Unreliable Starting Diagnosis

[sheepdog]

Hey guys,

So in the process of figuring out why the car wouldn't start, it did start a few times. This seems to happen more reliably right after the car has sat for a while with the battery disconnected. The car will start right up immediately, and runs like a dream.

It has run for various periods of time. I let it get up to temp once, so the temp gauge is working. When the car does start, I distinctly hear the fuel pump prime, etc. When the car does not start, I distinctly do not hear this stuff.

When running, if I don't turn the motor off myself first, (several starts/check fluid steps), the car will turn itself off. A couple times it has behaved as if it is going to die, then catches itself and continues to idle. A couple times this has actually caused the motor to die, in which case the car will not start again. The car turns over fine, door open light is on on the gauges, but it won't fire.

Am I looking for a bad ground? If so, any idea where? I started this process at the fuel pump, and I've tested the fuel pressure controller for 12v and when the car is not starting, it is not getting 12v. I feel like the problem is likely from the fuel pump relay or forward. Is there a way for me to test the fuel pump relay? Anyone run into these symptoms before?

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