i gave her my best

[cruizinla]

so he is the deal, I garaged my 2004 pt around late august of this year, recently I decided to fire her up, she wouldn't start, dead battery. She was very low on gas when she was garaged, and left at 83k with out a tune up for dealer schedule time. Also around 2k over driven oil change. How ever she drove in without any probs.

So I gave her an oil change, a new battery, 1 gallon of gas, just finished tuneup(gap @ .04), air filter. Here is what happened:

Inside:

YouTube - DSCN1349

(notice how she ALMOST fires up at :04 seconds?) Hmm?

I will be going to my nearest auto store to the OBD reader and check with the codes, but any suggestions are welcomed.

Sincerely,

cruizinLA

[Ironman]

First off, shame on you for not changing the oil. Now that that's out of the way, if you didn't change your oil, do it now, then hold the key on run for, say, 30 seconds to let your fuel pump get your engine, then try to start the car, if it doesn't start, grab the codes if there are any (I believe the "how to" as well as what the codes mean are in a stickey on the forum) then you can take it from there.

[cruizinla]

I've read some where that leaving your nearly-out-of-gas-car unattended for some time could cause damage to the fuel pump, could this be true?

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by cruizinla

I've read some where that leaving your nearly-out-of-gas-car unattended for some time could cause damage to the fuel pump, could this be true?

Almost got it right. The fuel pump which is inside the gas tank is cooled and lubricated by the gasoline itself inside the tank. Running the tank down low in the first place isn't good for the pump but letting it sit unattended won't hurt if you drive it to the nearest gas station as soon as you start to drive again.

[cruizinla]

thanks to all that participated, you guys have been great!

[Jered]

So did you get her going?

I was going to say that not only would you need to prime your fuel system...

The chances of having gummed up worthless fuel getting to the engine is a real possibility...

You should use fuel stabilizer anytime you let an engine sit for any extended amount of time...

Once the fuel goes bad, it's best to drain it... However on a car, hopefully you can get enough good gas in it to make it start and run the bad stuff out... I'm not sure what out there on the market would assist for a fuel additive if you were to go that route...

I just bought my vert', and it's been at the dealer since July! EEK, but she runs great! So I'm guessing she got a daily start and the 200 miles on it since the oil change they did, shows it got a few test drives!

[cruizinla]

yes! I did! I dropped a gallon of 92 octane, than let her 'click' on the ignition for about 30 seconds.. or pump the fuel to the engine.. didnt work.. than later when I bought the OBD reader, I started to mess with it.. it gave me no codes, so I figured I would try her again.. and as you know it, she fired right up.. how ever her first few starts were very sketchy, she would almost 'run out of breath' (shake). I took her to gas station and had her filled up, pumped the tires, took her out for a quick run and some, and she is good and happy, starts up quick and runs quick.. it might have been the fuel.. or what was left of it.. and I must have possibly dissolved it with that 92 octane, not sure.. but I really appreciate your suggestion Jered.. once again, this forum rocks!

[SRG]

STP fuel injector cleaner might help some....

srg