full description:
- car ran great
- let cousin drive car home
- she got in, started it up, it idled for 10 seconds then coughed, spluttered and died
- car won't start again
it acts just like it ran out of gas, but it definitely has some. here's the weird part - every 4 or 5 times you try to start the engine, it DOES start, as in revs up and sounds like a million dollars. for 2 or 3 seconds. then it dies again. so gas is definitely getting in, and when it does start it's definitely firing properly.
so far someone has suggested the fuel filter, that some blockage is periodically getting out of the way to let it start every now and then, then immediately blocking again.
i'd appreciate any ideas or pointers that anyone has!
Sounds like a fuel pump, I've put 2 in my 2003. One way to check without a fuel pressure gauge would be to open the gas cap to release the pressure in the tank. Put the cap back on, then turn your ignition on, dont start it. Try to listen for a humming noise towards the back of the car where your tank is. If you dont hear a hum, there is a good possibility that it's the fuel pump.
no the hum is well and truly there, so i assume the pump's fine. it's just very strange that it starts every now and then and promptly dies. i suppose the fuel filter isn't too big a job, i'll give it a try tomorrow.
so i swapped the fuel filter and nothing has changed. next i try a fuel pressure test? i can't pay to have this towed anywhere, is there any way to test it without a special tool? like disconnect the fuel line somewhere, turn the key to 'on' and see how much gas comes out?
theft light has always been on in this car when starting, then it goes off straight away
well it's the fuel pump - i had the filter's feed line dangling loose, turned the key, and you can hear the pump whir and make a gargling noise, but absolutely no fuel comes out (there's definitely fuel in the tank).
i have a replacement pump module, and am trying to lower the tank, but the large black rubber fuel filler/vapor hoses are impossible to budge! can anyone help me with a technique? i've been working to loosen them for a half hour now, and the seal made while clamped seems unbreakable.
well i finally sprayed them up with lube and got them off, now there's only 1 line left - some fuel line from the engine that has a different quickconnect fitting to the other lines
http://i13.tinypic.com/68lzwaa.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/680z1br.jpg
it's in the middle, that black tab with 2 white spots. no amount of pushing pulling squeezing gets it to budge
