1/4 Tank - Hard Start

'99 Chrysler Town & Country 3.8
107,000 miles

My wife's van seems to have a hard time starting when the gas tank gets down to about a 1/4 of a tank. The other day, it wouldn't start at all, I grabbed our gas can and put a little in (like a gallon or so) and it fired right up. Took it and filled it up, didn't have a problem again until it got low. She wasn't happy with my suggested solution (don't let it get that low). So I thought I should look into it.

Certainly not a professional, but some thoughts come to mind:

Fuel Pump
Fuel Filter (why'd they put this on top of the tank????)
IAC Valve (not sure if that would cause this)

Testing the fuel pressure is of interest to me. Could someone link a good test gauge that won't make me sign over my check. Amazon has several ranging from $14 to $hundreds of dollars. I want a good one and not opposed to spending the money but don't want more than I need either.

Also, sharing thoughts as to why this condition would occur would be appreciated as well.

To ensure a speedy response, I'll mention that she is five months pregnant. Not sure what that has to do with anything, but she seems to bring it up wherever she goes and it appears to get things done quicker. :cool:

Call AutoZone or similar store and ask if they have a fuel pressure gauge you can sign out for a deposit? They may even check it for you. Can't see it being anything but a fuel pump but, others may have different experience. The filter is designed to last the life of the vehicle.

before you run all over, go to parts store and buy a couple of bottles of
water Out, DRY GAS, HEET, and drop contents in the fuel tank, I have had this problem in the past and it turned out to be condensation in the tank and that put water in the fuel. The additives will absorp the water, homogenize it and allow it to burn (also drys out the tank). If this works, it is a cheap fix.

i probably check fuel filter make sure it isnt clog with dirt rust excmight settle until get low then clogs still would add dry gas and fuel treatment recomend fuel injected buy dont carb and injected surge buy little more costly

True, we just bought this van and it seems to have been sitting awhile. Condensation in the tank would make some sense and a cheap first step.

After that, maybe run a bottle of Seafoam through it?

I have the same problem with mine but its when it is at 1/8 of tank or less. I use i can or seafoam engine treatment every oil change. I use the seafoam as a fuel treatment, not in the oil.

Just a thought, and maybe not pertinent, but I'll put it forward anyway. If nothing else, it may rule out a possibility.

This is a not uncommon problem with older, mid '80s, Ford trucks. The engine quits, hard, won't start, at 1/4 tank. The problem is with the pick-up tube inside the tank. Simply put, it rots and breaks off well above the bottom of the tank. In doing this, it starts sucking air when the tank is still 1/4 full. A no fuel to the engine situation, of course, means that the engine quits.

This little bit of knowledge may be transferrable.:2cents:

Just a thought, and maybe not pertinent, but I'll put it forward anyway. If nothing else, it may rule out a possibility.

This is a not uncommon problem with older, mid '80s, Ford trucks. The engine quits, hard, won't start, at 1/4 tank. The problem is with the pick-up tube inside the tank. Simply put, it rots and breaks off well above the bottom of the tank. In doing this, it starts sucking air when the tank is still 1/4 full. A no fuel to the engine situation, of course, means that the engine quits.

This little bit of knowledge may be transferrable.:2cents:


Your right I never thought about that, but i looked on my computer at work ( I work at Napa) and its a full plastic assembly. but that dont mean anything, it still might be the problem.