Car won't start fuel problem - Page 3

**Ranger** · #31 (**permalink**) 08-22-09, 05:26 PM

I don't think the Eldo's got them as they where slated to be discontinued.

SRT80953 · #32 (**permalink**) 08-22-09, 05:55 PM

I was hoping for somebody to tell me it was under rear seat......that would be a lot easier than dropping the tank.
Thanks for the response Ranger.

N*Caddy · #33 (**permalink**) 08-22-09, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRT80953

I can not find access panel in trunk of 1999 Eldorado. I saw the pic posted by kckrantz and looked again. The pic is a STS and appears to be on right side just behind rear seat. Am I blind....
The car has been running fine after I put in 5 gallons of gas but knowing the fuel gage is not working properly I thought I should start planning to replace fuel pump in near future.

No Eldorado is the same base body as '97 and older Seville. You don't have the access panel in Eldorado, you have to drop the tank (mostly the driver's side of it) and watch the nylon lines they KINK like no tomorrow.

SRT80953 · #34 (**permalink**) 08-22-09, 07:40 PM

Murphy stopped by...as in Murphy's Law...the car has been running fine and so I went to pull it into the garage to start the project and it wont start.
I guess I put it off "1" too many days. I hate the thought of doing this on the driveway.

SRT80953 · #35 (**permalink**) 09-01-09, 09:42 PM

Is there any way to release the brake without starting the car?

zonie77 · #36 (**permalink**) 09-02-09, 12:22 AM

There is a little manual release for the brake. It's hard to see, and it's right in with the brake mechanism...and be careful so you don't pinch your finger when it releases!

carnut · #37 (**permalink**) 09-02-09, 04:22 PM

Look at the foot brake, its to the right of the pedal. A small black lever. Be careful the pedal doesnt hit your hand!

SRT80953 · #38 (**permalink**) 09-12-09, 01:42 PM

Thanks for the responses. I found it, yellow release handle.
I asked a friend to come over and help winch car in garage with his 4x4.
He had a trick he had learned from a friend. We put a cup of gas in a spray bottle and sprayed in intake.
Car started and I was able to drive up driveway. He did have to walk along and spray gas in but damn it worked nice.
Now for the fun part, dropping tank.
Mike

pajara2 · #39 (**permalink**) 09-16-09, 07:21 AM

Thanks for this great thread. My friend called yesterday that they had let their '97 STS run out of gas and now it won't start. Being their "mechanic friend" I get to go out tomorrow (well later today) and diagnose it and see what I can do. This thread gave me alot of great info. Will update how it goes. But thanks to everyone.

zonie77 · #40 (**permalink**) 09-16-09, 01:18 PM

I didn't see it mentioned in here. Harbor Freight has the gauge set for $15.00! Sometimes on sale for $10.

chp350 · #41 (**permalink**) 09-17-09, 04:00 AM

somebodys confused here

posted 01-11-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

I know the '99 has an access panel in the trunk. I believe it is in the right rear (standing behind and looking in). Not sure when they started this, but it was either '98 or '99 I believe.

maiahsdad · #42 (**permalink**) 09-20-09, 12:12 AM

Hello everyone. For those of you who have been following this thread for quite awhile, you may remember my fuel pump issues. I have finally gotten the fuel pump replaced, and the car is running fine now. Filled it up with Chevron's highest octane ($51.00), and off I went.

Well... I'm told by the auto shop that did the work, that the fuel-sending unit is automatically installed with the new pump. Prior, it didn't work properly (showing full when it's empty and moving back and forth while driving).

Well, it's been 2 days, and 153 miles driven, and the car is STILL showing full, and the information center says I have 410 miles to go till empty. And the shop says that if it's not right, it HAS to be the gauge.

Something's definitely wrong. And I DON'T want to run out of gas.

Any help?

the recluse · #43 (**permalink**) 09-20-09, 01:49 AM

Back up a month to when the car wouldn't start in the first place. I would bet a months pay it was the fuel filter all along. A plugged/clogged fuel filter costs $15.00, takes 15 minutes to replace, and has all the same symptoms of a bad pump. Those mechanics from that small town you just moved into probably saw you coming a mile away...

That said, from the access panel you should be able to test for voltage at the sending unit harness on the tank, from there you can test for voltage on the cluster panel to narrow it down to the gauge. Of course, you will need the wiring diagram colors to know what wires to test, unfortunately I do not have those available to me.

Electrical problems suck (unless you are N*Caddy, he gets off on them), but are generally cut and dry up to the computer....

maiahsdad · #44 (**permalink**) 09-20-09, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the recluse

Back up a month to when the car wouldn't start in the first place. I would bet a months pay it was the fuel filter all along. A plugged/clogged fuel filter costs $15.00, takes 15 minutes to replace, and has all the same symptoms of a bad pump.

They replaced the fuel filter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the recluse

Those mechanics from that small town you just moved into probably saw you coming a mile away...

I live in a suburb of the Indianapolis Metroplex. But I agree... they seemed to be confident that they needed to DROP the tank, and it's on my invoice. Total cost to me was $757.37 (including the $51 of Chevron they put in). The pump was $480 and the filter was $20. The rest was labor.

What I CAN'T understand, is how my fuel gauge was "inaccurate" when I got the car, NOT dysfunctional. It would show FULL when I filled the car, and seemed to vacillate all over the map after about a half a tank. And then it would be at 1/4 tank for ten miles, then 3/4 the next ten miles, etc. But is WASN'T STUCK on FULL. So, either this car has all of a sudden become VERY good on gas, or SOMETHING'S WRONG.

I don't have any of the instruments you've mentioned, and have NO CLUE on how to this. I was thinking someone could've put something on wrong if that's possible (like wiring the sending unit incorrectly, etc.).

the recluse · #45 (**permalink**) 09-20-09, 01:09 PM

There is a possibility that they put the wiring harness on backwards on the top of the tank, assuming it is the same 3 prong design of most GM models. Then it would send a constant hot to the read lead. I may be wrong on this though...

Other than that all you need is a voltmeter.