95 Neon hard starts

[sharkmonkey]

I have some kind of fuel pressure problem.

When I have a full tank of gas, I can crank the car and it will start in 2 to 3 seconds. It feels a little long for me but this is a 95 with 101,000 miles so I won't complain too much.

As the fuel tank gets emptier, the cranking takes longer and longer. Once when the tank got empty enough to turn on the fuel light, the car wouldn't start at all.

Any suggestions? I already ran one bottle of injector cleaner through it and am getting ready for my second.
Thanks,
MARK

[das2123]

Fuel filter or pump could be clogged or going bad on you.

[Wollf]

Do you get a lot of air hissing when you pull off your gas cap ? if you do have it replaced , its not letting the pressure in the tank release and your creating a vacuum in your tank , makeing it harder for an older pump to do its job

[FemaleRacer]

das and wolf are both getting at the same thing Have you regularly (with tune ups) used fuel celaner? If not at 100K+ miles on a neon-you're probably looking at a fuel filter going out. Try keeping the tank above the 1/2 full mark untill you replace the filter. I know-not the easiest job fix :0 This may buy you some time. And if you go to a mechanic to have the work done- youu might as well replace it. I know they offered to "clean out" my friends fuel system and filter. (which maybe a line they give just to get your money-lol) 5K miles later-it still went out. And she had to pay to replace it anyhow.

[sharkmonkey]

I have only owned this car for a couple of months so I'm still working out all the bugs. I don't remamber hearing a hiss opening the gas cap but I'll check today.

No tune ups have been done by me yet but I don't know about the previous owner. I did run one bottle of fuel cleaner through it so far. Everything on it looks original so it could be the original plugs and wires as well.

Thanks for the help, I'll let you know what I find.
MARK

[sharkmonkey]

Wow it's been a while but...

I'm not hearing a hiss when I pull the gas cap. I checked the plugs and they all look to be "newer". I changed the fuel filter as well. That was an easy job. It looks the the fuel pump would be a piece of cake too but I'm not ready to drop $190.

Could a fuel pressure regulator be the problem? I had an 86 Ford Ranger that needed the reg. changed once.
MARK

[sharkmonkey]

If I had a fuel pump problem, wouldn't that effect driving as well? I mean it takes a while to start but driving is fine. I even revved it up to 4800rpm in second gear tonight to see if it would sputter but it didn't. What else can I check?

[Wollf]

Originally Posted by sharkmonkey

If I had a fuel pump problem, wouldn't that effect driving as well? I mean it takes a while to start but driving is fine. I even revved it up to 4800rpm in second gear tonight to see if it would sputter but it didn't. What else can I check?

Does it act up driving up hills ? slugish ? that would usually indicate a bad pump. But to have it be harder to start depending on the level of the fuel in tank still leads me towards a back pressure issue , if there is a vacuum build up in the tank as you burn out more fuel the pump has to work harder and harder to get the fuel up to your injectors. Making the car harder and harder to start , when you checked by pulling off the cap was it with the car running and after you had been driving it for a while ? If your not sure try even taking your cap right off for a while and see if it makes a diff starting when you are low on gas.

[sharkmonkey]

I pulled the cap off the next day after the car was sitting for 10 hours or so. I'll try it with the car running tonight. I just filled it up yesterday so I might have to wait until the fuel gets lower.

PS
Being a partsman, can you get parts for a 73-77 Buick Regal?

[Wollf]

depends on the parts you are after but that cars not that old i can usually supply something

[sharkmonkey]

Cool, this should be a new thread but...
I've been trying to get a tan colored dash. It's the piece that holds the gauges and radio, etc. Someone cut the radio out of mine and left me with a big hole.

Here's my current dash. You can see I fabbed a piece of brown plastic to hold my radio in.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i7...l/IMG_2052.jpg

[scott_thomp79]

i started the same problem i change filter and pump (what a disaster)drivway of gas! lol im waiting for high flow injectors cause 2 are cracked.BUT the prob i think is in the comp.I accidently touch a screw driver to the comp while disconnecting the battery and sparks....I bought an OB2 to find any problems
and it all ERROR on the screen.Now i left with the 3-5 sec delay and ill know after a new comp?(hopefully)