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Followup To
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Followup To
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Since this car was new it would sputter and sometimes shut off when the fuel was down to about 4 gallons. Above that it was fine! After several years this problem progressed to about 9 to 10 gallons. This only happens when braking to slow down.
A few days ago, with a full tank, the car acted like it was running out of gas. It shut off! When re-fired it would spit and sputter and barely run. After it cooled down it ran fine for several miles and then started again. It seems to be the worst after it's run for awhile.
I used some injector cleaner with no help. Today I changed the fuel filter and the car will not restart at all. It's not pumping any gas to the engine. Is there a reset switch for the fuel pump? And, if there is, what is causing the other problem or is all this related?
Answer -
Fuel pump test:
1. Get yourself a helper.
2. remove the gas cap.
3. have one person listen in the gas tank at the gas cap opening.
4. have the other person turn the ignition switch to the ON position ONLY so as the dash lights come on. Do NOT attempt to start the engine.
5. As soon as the ignition key is turned to the ON position, The person at the gas tank should hear the fuel pump run for TWO SECONDS and then it should STOP.
6. Does it ?.
Yes, the fuel pump is working. I replaced the fuel filter and the fuel pump relay. The problem with the fuel not reaching the engine was a kink in the hose. The car will start but, I have the problem with the sputtering and the engine stops running.
Answer -
Your most likely suspect of which has been a constant nightmare for GM was their lousy fule pumps. What you need to do is tie in a fuel pump pressure gage long enough to reach into the passengers compartment or long enough to tape it to the outside of the windshield where you can watch it as you drive and see if the pressure starts to drop off.
Have you had ANY work performed on the vehicle prior to this problem ?.
autohelp
Tom,
I certainly appreciate the assistance. The issue with the vehicle shutting down when the gas gets low has always been a problem. In the beginning the fuel had to be as low as about 4 gallons. It's now around 9/10. It does fire up and run fine until you begin to stop. The issue with the spitting and sputtering just recently started. I thought that it may be a weak fuel pump but you can hear it when you turn the ignition. The last work I had done was to replace the Starter about a year ago.
AnswerGM has always had a problem with weak fuel pumps and or the rubber hose that is in between the fuel pump and the pickup tube coming loose and or leaking thus sucking air when the fuel gets low and or the pump is cooled by the gas that is in the gas tank and when the fuel level drps the pump tends to become temperature sensitive as no fuel is covering the upper most part of the pump and it starts to get hot and starts to slow down giving you less fuel pressure and less fuel volume. You also need to replace the FUEL SOCK (micro-filter attached to the bottom of the fuel pump in the fuel tank.
When you begin to stop all the fuel rushes to the front of the gas tank thus leaving part of the pump and the rubber hose exposed to be able to suck air into the fuel system.
Seen it many many times.
autohelp
