My Alero is dead:(

[Justin081]

So I was driving to work today which is literally 5 minutes down the road and my car died. i stopped at a stop sign and it started like shaking and the RPM's started jumping then i took off and a little bit down the road it start doing it again then died. i rolled to the side of the road. it will start up but jump alot then as soon as you touch the gas pedal it dies. my friend came and got me and said it sounds like its not getting fuel or something. any ideas?

[Redog]

Fuel filter or fuel pump?

If it's not getting fuel, that would be the first place I'd look

[Justin081]

when you turn the key you can hear the fuel pump go on. the fuel filter i changed a few months ago. we towed it back to my house and we are supposed to mess with it tonight when i get out of work to see what is wrong with it. hopefully something cheap.

[pawzbear]

changed ur spark plugs recently, and on time? could have messed up your coil pack if they were arcing

[Justin081]

ya i changed my plugs not long ago and just changed the spark plug boots a couple weeks ago too. i was thinkin bout trying to replace the coil pack too. thats like $50 right?

[Vinalero]

Similar thing happened to me one time, it was fuel filter.

I also already heard of someone that one of his spark plugs wires came off.

[lonnie]

How can you hear the fuel pump come on when it is in the tank?

[Justin081]

when you turn the key on you can hear a humming noise as the fuel pump goes on.

[lonnie]

I've never head that!

[Vinalero]

Well yeah, leave your door open and place the key at the On position, you should hear a sound for about 2-3 seconds, thats the fuel pump.

[rustyballs_69]

Even if you can hear the fuel pump kicking on doesn't mean its not bad. I would check the fuel pressure to see what its at firsrt.

[Justin081]

how can you check the fuel pressure?

[rustyballs_69]

On the 2.4 you will have to get a adapter hose with a fuel pressure gauge. The fuel rail doesn't have a test port so you will have to put the adapter hose between your fuel inlet hose and the fuel rail.

[Justin081]

oh ok ... where do i get the gauge to test it?

[YALEROYNOT]

mine did something simular and it was the fuel filter. I pushed the scheter valve on the fuel rail (watch your eyes !!!!) and had no fuel so I knew that it was clogged so I started with the filter.

[Justin081]

someone else said to check that too but we couldnt find that valve on my car. all i see on the fuel rail is the fuel pressure regulator.

[01OldsAleroGt]

yalero.. he has the 2.4

[Justin081]

so im guessing since i have the 2.4L that means i dont have one of those valves?

[Nate's Alero]

yes, you need to take the inlet hose off, and place it between there....put to on position and if there is little or no fuel press, do fuel filter and if not UH OH!

BTW WATCH YOUR EYES!

(i may be wrong too):)

[rustyballs_69]

so im guessing since i have the 2.4L that means i dont have one of those valves?

No you don't have the test port on the 2.4L. I'm sure you could get the gauge and hose from an auto parts store. You will need something like this http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PTO%2DSG%2D33980&N=700+%2D127729+115&autoview=sku but you need a T in the line. You take part of your fuel line out and put this line in with the T and the fuel pressure gauge on the T.

[Justin081]

do you think autozone will have that as part of the loan a tool program? i dont feel like paying that much for something i will probably only use once.

[Cliff8928]

do you think autozone will have that as part of the loan a tool program? i dont feel like paying that much for something i will probably only use once.

Nope, they sure don't.

[Justin081]

well this morning my friend came over and we went outside to mess with my car. the battery was dead but i think that was because the guy that towed my car yesterday left something on. we jump started it and it started right up and ran fine. sat here for a while with it running and then we took it out to go get breakfast and it ran perfect the whole time. He said that he thinks since yesterday was really rainy and puddles everywhere that i might have gone threw a puddle and water splashed up and got something wet that made it do that and once it dried out it was fine. hopefully that is all it is.

[Nate's Alero]

well this morning my friend came over and we went outside to mess with my car. the battery was dead but i think that was because the guy that towed my car yesterday left something on. we jump started it and it started right up and ran fine. sat here for a while with it running and then we took it out to go get breakfast and it ran perfect the whole time. He said that he thinks since yesterday was really rainy and puddles everywhere that i might have gone threw a puddle and water splashed up and got something wet that made it do that and once it dried out it was fine. hopefully that is all it is.

told you! ;)

[Justin081]

yup that is what you told me last night. lol

[Vinalero]

I also remember one day when I had my buick, the car started to run like shit suddenly and wouldnt rev. As soon as I was touching the gas, it would stall. I let it sit for a day, and I thought I had to change the fuel filter, because I already had a similar problem. The car never did the thing again.

Of course I changed the fuel filter some time later, and never had the problem again. My guess is that the fuel filter had a chunk of trash that got lose and blocked the fuel's way for a short period of time, and then it got disolved went in the engine.

[Justin081]

ya i probably will change teh fuel filter the next time we have a dry day. i remember last time i changed my fuel filter it wasnt so much fun tho...

[Justin081]

well i guess its not all fixed like i thought... i just got stuck on the side of the highway because it did the same thing and died while i was driving. my step dad had to come get me with the ramp truck and i guess im gunna try a new fuel pump.

[Midgear]

was it raining.. ?

[Justin081]

it was raining the first time it happened but not the second time. the fuel pump is 240 at autozone. is there any cheaper places i should look?

[cherrington17]

www.rockauto.com ?