Starts for just a few seconds and then cuts off. engine light came on

yes, that is how the engine keeps running.

Are you sure it's not the fuel pump? I would be checking fuel pressure-the injectors need fuel under high pressure against them so they will spray out when pulsed.
What year is your Isuzu, and what size engine? Multiport injection has a higher pressure requirement than throttle body injection.
There should be a fuse for the injectors, check that. With key on, not start, the injectors would have power to them on the "injector drive circuit". In other words, constant power is supplied to the injectors when the key is on. The other wire at an injector is the ground wire. The ground wire goes into the engine computer. When the computer internally grounds the injector wire for a split second, the injector is energized and fuel is able to spray out.
Post back if you need help checking the injector circuit-both the power side and the ground side. You can check both with a test light.

Well, here it is anyway: ground a test light and probe the injector connector. With key on, one terminal should be hot-the drive circuit. Now move the test light lead to the POSITIVE battery post, and stick the test light probe into the injector terminal that did not light the test light-the ground terminal. Now have someone crank the engine over. If ground circuit is working, the test light should be blinking-meaning the computer is properly grounding the injector circuit. If both tests are good-a steady light on the power side (key on) and a blinking light on the ground side (engine cranking), the injector circuit is good.

if I'm reading this right...
... the engine starts and dies within a few seconds.
... you jumpered the fuel pump test connector and it will keep running.
... you smell fuel after trying to re-start when it dies.

Disconnect the plug to the cold start injector. Even if you have an issue with the engine running then dying after a few seconds after doing this, if you don't smell fuel after disconnecting the cold start injector and try to restart it, the cold start time injector time switch may be failing.

Buy a can of starting fluid and have someone start the engine then spray short bursts of the fluid around all the intake fittings. If spraying the fluid in any particular area keeps the engine running, I'd start looking for leaks around that area.


It does sound like an AFM or COR issue considering it dies after a few seconds, but the fuel smell when trying to restart the engine may be a separate issue that needs corrected / isolated first.it will keep running.

... you smell fuel after trying to re-start when it dies.


Disconnect the plug to the cold start injector. Even if you have an issue with the engine running then dying after a few seconds after doing this, if you don't smell fuel after disconnecting the cold start injector and try to restart it, the cold start time injector time switch may be failing.


Buy a can of starting fluid and have someone start the engine then spray short bursts of the fluid around all the intake fittings. If spraying the fluid in any particular area keeps the engine running, I'd start looking for leaks around that area.


It does sound like an AFM or COR issue considering it dies after a few seconds, but the fuel smell when trying to restart the engine may be a separate issue that needs corrected / isolated first.

The problem is fuel related. Bad fuel pump, bad fuel pump relay or a leaking injector causing fuel pressure to bleed off when turned off. When starting the car up for the first time have somebody turned the key just to the one position while you listen to the fuel tank. you should be able to hear the fuel pump kicking on for a few seconds.

Could be the asd relay, the fuel pump relay, or the ignition module among other things.

first check that all the battery connections are clean and tight, also check to see if it starts in neutral. Play with the gear shift lever,pulling up or down the neutral safety switch may be out of adjustment If you need more help get back to me. Thanks Ray

Spray starting fluid or carb cleaner into the air intake to see if it really is a fuel problem. If it tries to start, like firing for a few seconds, it is probably not getting gas to the cylinders. Then you need to check the injector circuit. If fuel is getting up to the engine, then the pump is working, but maybe not good enough-check that by testing the fuel pressure. Hook up a fuel pressure gauge to the fuel rail, turn key to on, and you should see high pressure on the gauge, about 50 psi, but check for manufacturer specs for the correct pressure.

The injector circuit uses a fuse for the injectors, then it applies constant voltage to the injectors when the key is in on or run or start. See if you have voltage to the injectors with the key on. The injectors will pulse when the pcm momentarily grounds the injector circuit-it grounds each individual injector internally inside the computer for a split second. This causes the injector solenoid to energize and raises a pintle inside the injector so that fuel under pressure will spray out into the cylinder.

Probally not getting any gas. Turn your key to the start position and listen to see if you hear your fuelpump come on. It should be a humming noise for a few seconds then cut off by itself. If you hear that then your fuelpump shouldn't be your problem.You should have a valve pin on the fuelrail to the fuel injectors. Remove the small cap and depress the pin on the inside and see if gas squirts out. Do this after turning the switch to the start position. If gas squirts out then your fuel injectors are probally not spraying. Take out your #1 sparkplug according to your firing order which should be labeled somewhere under neath the hood and check it to see if it has any gas on it after a few times trying to crank it. If it doesn't then your fuel injectors are not spraying.

the injectors are under the upper intake plenum. they are not indavidual part but a plastic injector assembly the individual tubes to each cylinder are little poppet valves.this entire thing comes only as an assembly from a parts store or the dealer.yhe can not be tested individually.if only one cylinder is misfirring you may be able to attempt to clean it out with spray carb cleaner and reassemle to se if that worked.if it roccurs replace it.

check backnnector on distributor assy. It's hard to find because is on the side just in the point nobody reach. Often it missconnect or broke. check, fix or re adjust as needed. check firing order of cables If not result.... 1.-unplug any spark cable and put a screwdriver inside it and place it in a safe place near a ground point. The object is try to see the spark jumping to ground. 1 or 2 cm will work for it. If you see spark, check fuel pump circuitry. uncap carburator and see if injectors spray gas when you try to engine. If you can see spark, change module inside the distributor cap.
if injector doesn't spray,check fuel pump, you must hear it for few seconds when you turn key to accs if you place your ear near thank. fuel pump work for few seconds but no spray on injectors: the same module above mentioned. if injector sprays and spark jump, the car must start