Ran out of gas... Or did I?

tomamafone · 10-12-2010, 02:22 PM

So I was running around doing the errands yesterday and I hop in the car and she has a little trouble starting. i think hmm and crank it again and it starts, runs a bit rough but responds when i rev her so i take off and get around the middle of the street and she pops a bit and dies. I try to crank her a few times and it feels like she's trying to start but isn't quite making it.

After pushing her to the side i try again and she fires up, i rev her, let the revs fall and as soon as she gets to 2000 she dies again. I call AAAthinking i ran out of fuel, get some gas, no improvement. He put in 4 gal. I get it to fire one more time, i rev it up and watch carefully. above 2000 she's fine. as soon as she drops below 2000 though, she starts running rough and around 800 or so she's only running on one cylinder.

so did i run out of gas and bugger the fuel filter/ injectors?

or did a vacuum line wiggle loose?

What do you think? very strange behavior. almost feels like weird timing but its a newer timing belt and i know it'd be more catastrophic than that. I've wiggled every vac line i can see and nothing seems to be missing or loose. Please help!

Thanks, Tommy
1988 944 N/A

smokin_944 · smokin_944's Garage

Were you almost out of gas? Sounds like a fuel delivery problem or ignition problem. Mebbe a bad plug wire, a disconnected plug wire...

tomamafone · 10-12-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokin_944

Were you almost out of gas? Sounds like a fuel delivery problem or ignition problem. Mebbe a bad plug wire, a disconnected plug wire...

I was low but i didnt think i was out. the needle was at the top of the red E line. my car usually will read past the bottom of the E line. And first thing i did was grab the distributor cap and wiggle, no play there, and no play on the plug wires.

Slam · 10-12-2010, 04:21 PM

Pump sucked some junk out of the tank? Filter gunked up? Some junk that got sucked up made it to the injectors?

tomamafone · 10-12-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slam

Pump sucked some junk out of the tank? Filter gunked up? Some junk that got sucked up made it to the injectors?

Thats what i was thinking but would that really follow with the working above 2000 thing? would it do that?

Slam · 10-12-2010, 06:10 PM

Good question. Maybe injector on-time at higher revs allows enough fuel to flow to keep the engine running. Just a shot in the dark, really.

Grandad#3 · 07:47 PM

Hello, Have you checked the Idle Control Motor and the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) ?

Idle Control Motor Replacement

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/fuel-06.htm

Cheers,
Larry

tomamafone · 10-12-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandad#3

Hello, Have you checked the Idle Control Motor and the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) ?

Idle Control Motor Replacement

Throttle Position Switch - Information, Troubleshooting, Replacement, and Adjustment

Cheers,
Larry

I havent! I'll check those in the morning, thank you!

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Take the cap off and check the rotor! Dont just look at it, pull on the rotor!

Born2bwild1191 · 10-13-2010, 05:43 AM

Same thing happened to me, it was my fuel pressure regulator.....Try unplugging one of the injectors and see if it starts....If it does, it very well could be your FPR.

tomamafone · 10-13-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born2bwild1191

Same thing happened to me, it was my fuel pressure regulator.....Try unplugging one of the injectors and see if it starts....If it does, it very well could be your FPR.

Well folks, i tried all of those things this morning to no avail. Had it towed to the nearest p-shop I'll let you know what happens.

LSA · 10-13-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandad#3

Hello, Have you checked the Idle Control Motor and the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) ?

Idle Control Motor Replacement

Throttle Position Switch - Information, Troubleshooting, Replacement, and Adjustment

Cheers,
Larry

+1 You're problem sounds very similar to what happened to my 87 S. I would let it sit after driving it then an hour or so later coming back from class trying to start it warm it would not idle by itself. I could hold the idle with the gas pedal but as soon as I let go it would get rough and just die. It would cold start fine but warm starting forget it the ISV was just done.