Starts Like Poop

[Nate's Alero]

Well, Every once and a while, my alero will, out of the blue, start like crap

turn key

crank crank crank

putt putt puttputtputt puttputt puttputt puttputtputt puttputt puttputtputtputtputt puttputtputt putt putt *die*



crank crank

puttputtputtputtputtputtputtputtputtputtputtputtpu ttputtputtputtputtputtputtputtputt

vroom,

runs fine......

(putt, refers to the sound that the engine is not firing on all cylinders)

then is fine, the same thing happened the same day that the car severely overheated... i decided not to take it today..

this happens like once a month, and the gas gauge is stupid,

this also happens ONLY when the gauge reads less than 1/4th of a tank of gas... once its "running" it seems fine...

any ideas?


3400 V6, 150,770K miles, LIMG recently replaced

IM going to say this, dont tell me to sell the car, or that i should have kept the better one's, i just want help, so give me, just help, no jokes, no nonsense, just help, go crap someone else's thread..

[cherrington17]

plugs, fuel filter, starter?

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

get some injector cleaner, replace your filters, and check/replace your spark plugs. if you still get nasty starts, move up to getting a tune-up.

lots of miles and you're running it down to less than 1/4 tank. you're burning up all the sediment that's been building up in your gas tank. you need to run it down even farther and run a couple tanks with the fuel system cleaner. of course, doing all that other stuff I said can't hurt either.

[Nate's Alero]

did plugs and wires when i did the LIMG, the fuel filter is a must, im sure it has never been done,

where is the fuel filter located?

it has a WAI. so the air filter is good, i use Zmax (not yet anyway) once a year, how about seafoam in the gas tank with 89 octane?

[cherrington17]

don't need to run better octane w/ seafoam. just run the seafoam with normal gas.

and fuel filter is under the backseat, near the gas tank. Its pretty hard to miss.. you can see your fuel line come down, then it has a canister in the middle... then proceeds to the driver's side rail. that canister is your fuel filter. its pretty close to the middle of the car (width wise)

[Nate's Alero]

don't need to run better octane w/ seafoam. just run the seafoam with normal gas.

and fuel filter is under the backseat, near the gas tank.

i dont have to drop the tank to get at the fuel pump? fugg! im replacing it! i was avoiding it because i thought i had to drop the tank to get it out, it hums pretty loud, sounds like a suburban, late 80's model with the CRT monitor hum

how do i get the backseat out? i want to do this today

[cherrington17]

wtf

FUEL FILTER! no removing the fuel pump. FILTER!!

its INLINE with the gas line UNDER THE CAR

[Nate's Alero]

wtf

FUEL FILTER! no removing the fuel pump. FILTER!!

its INLINE with the gas line UNDER THE CAR

no.... i want to replace the pump eventually, so i remove the backseat lower portion, and there it is?

[cherrington17]

If your going off the pick alerob888 posted... no. he modded that himself. You need to drop the tank to get the fuel pump. He burns his out racing, so he made himself a quick access port under his seat.

[Nate's Alero]

so, the fuel filter is in the tank? or is it reachable from under the car

[cherrington17]

from under the car.... if you drop the tank. yes.

it is in the tank, betweek the tank and bottom of the car.

[CactusWill]

Its in front of the tank, waaay up at the very top of the underbody. You need to get the car up in the air securely, and you need a flathead screwdriver to pry the clip off one side, and a 16mm or 5/8 and a 20mm open end wrenches for the other side.

[Nate's Alero]

Its in front of the tank, waaay up at the very top of the underbody. You need to get the car up in the air securely, and you need a flathead screwdriver to pry the clip off one side, and a 16mm or 5/8 and a 20mm open end wrenches for the other side.

it can wait......

[bdyman]

any engine lights on?? crank trigger, ignition coils and or module, vacum leak, stuck injector, timing is off, dude it could be allot of things, if you have a engine light on that will help you allot

fule filter is in front of the gas tank jack the car up and look in front of the gas tank bingo!!! fuel filter

[Nate's Alero]

ok, no lights.... i sprayed starting fluid, no rise in idle...