didnt want to have to post in here, but i guess i have too...
a while back my car had a couple "episodes" where it had a hard time starting after a real short trip. back of parking lot to front of store, store to gas station... i thought it might be low on gas (gauge hasnt worked for a while) hence the trip to the gas station. after that day its been doing much better... until today. i get home 10min drive. park my car in the drive way to make a grocery list and head right back out. ...car doesnt start. lights workin just fine, just had batt and alt tested and they said everything was ok. i typically go about 200 miles then fill up. today i was at 180 some miles. had a little gas in the can for the mower and put that in and it finally started after i slammed the pedal down. the driveway is on a SLIGHT incline, but not much at all... thought maybe if its low on gas, the incline could be causing the gas to be too far away from the pump????
get to gas station and fill up (didnt even shut off car afraid it wouldnt start).. go to grocery store and once done and loaded, it doesnt want to start again.. tried a second time, this time pushing pedal all the way down and it barely started up... even sounded like it was about to die.
car is a 99 sunfire with 137,000 odd miles.... orig fuel pump as far as i know. (bought the car with 36k miles) could it be the fuel pump? if so, how hard and how long does would it take to change the pump and is there anything else there that should be changed as well? if theres a "how to" on this, a link would suffice... no smart ass comments are needed, but i know this is JBO and usually expect more useless comments than helpful ones.... hahahha
any ideas/ways to prove/dissprove said ideas are greatly appreciated!!
...anyone on details of changing the pump??
well i have a 99 cav and its not overly complicated... its all one in-tank assembly... and fairly expensive unfortunately... But you can shop around or even pull one out of a junker if your strapped for cash... You can probably find one for around 200-250 new...
Havent actually changed mine yet but it seems as simple as dropping the tank and pulling it out... haynes manual has full instructions..
unfortunately I will be changing mine as well. Mine is a 94 Sunbird 2.0 My car usually started faster than you can let off the key. All of a sudden it became hard to start. I replaced the Crank Position Sensor because it was throwing that code. PITA!!! Wires go behind the timing cover. Anyway no help there. Still starts but takes lots of cranking. Eventually my 3 yr old wal-mart battery died. So I bought another one figure 3 years aint bad. Went home car started right up! YAY! next morning same problem crank crank crank.Starts with a boost tho. (pause for December Christmas and wife's B Day on the 31st money). Now I pulled the alternator and starter took them to a rebuild shop. Alternator diode checks fine, starter front bearing worn out. $20.00 for getting original starter rebuilt. YAY! go home install them. Reconnect battery turn key on and no fuel pump pre pressure noise. Check fuse....good. Crank crank crank. No YAY
My Chiltons basically says siphon out as much fuel as possible, disconnect filler neck hoses, unplug fuel pump, disconnect filter hose, unbolt 2 straps holding tank up. lower tank and remove pump.
what do you think about it being a bad/old fuel filter? could that cause similar symptoms? if so, how hard is it to get to and change?? write up? pics? thanks!
^^^
what he said.. in a nutshell... and you'll have to deal with the fuel lines and quick connects i assume.. which are not usually fun unless brand new...
