Weird Noise=Hesitation=Few Days Later Will Not Start??

overplayed · #1 (**permalink**) 02-13-07, 05:32 AM

I warm my car up every morning for defrosting and comfort. Last week
when went out to get in my car to leave after warming it up for 5 min,
I heard this high pitched whining noise coming from the rear of the
car. I am assuming that it was the fuel pump because even though it
was idling fine, when I went to take off the car hesitated and the
check engine light blinked (check engine light is on for O2 sensor).
I slowly got up to highway speed and after 5 min it was running ok.
When I got to work there was no more noise and it drove home with no
issues. That morning it was 25 degrees and I had less than 1/8 tank of
gas. Tha car ran fine over the weekend but when I when to start it
Monday morning it would not fire at all. It was also 25 degrees
Monday morning. When I went home Monday the car started right up with
a outside temp of 45. This morning it is only 38 degrees and the car
started right up. Any ideas?

Jeff

Budman8Fan · #2 (**permalink**) 02-13-07, 05:23 PM

Water in the gas? a botttle of Heet maybe.

overplayed · #3 (**permalink**) 02-14-07, 05:31 AM

The day I had the problem with the noise and hesitation, I put in 10 gal of gas and some STP gas treatment.

AwfulSmokey · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-07, 09:33 AM

STP gas treatment isn't the same as Heet. Heet removes water.

overplayed · #5 (**permalink**) 02-15-07, 06:44 PM

Today was the first day that is was cold in the morning (19 degrees)
since Monday when my car wouldn't start. The car started up and ran
fine for a few miles then just died. I thought it had cut off but
when I pulled over, it was still idling. It idled ok but did not
want to take off. I was also down to 1/4 tank of gas. I finally
got going and made it to work. This afternoon it ran fine and I
filled it up with gas and some more gas treatment (Prestone). I couldn't find Heat at Auto Zone, where can you get it or what else could I try?

frank moran · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-07, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overplayed

Today was the first day that is was cold in the morning (19 degrees)
since Monday when my car wouldn't start. The car started up and ran
fine for a few miles then just died. I thought it had cut off but
when I pulled over, it was still idling. It idled ok but did not
want to take off. I was also down to 1/4 tank of gas. I finally
got going and made it to work. This afternoon it ran fine and I
filled it up with gas and some more gas treatment (Prestone). I couldn't find Heat at Auto Zone, where can you get it or what else could I try?

possible fuel pump on its last legs??? or how about the fuel filter,how many miles on these items?

Marks DTM Calib · #7 (**permalink**) 02-16-07, 02:32 AM

Fuel filter every 10K miles in my book (service advice says 20K miles).....I worked on a 2.5V6 (we have many more engines to choose from over here) which had 60K miles on it......it would not rev past 4000rpm....the fuel filter was original and it was simply limiting fuel to the engine, new filter and the 7000rpm red line was easily found again.

overplayed · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-07, 04:14 PM

New fuel filter and a washing and the car seems to run a little smoother, but a clean car alway drives better. It was weird when I firts started the car after installing the filter. It idled much higher than normal, around 2400rpms, for about 15 20 seconds and then it went back to normal and seemed fine after that. Hopfully that was the problem, time will tell.

Thanks Jeff