Hi folks. 96 Bonney (named "Clyde") has been really good to us over the past 150k. She has been sitting neglected in a driveway for 2.5 years, occassionally started.

Now, starts, I let it idle, runs ok for 30 seconds, then wants to die. If you give it too much gas, or too little, she will die. If you can keep it from dying, after about 5 minutes she runs fine. If you shut it off and try to restart, it will chug - sputter chug sputter, but not start till she cools down 100%.

Check Engine light does not come on, (only initially with all other warning lights).

Not a classic EGR problem, and the EGR was replaced 20k ago.

She has developed a slight Water pump leak while in storage, could this have effected the CPS? I think not, because it is dry at start up, and wet when the car is running fine.

Any other suggestions? THANKS!!!!

Check the plugs and wires. Also check for vacuum leaks. After sitting a vacuum line may have cracked.

the sensor and wire harness below it get soaked when running. Could that be it?

What sensor are you referring to? Can you take a picture and let us know where it is?

If you look at the water pump, it is at the 6 o'clock position. Below it is the crank pulley, it is at the 12 o'clock position relative the the crank pulley, behind the top of the crank pulley. If you look at both pulleys, you will see the wire going from the top of the crank pulley towards the front of the engine.

I have a similar problem. My boss let his car sit for a few years only driving it occasionally. Sometimes when I turn the key to start it, I see it go just above 1K rpm which is standard idle speed, and then hesitate like it'* on the verge of revving and dieing. This doesn't happen all the time. I usually give it some gas up to about 2 RPM then slowly let off and it stabilizes without a problem. However if I give it a good amount of juice and then [/i]quickly[/i] let off the gas pedal it'll die.

Camshaft sensor. Check the plugs and clean them up.

if thats the same gas in the tank all this time . it went bad drain tank fresh gas new fuel filter

Did a search, most of the topics were on the magnet part. Never heard of this before. Where are the plugs you are referring to? (sorry if you mean spark plugs, I'm really new to all this car work before I started researching recently all I knew was basic car maintenance like putting in oils and such) And if you do mean spark plugs, wouldn't it be more recommended to just change the plugs and wires to increase car performance? I don't think this car had a tune up in a while.

Well I've been driving it for a couple years now and I've put regular and plus gas in there as well as some typical cleaning liquids and STP, and I believe I have a new fuel filter so it shouldn't be that. It'* not as serious as cheepsox'* problem thankfully.