Somethins Wrong :-( Fuel related?

[cargle]

Yeah,

Saturday morning I started my car fine and went for a quick drive to get something to eat.

I then went to start my car several hours later, it started and then the revs just dropped really quickly and it stalled( like it wasn't getting any fuel or something)

I then went to start it again and it wouldn't turn-over, just made some wird noises. I cracked it over again and kept reving it until it turned over, I noticed a pile of smoke come out the back (excess fuel??)

My car has now done this 3 times in around 4 months.

In the mornings, I do have a idling problem, it can stall in the mornings when cold when I pull up to a set of lights or something.

Once you take it for a drive it runs fine.

I just ignored it when it has done this previously but it has now happened 3 times and I dont want it to happen again.

If anyone has any ideas let us know, I'm taking it to my uncles next weekend, the thing is its hard to re-produce as it has only happend a few times in a few months.

[cargle]

when it has done this previously, it has always started it was just stalling.

So thats why I'm a little worried, because my car has never not started before.

[Longrod von Hugendong]

Check your fuel filter......sounds like it might be a bit choked up with crap. Do you run the tank right down really low often?

Ryan

[cargle]

no, I always fill up with 10-12 or so litres left.

I thought it could be the fuel filter, its just I think it was replaced in my last service, I'll make sure though.

[DJ20]

I've got a similar problem, and i've had it since i bougth the car 2 years ago. When mine sits in the shed for a week or so without starting it, it starts for about 2 seconds then just dies. then when you crank it over it just makes a sick werring sound.

As i said this usually happens when the car hasn't been going for a while, and when the petrol tank is below half.

I have come up with the fact that the fuel pump is to blame, as i have checked fuel filter, spark etc. The other day when it happened i took out the fuse for the fuel filter and turned over the engine to depressurise the line. While i was doing this the engine sort of sparked for a couple of seconds (sounded like it was flooded). After all the fuel was out of the line, i then put the fuse back in, and crank it over, within a couple of seconds the car fired and i let it warm up and it was fine.


I think somehow the fuel pump is letting air get into the line when the fuel tank is low, and this prevents the fuel from coming through.

I'm no mechanic, but i've had this problem since i got the car, But i don't tend to worry about it much cos it's not very often that my car sits still for a week. I suppose over the 2 year period it's happened 5-6 times.

I hope this may shed some light on, or give you some direction for the problem,

cheers,
Dale

[Longrod von Hugendong]

Cargle,

Is yours only doing this when the tank has a lesser amount of fuel in it? If this is the case then I would definitly say fuel pump. Because there is less weight pushing the fuel down the fuel pump must be struggling. My mate has a 92 Honda Integra and has this same problem when the tank is anywhere below quarter.....something to try is get someone to sit in the car and turn it over while you hit the fuel tank with a rubber mallet. Sounds wierd, but apparently it works......it is a bit hard to do that when you are on your own though.....

Ryan

[cargle]

yeah cheers dale and ryan,

Dale, thats exactly what mine does, however when it has happened the car and been driven that day, not sitting around.

I though it could be the fuel pump aswell, I'm hoping it isnt though as they are expenive to replace.

but its just wierd how it can happen once and then can run fine for a month, I guess the idling problem is still there each morning though, which may or may not be related.

[cargle]

when the problem occured on saturday I still had around half a tank left!! more than a quarter anyway.