Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

[sjtilney]

1995
3.4L
5 Speed

When ever my car starts to get low on gas (about a half tank) it starts to have trouble starting. I usually have to try starting it about three times before it starts. This issue is literaly non existant when I have a full tank, It will start right up on the first try regardless if its cold or if its the first time I had started it all day if the tank is full. I just replaced my fuel filter and still no change.

[Vanquish]

Re: Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

Do you hear your fuel pump come on right away?

When you have a full tank or near full tank of gas there is always gas in the tank, reserve, and lines. As it gets lower, there is a shortage in each so sometimes it may all be back in the tank and takes a moment to get to the injectors and fire up. I'm not saying that you need a new fuel pump, but it's likely that you will in the very near future.

Next time this happens, just prime your fuel lines by turning your key to the Acc and back off a few times before initially trying to turn it over. That should solver your problem of it not wanting to start on your first try for fire when getting low on gas.

[Jhonathan_W]

Re: Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

Maybe the fuel pressure regulator. I had this problem for years and didn't even know about it until I took it in for some maintenance.

[sjtilney]

Re: Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

Maybe the fuel pressure regulator. I had this problem for years and didn't even know about it until I took it in for some maintenance.

Is a fuel pressure regulator cheap and easy to replace on your own?

[Jhonathan_W]

Re: Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

I have no clue. I always take mine in to get serviced. I really can't remember what I paid either. My car was in the shop 5 times last year so all of the numbers just run together. They did tests that determined it was that. I had a 1/4 tank of gas and they ran all of it out during the tests. I could hear them reving the engine while I waited.

[Jhonathan_W]

Re: Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

When I got the car it never started on the first time unless I had it running within 1/2 an hour or so. It always took two cranks and it seemed like it didn't want to stay started sometimes. Well I got some misfires one day and for some reason I took it in and they found that problem too. After they installed a new one and ran the tests the car always starts the first time and is a lot faster than it used to be. By the way my car is a 99 3.8 auto.

[Earnhardt132000]

Re: Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

I have the same problem with my 3.8. It seems if I keep the key forward for about 5 seconds, and then try to start it, it will start. My dad seems to think it is the fuel pump, but it also could be the regulator. I always keep my tank above 1/2 tank so I rarely run into the problem.

[Jhonathan_W]

Re: Trouble Starting When Low on Gas

I let mine go awhile like that, but eventually caught up to me.