Sounds like a ground problem.

I'd change the sensor. I won't believe it'* VATS related with the car already running until someone tells me what page in the fsm it says a running car that passed theft deterrent to start will die.

may be off base but had the same type of symptoms on a 98 gp that turned out to be a ignition control module this may be something you could try

I noticed that there'* this little elbow shaped part on the left side of the engine and it leaked what looks to be oil and some of my vacuum holes are cracked

Is that the left side as your looking at the engine or the left side when sitting in the drivers seat?

Left side lookin at the engine

Thats a coolant elbow its an easy fix. Unfortunately it happed to me the lebo leaked and i payed outrageous peices at pep boys... i really hate pep boys they are the biggest rats except 1 mech i met there. Hes my mech now. As for the car turning off.... that happened to me too. It happened when i was driving in a bad storm one night so iono if its water reated or it could have been the cat and mufflers that were removed.... i got my SES light on cause supposedly my cat has an o2 sensor in it? well anyways the exact same thing happs to me all the electricals work and my car coasts and the brakes work barely the power steering shuts off and at doesnt accelerate its like it goes to ACC without power steering its really wierd but it doesnt bother me.

so what part should i look for and how do i replace it