I've noticed that in the past few months my car has trouble starting when I'm low on fuel. This happens when I have ~1 gallon or less left in the tank (low fuel light is not on).

Generally it will crank for 5-10 seconds (I can hear it struggling), and then finally it will turn over with RPM's very low ... then finally come up to speed.

Today I happened to get stranded, and could not start my car at all
I drove ~25 miles on the highway, reached my destination, killed the motor, came back 20 seconds later, and the car would not start! Fuel was low, but again, no fuel light. I tried cranking it for 10-15 seconds, and it actually turned over for a few seconds, but then died being fuel starved.

After waiting 30 minutes for AAA to come by with a gallon of gas, the car started up just fine.

The tank was still pressurized when I took off the gas cap.

Is it possible that there's a problem with my fuel sensor, and I actually have less fuel than I think?

-a

 

up

 

how old is the car ?

did you check the fuse(s) and/or fuel light bulb?

if all of those are okay, it could be a stuck level inside the tank.

this happened me on Lancia Delta and I was stuck for-freakin'-ever thinking of what the problem was.

 

Car is a 2000. I know the light works (low-fuel light came on on my previous tank of gas on a road trip).

Someone suggested that my main relay might be bad, and to check for the sound of the fuel pump priming when I have low fuel.

Although to do that, means I have to conveniently be low fuel while I'm at a gas station, just in case. heh

-a

 

maybe check the the fuel filter. chances are that when u run the gas down too low, all the crud from the bottom of the gas tank gets sucked through the system and could have clogged something. or u just keep on running it dry. jsut look at it this way, keep it full. even though the gas prices are terrible, ur gonna have to put gas in it n e was so... do urself a favor

 

Just replaced it 2k miles ago.

I generally keep it full, but on road trips, I tend to get my full tank's worth

-a

 

i suppose its just the gas reader in the tank then. thats the only thing i can think of