Engine will start, but wont stay running

[gasoline_fiend]

Car ran fine yesterday. Wife goes to start it today, it'll start up for a second or so, then die. It'll always start, it just won't stay running. Plus, I noticed there is a sound almost like a hissing or sucking after it dies. Just momentary, like a gasp. I've looked it over as best I could with all the hoses and wires, but nothing seems loose.

It's done something similar before, but it would always stay running upon restarting it. I'm thinking possibly fuel system related. Clogged injector, hell I really don't know. My knowledge is mostly carb-related, not EFI.

Hopefully theres nothing majorly wrong. It does have a busted motor mount but I dont think it's to blame.

I'm gonna try and find a decently cheap code-scanner, as I'm too cheap to fork over $150 for the one at Advance Auto.

[Xx_ICC_xX]

I've had the exact same problem; however, on a different vehicle.

I used to own a 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera International, and when coming home from the long weekend with my relatives, I was punching about 130km/h. We stopped over at a McDonalds at the nearest rest stop on the highway. Had a bite to eat, did the usual potty run, yadda yadda yadda. Went back to the car, it started up, 2 seconds later died.

Being far away from home, had to get it towed, didn't know what the problem was, yadda yadda yadda. $350 + later, it was fixed.

Anyways, you're right on the fuel system related. It turned out to be my fuel pump. You're pretty much not getting any gas to the front.

So it can be a minor repair, or a major repair. I mean it's not costly to put in a new pump. What can be costly is if there's rust around the tank, mainly I think it's called (not too sure, my memory is bad right now), the fuel sending unit, that's very expensive on its own if it's gotta be replaced.

Anyways, hope that's help!

[gasoline_fiend]

Thanks for the input. Actually it turned out to be the anti-theft system had been tripped somehow. Mother-in-law tried to move it last, so we think she tried to use the wrong key, and set it off. Reset the system, she fired right up.