This started after I added some STP Fuel Injector cleaner, if I get somewhere near around a quarter tank of gas it will start sputtering at idle and from the back you can hear the exhuast going *PUFF PUFF... PUFFPUFFPUFF PUF* and I have a stock muffler and thats the first time I ever heard sound coming out of it lol. It also hesitates in every gear around 1k-3k rpm's. But if I fill up to a half tank or so, and drive around for a few mins it will stop. I am a little too worried about running my tank down to E because I don't know how bad the sputtering will be when I get to the bottom of the tank. Is this normal? Should I just go out and run my tank down untill my gas light comes on?

 

try the basics- fuel filter, spark plugs

 

Sparkplugs were replaced about 300miles ago at my local shop, where is the fuel filter located? Could it be that the fuel injector cleaner just took all the junk in my fuel lines into my fuel filter?

 

do u have a 5th gen? if you do its under the rear seats connected to the fuel pump. real easy to get to and change out. do you have a helms manual?

 

I have a 4th gen and unfortunately I don't have a helms manual.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GraphiteMW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 4th gen and unfortunately I don't have a helms manual.</TD></TR></TABLE>

either way im pretty sure its in the same location.

 

I found a shop manual that I downloaded last year, well anyways.. What else could it be. I doubt its gonna be the fuel filter if it ONLY happens when I get around a quarter tank.. Whenever I fill up it runs just fine.

 

Just filled up to a half tank and after a few miles of driving its back to normal.. Hmm?

 

bad gas?

the fuel filter on the 4th gen is under the hood on the pass side isnt it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by budget &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do u have a 5th gen? if you do its under the rear seats connected to the fuel pump. real easy to get to and change out. do you have a helms manual?</TD></TR></TABLE>

what are you referring to? the fuel filter is not right there.

 

Figured out where the fuel filter is, Gonna replace it this weekend if this problem continues whenever I reach low on gas. I am guessing something is lurking at the bottom of my gas tank. Should I just get my gas tank drained at a shop?

 

you havent removed the fuel pump have you? I've seen them installed with the bag upside down and they wont pickup fuel under like a 1/4 tank

 

I doubt it was installed upside down, this never happened before and I've runned my tank down to the last gallon with the gas light on.. This just started happening last week.

 

Should I get my gas tank and fuel lines drained at the shop? I am thinking something is definitely at the bottom of my tank. I am back to a quarter tank and it does it agian.

 

switched out my fuel filter and it didn't do a damn thing! besides I did get better throttle response. It still idles horrible as in dropping from 600 to dangerously low rpm's where it feels like its gonna stall because the car starts to shake and it still has hesistation under 3k rpm's. Like if I acceleration I feel something is holding the car back from accelerating then when I get past that barrier the car will kick in and accelerate normal after 3k or so rpm's.

Any more suggestions? My friend suggested that my timing might be retarded.

 

Pulled out my plugs this morning, 3 of them looked okay but the ones that were okay/not worn had I think its gas covered all over and and brown liquids (not oil) and one of my plugs were just rusted beyond belief. Hopefully it was just my plugs... I do have NGK plugs and wires coming in today :D!