediately died. Did this about 2-3 times in succession. Called Kevin at M2K, who obviously thought it was weird as well, and suggested I give it a bit of gas at startup. This worked and hasn't done it again until today while queueing up for the local 4th of July parade. Would either start then die and on one occasion, the starter wouldn't even turn over after pressing the start button (but all gauges/dash lights are on).
Battery was pre-emptively changed a few months ago, prior to any of this occurring.
1st thought: bad ground? I had a ground issue several years ago which was fixed with cleaning the connectors and the grounding point. But maybe changing out the battery tray knocked something loose? I would think a bad ground would just not start at all. Not sure this would explain why it does start then immediately die.
2nd thought: fuel pump? Once started, it doesn't appear to run rough and no CEL. Also doesn't explain why the starter intermittently doesn't turn over.
Thoughts appreciated.

Asked the local PD if I could sticker up the car for the July 4th parade, complete with lights and a cheap siren/bullhorn off Amazon. 20 year old car and 12 years of ownership and it's still a rockstar :

And my first duty as a fake Police officer was to pull over this firefighter's crotch rocket

 

[PeteK]

Odd problem description. One would think that if it was a battery or ground problem, it consistently wouldn't crank, but once started, it should keep running. I hate intermittent/inconsistent electrical problems.

Follow the rule of going back to the last thing you did and recheck it was done right and didn't affect something close by, then the thing before that. Loosen, clean and spray some kind of grease or water-repellent spray on the terminals, then retighten. Loosen and spray the connection of the battery ground to the chassis too. Then build a fire and provide burnt offerings to the gods. Something appropriate for the 4th of July, of which you can partake in the offerings.

 

[bonehead]

Odd problem description. One would think that if it was a battery or ground problem, it consistently wouldn't crank, but once started, it should keep running. I hate intermittent/inconsistent electrical problems.

Follow the rule of going back to the last thing you did and recheck it was done right and didn't affect something close by, then the thing before that. Loosen, clean and spray some kind of grease or water-repellent spray on the terminals, then retighten. Loosen and spray the connection of the battery ground to the chassis too. Then build a fire and provide burnt offerings to the gods. Something appropriate for the 4th of July, of which you can partake in the offerings.

Odd, indeed. I'll certainly check the terminals/connection/ground. Sort of explains some of the symptoms, but not others (i.e. the starting and then dying, remedied by giving it some throttle once I get ignition). Last time I had a bad ground, the dash lights would either be dead or flicker. None of that here. Seems like something more mechanical than electrical?? No idea.
Hopefully the gods like beer or bourbon-flavored offerings

 

[The Grey Ghost]

A loose/poor connection at the MAF sensor or a dirty sensor could cause it to start and die, but that would not keep it from cranking.

Jeff

 

[nota4re]

I think the non-crank issue may be independent of the start/die problem... and in the heat of the moment, maybe the clutch pedal wasn't fully depressed, etc. An electrical/ground issue would seem a little bit unlikely as the car completes the high-current-draw start operation successfully and subsequently dies. Also probably not a fuel pump problem as the ECU is pretty good about capturing a trouble code for that. Like others here - I suspect the MAF sensor. It almost acts like its not fully plugged in. Make sure that it is and the red safety tab is engaged (ensuring it is fully seated). Another candidate is the idle air control (IAC) valve. The IAC is super easy to remove/inspect/clean so I would recommend that as well. If no joy after those steps, I would suggest a scanner looking at real time data when the anomaly happens - namely what the MAF count is doing right at start-up.

 

[bonehead]

@The Grey Ghost @nota4re
Thanks for the suggestions. I did have to replace the MAF sensor many moons ago and haven't had issue with it since. I checked and it's rock solid with the red tab secured. Will get some MAF cleaner tomorrow and give that a shot.
Kendall, can the IAC valve be cleaned in-situ or do I need to remove it/replace with new gasket?

 

[nota4re]

I'd try removing it and being very careful with the existing gasket so that it can be re-used. I assume you have an OEM throttle body and not an Accufab? Accufabs are good but sometimes come out of adjustment - in which case John has been real good to make a quick tweak and get it back to you.

 

[bonehead]

I'd try removing it and being very careful with the existing gasket so that it can be re-used. I assume you have an OEM throttle body and not an Accufab? Accufabs are good but sometimes come out of adjustment - in which case John has been real good to make a quick tweak and get it back to you.

Got it. I may just pick up another gasket off eBay just in case.
And yes, stock TB. Thanks

 

[fjpikul]

Are you sure the right battery in?