No-crank problem with my 1999 Regal. Frustrated and need help

[amrathelion]

I've been looking for help on this issue for a bit and getting frustrated. I'm new to this forum but ran across it and hope you guys can help me out. I've listed my issue below in as much detail as I could. But basically it won't crank but will power. I can successfully "jump the relay" in the fuse box and it will start for a few seconds and then die. I'm also pretty clueless on mechanical issues but trying to learn as I go but this issue is frusterating me. I assume that since I can jump the relay and make it start that rules out an issue with the starter (someone correct me if that isn't true). I thought maybe it was a security issue but my security light is not on or blinking, etc. Anyway help! details below.

Buick Regal GS 1999
Background: Car worked a few months ago fine. Hasn't been used much in the last 6months but I've cranked and driven it a bit every week to keep it moving. Only driven maybe 10 minutes total in that time. About a month ago the battery went dead and I replaced it and it has been no crank ever since. Nothing was done to the car during this time other than the battery replace but it was already having the issue before the battery was touched - I suspect the old battery was fine but I left the new one in just till I figure out the issue.
Problem: Turn key and the panel lights turn on but no crank or click at all. Just silence.
Tried: I took off the starter and jumped it to confirm it was working - it was. Afterwards learned that I could jump the relay in the fuse box and force it to start which would have allowed me to avoid taking off the starter. Anyway jumping the relay worked and the engine started and immediately died. I could get maybe 3 "revs" in before it dies. I then thought it was anti theft but i put a multimeter on the key and it has a very consistent resistance and another forum person told me the anti theft in the Regal allows you to crank and then shuts off after a few seconds so doesn't match what I'm seeing. I ordered some resistors I plan to wire in just to bypass to be sure but while I'm waiting for those I'm looking for the next likely culprit.
I'm frustrated as I drove the thing so rarely that I can't imagine a part went out during the 10 minutes I've driven it over the last 6 months. It is being stored off - pavement so I also checked all wires I could see for rodent bites just in case. I couldn't find any but I was just visually inspecting.
Need advice on my next step! Thanks in advance.

 

[amrathelion]

Today I wired up a bunch of resistors equal to the value on my key and wired it into the security cable. Even though I wasn't getting a security light, I was hoping that bypassing the key security check would solve the issue. No luck and nothing changed. It still gets no crank but will start if I jump the relay in the fuse box. I can get about 3 revs out of it before it dies. It doesn't sputter or anything when it dies, just dies smoothly like it was turned off.

I'm not getting any responses on the interenet so am about to give up and have it towed to a mechanic. Ugh. Last chance for someone to drop some knowledge on me here!

 

[02LTD2.0]

Have you checked fuel pressure?

 

[amrathelion]

Have you checked fuel pressure?

Yes, the fuel pressure is about 45ish and holds steady after the engine is turned off. I think that is about 3psi lower than it should be but I believe that is what is always was and I doubt just a few psi low would keep it from cranking but let me know if that is true. As I mentioned before it can be forced to crank by jumping the fuse relay but just dies after about 3 seconds. So I assume that means it is getting enough fuel to start and since the pressure is staying constant I feel that means it isn't an issue of losing fuel pressure causing it to stop. But again, I don't know much and am just trying to reason it out. I'd love any thoughts.