Starts then stalls

[Ryan from Ohio]

So this morning I go to start my car like normal. it catches I stop cranking. Poof stalls. Did this 3 times before I gave it some gas while cranking. It acted a little funny, like it was cold and didnt want to stay running. After I got it going it was fine.

At work on my lunch the same thing.

Tonight I left for a funeral, again.

Again when leaving the funeral.

The real fun started when I picked up my pizza. Shut the car off, went into little sleazers for a hot n ready (not the porn). Came back out. Stalled 4 times. I gave it the gas, it started let off gas and stall. 3 more times... WTF... Gave it some gas, backed up. Drove to end of parking lot, had to stop. Died again and rolled down the hill.

Fuel pump or fuel filter or both?

156K miles, original everything as far as I know.

[guiguilandry]

start by the fuel filter and maybe you'll need a good tune-up... if really everything has 160 000miles it won't hurt to replace the spark plugs too

[Ryan from Ohio]

The fuel filter and pump have that.

The plugs/wires/filter/pvc has some miles on them, like 40K or less.

[Afugy]

The passive security system can do that too, even if you're not having any trouble starting the car. Are you having any miss fires? Have you checked fuel pressure?

[Ryan from Ohio]

No misfires I know of. No dumby lights either... (rofl, dumby!)

I have a surge, say about 1/2 a tick mark on the tach under load and a slow acceleration.

[jabartram]

Your fuel filter has 156000 miles on it? holy shit, i change mine every other oil change.

[Ryan from Ohio]

* yes Ive never replaced it. I thought about it some time ago... Im just scared Im going to twist something off and be F'ed.

[zzyzzx]

The fuel filter and pump have that.

I do not understand what you mean by this.

Anyway, I'd be checking for vacuum leaks and testing the fuel pressure, among other things.

[Ryan from Ohio]

The fuel filter and pump are originals as far as I can tell and have 156K miles on them.

I have done a basic tune up before. So the plugs, wires, etc. have been replaced.

[lonnie]

Process of elimination: Start with the fuel filter...got to be the least expensive and easiest to replace I assume.

[Lucalare]

fuel filter isn't hard, if i remember correctly, it's right behind the rear suspension arms, easily accessible, and all that holds it on is two hose clamps, and you just need a pliers to take those off. be careful though as a little gas is going to come out when you take the filter off, so make sure you let the car sit awhile before doing it, because the less pressure in the line the better.

[Ryan from Ohio]

^I intend on releasing pressure on the fuel rail.

[Lucalare]

that oughta do 'er

[broken__one]

not hose clamps. one side has nut and flange fitting 17mm if i remember, the other side is a quick release coupler. even with the pressure relieved you will still get fuel from the lines, but it's not too bad. takes ten min max to change.

[TheThickster]

my alero was doint the same thing, i swapped out the map sensor and the problem seems to have gone away.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Jacked the car up.

:lol:

Its going to the shop tomorrow. Its crusted and rusted up. Couldnt get a wrench positioned right. So I stopped while I was ahead...

[clutch1]

Lol!! Let someone else deal with it.

[cherrington17]

thats exactly what i did. I got the filter, jacked the car up... found it.

took the jacks out and drove to a place. :lol:

didn't even touch it. I think it was $18 for the install...

[Ryan from Ohio]

Lol!! Let someone else deal with it.

My thoughts exactly man!

If I screw that solid line up Im F'ed big time.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Got it back from the shop. $35 to change it. It was a PITA I was told.

They told me the fuel filter was so clogged that the pump was working extra hard to supply fuel. Explains the air in the line, etc. He said the fuel pump may still go out...

Car ran like a top home. No surge, just perfection. Which is good. Im about to do a 5 hour road trip here to Massilon Ohio... In an hour and a half.

[Malibu369258]

Glad it was something simple. I always let the shops replace the fuel filter, its only $30 installed around here, and less of a PITA for me to deal with lol...

[Ryan from Ohio]

I swear...

The car stalled out on me 6 times in a row. Only way to keep it going is to keep the peddle down.

I went onto Rock Auto to pick up the pump... I see those pricks jacked their prices up $50 on the pump...

Might as well buy it locally then.

[zzyzzx]

Have you tried Amazon.com? I wouldn't use their parts finder, but if you already have a make and model number, search for that.

For my Escort, an 02 sensor (Bosch 15716) shipped from Rockauto is $38.45 vs $34.45 from Amazon (also shipped).

[Ryan from Ohio]

Eh its fine now...

I dont know what the hell is going on.

All I know is the fuel pumps about $200 plus labor to install.

The rear struts are another $250 (I can install these)

Then tires all the way around, $400

$850 into a $2,000 car.

I think my Alero is at the end of its useful life.

[paradigm9]

my car started to stall on me today, it just died on me coming home and then it would start but die almost immediately, found two loose bolts on the iac and replaced map sensor and so far so good

[zzyzzx]

$850 into a $2,000 car.

I think my Alero is at the end of its useful life.


Is this somehow more expensive than a new car? I once spent $4000 on a 7 year old Escort. That was for a Jasper engine (installed) about 8 years ago. More than 120,000 miles later, I still drive the car. Definately worth it.

[Ryan from Ohio]

I forgot to add in $2-300 labor on the fuel pump.

Im not even 100% sure on the fuel pump. Thats why I havent pursued it much.

It did this one time now since the fuel filter was replaced. Havent had an issue since.

Putting about 50% of the cars vaule back into it at this point is dumb in my opinion. Sure spending $4K on another car is more expensive in the short picture- but looking at a car with under 80K on it for $4K VS. $1,200 into a car with 160K on it... with more problem coming... makes the decision fairly easy. Also I just put $400 into front struts, new front rotors/pads... So Ive been dumping money into it and it has to stop.

Im going to fix my strut mount myself- skip the rear struts.