2 months ago i was driving to work and all of a sudden my car shut off. radio was still on but the engine had shut off. about three seconds later it kicked back on and ran fine like nothing had happened. 2 weeks later i was driving home from work and the same thing happened but it didnt kick back on. i somehow managed to make it into a parking lot without power steering. i put the car in park and tried to start it back up and it did. I drove home perfectly fine. about 3 weeks ago i was driving to my friends house and it died and would not start back up. it sat for 3 days untill i could get it towed and the automotive shop sayed it was the fuel pump that had gone out. $1300 later my car is running fine untill about 30 minutes ago when i pulled into my driveway and it dies, but started right back up...wtf. the only light that comes on is check gauges which can mean a number of things. its a 2001 3.8 has anyone had similar problems? i'd like to get it fixed or sold before college

 

i would start by changing the fuel filter.Maybe your cat is clogged ? How long has it been since your plugs and wires were changed ?

 

well i got a new filter too and had them check all the plugs and wires. my radiator was messed up which i also had replaced but thats another story. but i was thinking i know if a car is idling to low that happens. mine is at about 500 rpm at idle. is that about right?

 

no,when my lt1 was stock it idled around 800, but i have a friend with a 3.8 and it idles 1k-1200 at idle, i think yours is idling a bit low, has the computer ever been tuned ?

 

Don't condem it for one stall if it fired back up. It might hav just dropped to its too low of an idle too fast and stalled. Check into why it idles at 500rpm

 

have you checked/tested the fuel pressure regulator ?

 

I am thinking an electrical problem. Loose wire maybe. Also you said the ses light is on, you can have it checked at an auto parts store. Maybe that will tell you why it idles too low.

 

check/clean your battery terminals and have your alternator tested. My camaro did the same thing when my alternator died. I installed a new soundsystem and it started acting up. my idle was all over the place (well my guages were all over the prace.. id be doing like60 at a complete stop). Then it finally died. Then my eclipse just recently had a bad battery terminal and it wouldnt start unless i messed with it for alil while.. and idk if this makes any difference my belts were all old and squeaky and if i didnt let the car warm up 100% it would stall out. I just replaced all three of the belts... and it doesnt feel like its gonna die when its not fully warm.

 

is your car stock? its hard to diagnose without a workshop manual. maybe a bad fuel pump relay or something. could even be ignition