Last night, I was driving and got really low on gas. I finally found an open station and the gauge was touch the line for "empty." I put in 6 gallons of gas, started it up, rolled out of the parking lot, went about 100 feet and then had the car spurt and get bogged down before ultimately dying. It would start, but if I didn't pump the gas, it would die. When I would pump it, it wouldn't rev just like normal, it would only move the rpms up when I would let OFF the gas and event then... only for a moment, i short spurt.

I couldn't get it to start and then simply idle. It'd get bogged down and shut off.

I got it towed and in the morning tried to start it and had nothing. Just a turning starter. I decided the gunk in the tank probably got stirred up and fed through the fuel lines; so I changed the fuel filter. I finished and tried to start it, but had no success. The same starter sound; pumping the gas did nothing.

I pulled off one of the fuel lines to see if gas was even being transferred into the new filter. It was. So now I'm at a loss for why the car won't start.

The car was running perfectly fine, no bogging, no starting issues, no misfires from the plugs... prior to the new gas. OH! ....and I know it's not bad gas, I had the station manager give me a printout from the sensors in their tank.

Help? =/

 

Maybe you have a weak fuel pump.

 

slap a scanner not code reader on that puppy and read what the sensors see. that is the best starting point. I need to do it on mine, but the scanner for me is miles away and the car doesn't run.

 

Not sure how the fuel pump could be weak when the car was running completely fine with zero problems up until this. Any other suggestions? I know there are people on here smart enough to know the cause.

 

i would say the fuel pump too, weak fuel pumps start acting up randomly. if you want, change out the fuel filter. but more than likley its the fuel pump giving you signs that its about to give out.


^^^that doesnt always tell you the problem. it only answer your "why is my engine light on" question...

 

that is why I said SCANNER not READER. A scanner will let you read what the sensors are seeing, a reader just tells you a code.

Scanners also cost more. I may be buying one, since I was an idiot and didn't catch that the CEL didn't come on at all on this car I bought

Anyone want to buy a 95 SE A/T project?

 

bad gas?

 

It would seem the gas is somehow to blame, but check the fuel pump fuse if you already have not....

When I replaced my fuel filter, the car would not start for a while because the gas was not in the system. It took me a good 10-15 starts to get it going again.... I thought I fuxed something up.

Check out FSM Engine Control System page 364. There is a whole bunch of info for troubleshooting the fuel pump.

 

Fuel pump fuse is good.

The fuel filter is already changed and when I tried to start it, gas was getting through it.

I could maybe see the weak fuel pump, but wouldn't the engine at least be turning over a LITTLE bit if fuel was getting there at all? All I hear when I turn the key is the starter cranking.

The gas is good, according to the printout from the gas station manager.

Anyone else? =/

 

LMAO

 

If you pinch the top hose of the fuel filter, and have someone turn the ignition to ON, the person holding the hose should feel a pulsation of the fuel pump moving gasoline... I don't know if that'll eliminate the fuel pump as your problem completely, but it'll tell you if it's working.

And by the way, there are plenty of smart people on this forum, but they are not clairvoyant. You need to give more info. Is your service engine light on, and what are the codes.

There are so many things that can cause a car not to start. It may have nothing to do with you putting gas in your car, although it is the first thing to eliminate. Troubleshoot the fuel pump using the FSM, it's on this site or google for it.

 

Any chance that you put diesel fuel in it instead of gas?
Yeah, the more I think about the OP the more I think that is what happened.

 

fuel pumps are cooled by the fuel they are submerged in, more so for the pumps that move the fuel through the pump motor itself. I don't know whether the Max's have that style pump or not, but either way, running that low on fuel could cause it to over heat and harm the windings.

One more thought, Do you still have only six gallons? Six gallons may not be enough to prime the pump. Completely submerging the pump might do the trick.

 

u should never run your car I empty like that. U are just asking for trouble that puts strain on ur fuel pump & all that gunk could clog something up . I'm gonna go with ur fuel pump could be shot!

 

Since the fuel pump inlet is on the bottom of the tank, it doesn't matter if the tank is full or empty, you'll always suck the junk up if its there.

 

Maybe the fuel pressure regulator is whacked...its a check valve so maybe its iunternal spring has broken and gas cant reach the engine. jus reachin here...

the OP says that gas was getting to the filter. Unless somehow u fried the ECM...

 

have you tried starting fluid into the intake manifold at all?

 

Agree 100% That myth about not letting your tank go under 1/4 makes no sense at all since the pickup for the gas is at the very bottom of the tank.



I'm still voting for putting in diesel instead of gasoline....

 

So did you get it fixed? What was it?