Battery light

[sacha33]

While driving my gas light came on followed by the battery light. The odometer lights then started flickering. When I turned the car off and tried to turn it back on it was totally dead with no lights or other signs of life. About 15 minutes later it started like nothing had happened. I put gas in it and drove with no further problems. Was this caused by dirt being sucked up and clogging the gas jets? Should I expect further problems? I was originally thinking I had a short. Thanks for your help.

[CREWZIN]

Dirt being sucked up and clogging the (gas jets?) fuel injectors would not cause the completely dead symptom that you had. To tell the truth, I'm not sure why that happened, hopefully somebody can advise you on that. What I will tell you is that driving till the gas light comes on is one of the worst things you can do. Not only can bottom of the tank dirt be sucked up into the fuel line and clog the injectors but the fuel pump itself is located down at the bottom of the fuel tank. The pump is cooled by the gas surrounding it and when you run the tank low the pump is no longer being cooled. Your talking hundreds of dollars in labor and parts to replace the fuel pump. Word to the wise; don't go below 1/4 tank of fuel.

[bobs turbo pt]

my wifes pt dash lights went out and had no gauges at all the dealership repalced some modular thing and all was ok

[fritz_t_coyote]

This sounds like your computer had a stroke.

Get it to a mechanic who can do diagnostics. You might have to go to the (shudder) dealer, if so, make sure they understand you want diagnostics, not a 'Replace Parts at Random until I go Broke'.

As for the Fuel Pump Issue:
Fuel pumps are damaged when they either start sucking air (very empty tank) or cant suck anything (intake plugged up with tank grunge). The overheating is the least of it, as the excess wear due to the mechanical stress of these situations will damage any fuel pump, even the old-fashioned mechanicals that were bolted to the side of engine blocks (which get pretty darn hot).

[bobs turbo pt]

"old-fashioned mechanicals " and were alot easier to fix than the gas tank mounted ones !!

[sacha33]

I took the car in to be checked and everything seemed fine. He did tighten a couple of loose ground wires and cleaned and tightened the battery terminals. I guess I will have to wait and see if it happens again. If my timing belt goes is this an interference engine or not? What I wonder is will this cause bent value stems etc.

[quicksilverdon]

quote:Originally posted by sacha33

If my timing belt goes is this an interference engine or not? What I wonder is will this cause bent value stems etc.

Depends. The piston won't hit the valves, but the valves can hit each other. Some folks have lost a timing belt and only had to replace the belt, a few have had valve damage.