[irdaryl]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum... and I've spent the better part of two days reading this thing for what my problem might be. I'm starting to lean towards my fuel pump going out.

A little background....
I had recently taken my 2008 Passion on a cross country road trip and back and in doing so had to get some really crappy gas one night being in the desert and no other option for many many miles. (Making me think the drain was clogged with sediment or *gulp* water had gotten in.) The car hs 35,000 miles on it and at 30,000 I had my maintenance done and just recently had the breaks replaced.... I've taken good care of the car.... (and since this trip have had three tanks of gas.)


But yesterday after reading a post from one of the posters on here about the fuel pump shutting off before it runs dry it made me think perhaps the fuel pump shut off... (I had let the gas get down to 0.2) I go out to the car turn on the electrical and I can't hear the pump.... (dunno if I would be able to hear it in the first place.) BUt the car will turn over and just not catch.

I had just filled up my car with gas, started it (It did start)... put it in drive and the car died. I put the car back in park... tried to start it again and from then on it wouldn't start, just turn over....

I have tried:
1. Jumping the car off.
2. Letting the car sit (in case of flooding)
3. Checking the Alternator to make sure it didn't seize.
4. Sacrificing a goat.
5. Posting on this forum for an answer.

And since my Smart Center has shut down at Universal I would have to have this thing towed all the way to Beverly Hills... so I was toying around with it trying to see if I could figure it out.... any suggestions would be great! Any pictures would be super.... Let me know!

 

[rfernatt]

Hmmm.... You may have already checked these basics, but just to be sure, make sure you have air, spark, fuel, and clear exhaust:

1. Make sure there are no obstructions to the air filter or external air intake.

2. Make sure the spark plug wires look good and everything is tight.

3. Sounds like you know there is fuel in the tank, but water or debris could still cause problems.

4. Make sure the exhaust is clear and the neighborhood kids haven't been having fun with your tailpipe.

Are there any warning lights on? If you have Scangauge or similar OBD code reader, see if any codes are being thrown.

A visual inspection underneath and in the engine compartment for leaks, cut/loose wires, etc. might also be in order.

Hope you can figure it out without having to tow...

 

[fastturb]

you could buy a can of starting fluid. squirt directly in throttle body or in via air filter housing. if it starts and runs with starting fluid, then problem is with fuel or fuel delivery

 

[Dunerunner]

Anyone know what happens to the fuel injection rack, if there is one, when the tank is run dry? Could it get vapor or air locked?

 

[Pee-wee Germa]

Car can go a couple of miles past 0.0. I know it's there somewhere , but I can't find where I read our fuel pumps will emergency shut off before any fuel starvation occurs.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f130/how-far-past-0-0-can-you-go-31735/

 

[irdaryl]

The site won't let me post a link yet, but t's under, "Faulty Fuel Pumps." Old Smart.....

"The service tech at my smart center said that the fuel pump will be turned off before running dry."


And I'd be more then happy to spray starting fluid in the throttle body or air filter housing if I knew exactly what I was doing... any chance for a step by step of how to accomplish this, maybe even some pictures or a diagram?

 

[Flogler]

Watch how much you spray in as a little squirt goes along way.

 

[Flogler]

You could actually spray it in from outside the car right at the intake on the left hand side (drivers side) at what looks like a vent. Get in and try and start as soon as you spray it in. No more than 5 seconds of spraying. This stuff will lock up a diesel engine if to much is used. It is very explosive. It may knock a little if it starts up but that should go away within a few seconds.