2000 ZX2 wont stalls and then will not start

[Bryan M]

My wife was driving her ZX2 and it lost power and stalled, I went to where she was and it started right up (about 10 min after it stalled). A week later it lost power again and stalled, This time I could not get it to start right away. I had tried moving the clutch around and still nothing. I pushed the gas all the way down and it slowly started up again. It would turning over with no problems nice and fast, but its just not starting the engine.
I got it home and the next morning it would not start, I put the gas to the floor and it slowly started.
I have changed the Serpentine belt and the alternator in the past 2 months, it gets reg oil changes just got it done before X-mas.

What could be wrong with it?

[mightymoose_22]

Sounds like a possible fuel flow problem. Has the fuel filter been changed recently? If not a filter issue, the pump may not be doing its thing.
When you turn the key on, and before cranking, you should hear the electric pump pressurize the fuel rail... hear anything?
If it gets down to it and you have to get into the fuel tank, it is surprisingly easy to access through the back seat. It's a pretty simple job to do yourself... just disconnect your battery and don't blow yourself up.

[Bryan M]

Is there any where on this site that would tell me how to change the filter?

[mightymoose_22]

It is quite simple... it is usually mounted on the firewall and about the size of a can of soup, or maybe even smaller. If you are unsure where it is, just follow the lines back from the fuel rails until they come to something somewhat as described. If still unsure, get the new filter first then search around the firewall area for it.
The filter is likely only held in with a simple screw or two, or maybe even just a couple plastic clips. Unscrew the clamp that secures the filter to the firewall, then remove the plastic clips the secure each hose.... then simply switch them out and put it all back together.

I expect you more likely have a fuel pump problem, but if the filter is due to be changed anyway... may as well go ahead and change it first just to check.

[Intuit]

FYI: Normally when you hold the accelerator pedal to the floor before cranking on a fuel-injected vehicle, it tells the computer to keep the fuel pump off. It's a "feature" designed to help clear a flooded engine.

When you say "lost power and stalled" do you mean it just stalled or that the vehicle lost acceleration power before stalling ? Does this only occur during acceleration, coming to a stop or does it matter at all ? When you say "tried moving the clutch around and still nothing" I assume you mean it was a crank but no start at that point or was it a no crank ? Is the vehicle overheating ? How do the spark plugs look ? Grey, black, scortched, white, over-gapped ? If it has been overheated might want to run a compression test. How many miles on it and when was the last time the timing belt was serviced... or does this vehicle have a chain ?

Could be a number of things but if it was a crank but no start after stall... but then started right up like a champ ten minutes later it could be something related to the fact that it got a chance to cool down... or sit long enough for the cylinders to clear. Might want to change that oil again after you figure out what it is. Could also have the oil tested for presence of coolant though. Could be something electronic like a module. No way to know for sure without further testing.