I just replaced the Bose stereo in my '04 ZR. Every thing when semi-smoothly (Forgot to plug in the center triple gauges and had to tear it all back down to connect those).

After installing, the car fired up and ran fine. I had to get some gas, so I made a short trip to the station and filled up. After I finished there, the car would fire up to 1,500RPM, like normal, and then die. I can get the car to run fine by giving it a blip of throttle just before it dies a couple times, and it will not have any issues after that -- it seems like the RPMs drop more than they used to when coming to a stop in neutral.

The only thing that has changed since the car was running fine is the stereo, PAC harness, and the iPod cable that is attached to the new stereo.

Anyone got any clues? Would an ECU reset help, or is this something that can happen with these cars until the ECU relearns? My last car (Subaru WRX) would have difficulty starting after an ECU reset, but it would crank for about 10 seconds before starting and be fine after.

One weird thing that I noticed was that I don't hear the fuel pump prime when the key is set to 'On'. After trying to start the car, and subsequent stall, I can hear the pump prime. However, trying to start the car again result in the same start-then-stall result.

 

This might be a job for an electrical shop, I have no clue what you could have done, maybe the full pump is dying or the battery doesnt have enough power in it to power the car and your new stereo system so that could be another thing, what does your voltmeter on your car say? you want it around 14 volts, if its at that or around it, get the fuel pump checked out

 

Check your fuses.

 

THIS ^ completely slipped my mind

 

After I changed out my Bose stereo and installed the new head unit my check engine light was on. I bought a code reader and 3 codes were read, all fuel pump, pressure, and level codes. I had to fix an issue with the stereo at a later date and the same codes were throw. Never had an issue with the running of the car though and when codes cleared they stayed cleared.

 

When I read your problem,knew where it was heading when I read."I just replaced...".
Today's cars are so connected into various systems that when fooling with anything
with the wiring,its gonna effect something else.Especially with our cars,the security
system can be temperamental.
Take it someplace that knows how to work on it.
Next time,spring for the bucks and take it to the local whizz bang audio joint.
They know all the tricks.

 

If you disconnected your battery then this is normal. Your ecu has been reset and it will take few starts for the ecu to relearn the idle rpm rate. This happens to my 04 ZR every time I disconnect the battery. Again, it only takes a few days before my Z idles normal again. Do a quick search if you need more information or confirmation.

 

Weird. I've disconnected my battery probably over 10 times in the past year (various reasons) and no such thing happened to me.

 

When I disconnected my battery over winter I got a Service Engine Soon light- it was for the ECM. I cleared the code and it never came back. Seems like our cars are very touchy.

 

Same issue I’m having currently, I switched my head unit and this happens, I ended taking out the car fuse and that allowed for the car to start but without the head unit being powered. If anyone has a solution I’d greatly appreciate it.