I have a weird problem with my car, and I'm suspecting its a bad fuel pump or at least my fuel pump is not working properly or is about to die. I don't want to buy a new fuel pump and realize that my part was still good.

Basically, the car hasn't been driven for 1-2 weeks already, so my battery died, which is understandable. The car probably has like 2-3 gallons left in the gas tank. Or at least I think it does? Even if it had only 1 gallon, I'm sure I could start the car, correct?

So anyway, I try to crank the car does try to start, but it refuses to. After cranking it a few times, the engine did start for like 2-3 seconds, you can smell the gas out of the muffler, then as soon as I hit the gas pedal, the car dies immediately. If I don't hit the gas pedal, the car engine turns on for 5-6 seconds and then stalls and dies.

I tried removing the fuse of the fuel pump and obviously I know the car will not start. Tried cranking it a few times, and of course it just keeps on cranking. I put back the fuse of the fuel pump, it cranks like as if the fuse was removed, with the exception that sometimes, the car will start for 2-3 seconds and then die out like i mentioned before.

So right now, I'm not sure what part or parts to buy. Should I just buy a OEM fuel pump replacement off eBay and just go with that and cross my fingers? I really doubt a clogged fuel filter could cause this, since that was done 30k miles ago. What it seems like is that it has something to do with fuel.

Any suggestions/help would be appreciated.

Thanks alot guys.

-Stephen

 

Sounds like the pump or possibly your TPS is shot. How many miles are on the car?

 

148k miles. TPS is..? Throttle Position Sensor? Is that easy to replace? I have a check engine light, but I that was on way before this whole problem happened. I haven't had a chance to check the engine code, not sure if that'll tell me whether the fuel pump is no good or not?

 

Yep, TPS is throttle position sensor. Really easy to replace, little spendy though.

Your best bet is to run codes and replace what comes up.

 

checking the code would be a good idea. and put some more gas in there. could just be bad gas. i remember reading somewhere that these days gas goes bad in about a 7-8days. plus, with only 2-3 gallons, youre probably not helping the cause. my car starts getting hard to start with a quarter tank (cranks a little longer, sometimes need to give it gas to help it out). you should try to never drive with less than a 1/4 tank because you could possibly be starving the engine for fuel.

 

at the point in time when the low fuel light just turns on u still have approximately 10-15 Litres of fuel (2.5 - 3.9 Gallons) left in the tank that should still be plenty to start the car, but just to be sure (in case ur gas meter is dead) put some more fuel in there.

Fuel filter could be clogged, gas may be crappy/old (more reason to add gas), ect...

i cant believe u have not checked the codes yet before coming here. the CEL is the best way to diagnose a problem when it lights up. check the codes and let us know what it tells ya.

 

alright, i checked the engine codes, it didn't tell me anything related to the fuel system. instead, looks like one of my O2 sensors on the front is bad.

i did change out the fuel filter with a brand new one, still have the same symptoms where after a long crank start, the car starts, and stalls within 3-4 few seconds.

so i'm thinking of just buying a new fuel pump and cross my fingers that this is the problem. anyone know where to buy a brand new Nissan OEM one for a reasonable price? Bosch is the original manufacturer of this part, right? i've checked on eBay, but there's a few aftermarket ones that I'm skeptical about.

 

To the OP, can you hear the pump working when you turn the key to the on position (but not starting the car)?

 

if you smell gas through the exaust youre running rich as hell that is not a TPS problem more like a bad Fuel pressure Regulator but first check your vacum line that runs to it and make sure its not collapsed, cracked etc...next thing its a possiblilty your MAF sensor has gone to hell simple test unplug your MAF sensor and start the car up if starts and runs fine your MAF is screwed youll know for sure when you plug it back in and start it up and have the same problem good luck

 

False.
It is actually more like 1.9-1.0 gallons left (or 30-50 miles).

I agree with you willard00...my car definitely cranks much longer when I am at or below 1/4 tank.

 

When my fuel light comes on I can only get 55 liters in the tank and sometimes a little less and it is a 70 liter tank which I have gotten over 68 liters into it without the car missing of anything weird.(Wife driving a lot longer then she should have with the fuel light on)
I don't notice any difference in starting when the fuel level is low.
Gas will not go bad in a short period of time since the gas tank system is a sealed system.
You should be able to hear your fuel pump when you turn the key to the on position without cranking it.

 

Changed the fuel pump today, looks like that didn't help at all. Same symptoms as before. I also unplugged the MAF sensor and during the 1st long crank, it actually started and lasted about 7 or 8 seconds, then stalled out and died. Tried a long crank for a second time and it would start and lasted for 2-3 seconds as it usually does. So I'm assuming maybe my engine is running too rich and is flooded? Once the engine is started for these few seconds, everytime I try to tap the gas, it will die immediately.

Any suggestions how to fix something like that? My friend's mechanic said to take out the spark plugs to relieve the pressure/gas or something like that? Is this true?

 

take it to autozone for free diagnostic testing.

(actually thought about it and remembered it stalled after 8 seconds... LOL)
do the self diagnosting test and put codes into a decoder.

 

yea i already did a engine code check using a OBD-2 diagnostic cable on a laptop. nothing came up besides that oxygen sensor which i know shouldn't cause something like this to happen.

 

Any updates? Did you fix the car. I'm having a similar problem. About a week ago my gas light went on but i didnt drive very far with it. I came back 5 hrs later and it didnt start. Kept trying and trying car would just start for about 2 secs and die. If i pushed the accelerator it would completely die. After i put in some gas it worked.

Then last night I had to try starting my car about 10 times before it started (have a bit under 1/4 tank). I try starting the car and i hear it crank but just not quite start and dies out. I tried it multiple times.

I have no check engine codes at this time (miraculously). I'm wondering could it be a bad filter, bad fuel pump, or worse?

 

Ok. So i decided to try some inexpensive fixes before getting taken by my mechanic. I tried changing the fuel filter...i thought it was a while since i changed it and then i got a fuel filter cleaner (recommended by the guy at the auto parts store). And i filled my tank which was 1/4 full. And it worked better, for 1/2 a day. Not working well again.

 

could be a ridiculously dirty fuel filter, of course the pump is the most obvious culprit, maybe plugs ? tho that woudlnt explain the gas smell