[RESOLVED] car ran out of gas now wont start

[zeneclipse420]

to start out ill say this, i've had my 99 eclipse for a while and i love it, yesterday my gas light came on while i was heading to a meeting, i tried to get gas ot one place but thet were out, my luck i continued down the highway and then it died lost all pwoer i tried cranking it and nothing, i was able to exit safely thank god and i put three gallons of gas in one at a time, when i put the first gallon in it started then died seconds later, i thought crazily that one gallon wasn't enough so i got another, same thing, the car started hiccuped then died, put a third in then same thing, consulted a buddy, he said i might need to wait a bit fuel pressure might be bad, i waited a bit and tried cranking again, nothing this time, no start at all, just sound like it had no gas, no turnover just starter sound like you know jahjahjajahjajujahja, tried pushing and popping the clutch, more of a turnover there but nothing to write home to mom about, some say my pump could be burnt out, some say it's bad fuel some don't know either, ugh how frustrating, first and last time i run out of gas, but could i really ruin my pump that fast, it has been getting shot mileage lately plaese help!!!!1

 

[kmj 4g63t]

try getting the car to the gas station fill up, then try again. I was in the car with my friend who has a 95 eclipse and the same thing happened. We put almost half a tank of gas and it turned on no problem. Hope everything turns out ok let us know what happens.

 

[talon187]

running that low on fuel is a bad idea. the fuel pump gets very hot when running the gas acutally keeps it cool. running it that low can over heat it and make it fail. it sounds like that may have happened best of luck

 

[1SickAuto]

+1^, thats exactly what i was going to say

 

[turboAWDfanatic]

^+3 I've seen this happen. Probably want to test/replace the fuel pump.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Did you think that you ate up all the gas and now there is only air in the system... You might need to keep on cranking or take it to a shop to suck up all the air till gas hits the fuel pump...
If you were driving just fine. I don't think it could just mess up like that!

 

[zeneclipse420]

got back to it today, got the pump out and took it to a shop where we connected it to a battery and submerged it in gas and it worked, the guy said it always would with a battery so i didn't go back to him, what if it had broke bet it wouldn.t work with battery then. So i took it back put it back in car and hooked it up, i was able to hear it "whirring" now si i think it was working. But no start, only over a fourth a tank tho so maybe more fuel? any way tried a jump from the best cables at a shop, no luck, then someone suggested checking for spark, it has that i caught one out of the coil, so i took out he plugs, looked pretty good i guess, then someone suggested pouring i tiny bit of gas down the chamber eg the spark plug hole, that got it to turn over some!!! but so full start, tried again and a lil better but still just puttering and no start, how frustrating

 

[tim4g63fast]

there is a return on the line so it is doubtful it is air, sometimes when fuel gets that low the pump will pick up sediment from the bottom of the tank.

I would replace fuel filter its like 10$ and easy enough to do. check sump and make sure its clean.

are you throwing a CEL by any chance

 

[rock1t]

^+3 I've seen this happen. Probably want to test/replace the fuel pump.

Yeah, once you purchase a aeromotive A1000 without doing any research other than the fact that it can hold 1000 forced induction horse, and flows 300 gallons an hour.


They don't tell you about the vapor lock syndromes, or the pumps bad habit to over heat due to vapor lock, or that if the pump is on more than 30 minutes, it may have a tendency to vapor lock/over heat.

I have been through three of these fuel pumps, and will not run another one, unless this one gives me no problems.

 

[zeneclipse420]

i cranked it so much yesterday that i thought id break my starter, had to jump it two different times just to keep cranking. I dunno anything about vapor lock, i just know that when under power from a full battery it pumped fuel right before my eyes, and i can hear it working when i start the car. It's like the fuel wont go into the engine somehow, yet i saw no leaks under the car. I pulled every fuse under the hood to check if busted all were good will follow up and make sure i checked ecu tho. I dunno if my relays are bad or if my pump sucked up some ugly stuff that got stuvk in my line clogging it maybe. My mind is spinning with possibilities but im just speculating tho.

 

[rock1t]

You may check to see if you are getting fire to your spark plugs. Easiest way to do this is pull a plug out of a cylinder, and lay it on the car somewhere (still attached to the spark plug wire) make sure it is grounded out, then have a buddy try to start the car. This will tell you if you are getting spark or not.


If you are getting spark, try spraying some starting fluid or carb fluid directly into your throttle body and seeing if you can get it to run on that. If you can get it to run on starting fluid, that means you are having fuel problems.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Maybe the fuel is throwing everyone off. Let's take it one by one.
You said fuel pump good.
Confirm that both ecu fuse is good. I don't know about n/t eclipses but civic had two.
Make sure distributor is good.
Make sure there is spark.
See if altenator is catching.
Why, because there is only so many ways a car die when the engine is on and car is rolling. No fuel, bad altenator, blown engine. Go figure!

 

[jjrock5]

Yup it has a coil pack. and you said you checked that the pump is working by seeing fuel being pumped through the cars system?? If not, I would unplug the fuel feed line at the fuel rail and make sure fuel comes out if there(will be messy). With that said, you can rule out fuel COMPLETELY.

 

[Fotowntalon]

or if my pump sucked up some ugly stuff that got stuvk in my line clogging it maybe

I would unplug the fuel feed line at the fuel rail and make sure fuel comes out if there(will be messy). With that said, you can rule out fuel COMPLETELY.

This should be your starting point, as a rule of thumb, try to never go below a 1/4 of a tank cause thats when all the floaties start getting close to beeing sucked up... On a side note, if you live in a very hot region you should not fill above 3/4 of a tank cause you will lose gas to evaporation.

 

[zeneclipse420]

This should be your starting point, as a rule of thumb, try to never go below a 1/4 of a tank cause thats when all the floaties start getting close to beeing sucked up... On a side note, if you live in a very hot region you should not fill above 3/4 of a tank cause you will lose gas to evaporation.

This is Zen's Dad... most likely ran out of gas/ has about 3 gallons of gas and 1 small bottle of "fuel additive" in it now. Could see gas in tank when we removed fuel pump. Did pinch fuel line on top of pump a bit putting it back in, but looks ok and pump purrs with key on. CEL works ok, haven't got it started to see if it stays on. Got zapped by all four plugs wires on cranking so assume I have spark. Couldn't get engine to fart at all other than starter cranking strong. Took plugs out and put in about 3 tablespoons of gas into each cylinder and cleaned gap end of plugs. Installed plugs and car ALMOST started, but wouldn't keep running if starter disengaged. Kept cranking until no more farts, and gave up at 10 pm.
Going back today. Will pull fuel line from rail and see if gets squirt/ put in about 5 more gallons of gas(???)/ squirt ether (diesel truck cold start can) directly into air intake. Consider fuel filter, but not easy on the side of the road. If can't get started will either set it on fire or tow to a mechanic and cross my fingers...

 

[g_ferg]

If it is the ECU how much does that cost and can a shade tree mechanic replace it? (me) with a chilton book...

Yes you could replace it easily. Also have you sprayed any starter fluid in the intake to see if it runs for a couple seconds???

 

[g_ferg]

Not yet. But ALMOST got it started yesterday with a bit of gasoline poured into each cylinder with the plug removed and then reinstalled. Haven't gotten back to the car yet today.

What is almost like it sputtered then died? Or not even that?

 

[zeneclipse420]

Sputtered and seemed like it was going to keep running but wouldn't take off on its own. Had to let go of the key eventually (about 45 - 60 seconds seemed like) and then it "died".

Hadn't been getting any sputtering before putting the gas in the cylinders, just cranking starter

 

[g_ferg]

check for gas at the fuel line. And if you are getting gas there check the injectors. sounds like it isnt getting gas to the cylinders still.

 

[zeneclipse420]

that's what I thought too. My Guess: fuel pump sucked up all crap in tank, then air. Cranked the heck trying to get it started and got the pump hot enough to shut down. Put in 3 gallons of gas but fuel pump maybe still too hot to work?? Then took fuel pump out, got it checked, put it back in and pinched the line on top a bit - maybe too much. Now pump is working (can hear it) but might not be sending enough fuel. When we put some fuel into the cylinders, engine responded and almost started, but not enough fuel to keep it running. Will check fuel line at rail and see if we get a good squirt on cranking. If so, will attempt start after squirting ether into air intake (BOOM). If still no go, only thing left is filter (under car) or a different pump. Getting frustrated and still too poor to pay intelligent people to repair, but too tired to mess with the filter on the side of the road. Don't want $136 pump if don't really need it. Could find one at junk yard, but time is running out before someone steals or tows the car off..... Sheesh! A little prayer here, gentlemen? Can't hurt...

 

[talon187]

Just because your fuel pump comes on when the key is on doesnt mean its still good. It may come on but it may not build up enough pressure. I just had a walbro got out on me. it would loose pressure under boost and it got really hot after the car ran for a few mins

 

[g_ferg]

seriously either the fuel filter is plugged or the fuel pump is bad. My moms 2001 blazer did the exact same thing. For some reason she liked to run it till the gas light would come on.

 

[zeneclipse420]

Car towed to shop. FYI- ether in air intake would start it and run just fine as long as you kept steady squirt going, then would die if you stopped squirt. Mechanic said not getting fuel to the rail - probably a sensor, maybe fuel pump. We'll see tomorrow. Lesson: don't run out of gas in a Mitsubishi. Tow $135 from Dallas to Arlington after dark. Meter is still running on final fix...Zendaddy not happy camper

 

[Fotowntalon]

sorry its a little late but you can find a used ECU on ebay for under $100, or you could go with an AFX ECU at howell for around $540 if you want to upgrade, or another upgrade route would be Megasquirt, i am thinking that one is around $300 but not sure on that.

Good luck getting everything fixed.

 

[zeneclipse420]

I will update you all when problem is solved. Thanks for your input. Cars, you gotta love 'em...Zendaddy