i had my coworkers husband come look at it (he works in automotive) and we noticed anytime he took my air control valve off it’s start but when he’d put it on it wouldn’t stay started so we went and got the new part and he put it on and i was able to start it with no problems and drive it around the block a few times so my second time to take it out and it just went out in the middle of the street the steering wheel locked up really badly some people said it was a fuel pump problem so as i’m trying to figure out how to get it back two block back home this guy (who apparently has been doing automotive for a decade) came over and said he could check if it was the fuel pump for me so he has me get in my car til he tells me to try and turn it over and then i got the ok and obviously it didn’t start at this point but i could smell like straight gas and his hands were covered in it and he said it wasn’t the fuel pump or filter cause the pressure is really good in my car and said overall my engine looks in good condition for the year it is. I bought this car off a friend who’s grandma took very good care of it while she had it the transmission is even only a few years old cause she replaced that too. He was rear ended when he had it but got what needed to be fixed from that (besides the dent).I really don’t know anything about cars but when i go to start it i have to press the gas and stay on it or the whole thing just goes out but very few times i do get it to stay started
Answers & Comments
You give a big long story but you don't say anything.
Take the car to a mechanic.
If you can't afford to pay somebody to repair the car then just sell it and end your problems.
Get an OBD2 code check done to see what parts or systems are malfunctioning. If the idle air control valve is bad there is a very specific trouble code for that. Car part stores will pull codes for free because that helps them sell parts, but beware of buying parts unless you absolutely need them. When you look up the trouble code, make sure you have the exact code the reader pulled, not part of it or abbreviations.
Check it for plastic intake manifold plenum leaks. No smoke needed, a propane torch (no flame) works safely. The bolts are only like 8 ft lbs, often times you can just snug them back up if you don't have a coolant leak. Be forewarned, you need to be proficient at bolt snugging with a very delicate feel or the plastic will crack. I work them all a tiny bit at a time for several rounds until working to the snug point, which can be in inch lbs.
Im guessing it is your throttle body
Check for trouble codes. Check the fuel pressure with a gauge while cranking. Check for a vacuum leak with a smoke machine. Clean the MAF sensor. Ckean the throttle body.