QuestionRecently my Achieva has been giving me problems. Occasionally it will stall and when I try to restart it will either not start or sputter for a little bit and then die again. It also seems to happen more often if I have been driving the car and have shut it down for a few minutes (run into gas station/get coffee/etc.) Usually letting it sit for a few minutes will solve the problem but lately once I get it started as soon as I put it in gear the car will surge a little bit or die. After looking through previous questions it sounds like it is either the fuel pump or fuel filter.
Any help would be appreciated, and hopefully you can give me a quick run through on how to narrow down and fix the problem on my own.
Thanks in advance.
AnswerHello John,
One would think fuel filter, but then, why wouldn't it cause the problem before shutting it off.
No, I am not convinced fuel, although that is one thing I would check, is the fuel pressure.
I am thinking dirty injectors leaking fuel, and in effect, flooding the engine, while at the same time bleeding the fuel out of the system.
I would start by using some injector cleaner in the fuel tank.
Idle air control valve should be cleaned, as well as the EGR valve, and if that doesn't do it, check the fuel pressure. That will tell if the filter is dirty, the fuel pressure regulator is working properly, and if the fuel pump operation is satisfactory.
Van
