I have stock 98. 3 times in the past 6 months the car would not start. Engine turned over just fine. It has always happened with the engine warm. I have never done anything to repair the problem. The car would start up just fine after sitting at least an hour. The problem wouldn't reoccur for at least a month or two.
I seen lots of talk of bad IAC's on this forum. Does anyone think this is possibly the problem? I don't own an OBD code puller but would checking for codes help if I were to get one? Basically any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

 

A computer scan would not do you any good if your check engine soon light is not on. What it sounds like to me is possibly a fuel pump problem. When it happens again, have a friend beat on the gas tank while cranking the car over and see if it will start. If it does, its the pump. Good luck.

 

Thanks 5.0. I was also talking with my brother-in-law and he thought it sounded like vapor lock, but he also said it was weird because that was usually a hot weather thing. I'm not really sure what happens to cause vapor lock. I got a new fuel filter a couple months ago but didn't have the right tool to change it at the time and then it got too darn cold to work under the car, at least for me. I figure the next warm weekend I have a couple hours I'll swap that out and see what happens. Easy thing to try for $10.

 

If you need to see the codes in your ODB run down to AutoZone or Advance Auto, both will hook up and download/clear for free. Still trying to verify if problem codes are stored prior to your engine light coming on. I know that it takes the same problem occuring three consecutive starts for the engine light to come on. Saw that when I disconnected my MAF. Now what I don't know is if there was a stored code indicating an MAF problem, prior to the indicator light coming on. I'll let you know what I find. I suspect there may be codes stored even before the light illuminates.

I agree with flying5.0 sounds like a fuel problem. Could be the pump, or filter either one.

 

Thanks.
You can find out a lot about OBD II at:
http://www.obdii.com/

 

Just a quick update. The problem was a very intermittent short in the fuel pump. Thanks to all for the input. Should be back on the road tomorrow!