93 lumina Z34 not running right after running low on gas

[93luminaz34]

Need help ! Last Saturday coming home from working my lumina was low on gas. I past a gas station but was heading to one a few miles away where the prices were lower. After just passing the gas station my lumina hesitated and I thought running out of gas so I turned around and headed back to the station I just passed. Put in a half tank and started it and when I wanted to pulled out now the car is hesitating very bad and does not want to go. Pulled over looked at it and decided to try and make it home. I had to keep going on and off the gas pedal to get it to go.Everytime I get on the gas it bogs out and wanted to stall. Made it home. Next day go out and try to start it. Would turn over but wouldn't start right away. Finally I get It started but stalls right away. After a few times of starting it and staying on the gas on and off to warm it up at a higher rpm it stays running at a low idle but when I go to give it gas it bogs out like if its not getting enough gas. My thoughts is from running the fuel low my fuel filter clogged up from picking up dirt from the bottom of the tank and is not giving enough fuel pressure. Any input is appreciated.

[richtazz]

If you run the car low on gas a lot, the fuel pump is probably shot. Fuel helps cool the pump motor, and they will overheat if run on or near empty often. The pump always picks up the fuel from the bottom of the tank, so the dirt issue is a misconception. Running a car low on gas will not make it pick up junk from the tank, but can cause the upper part of the tank to rust and fall to the bottom. Get a fuel pressure guage and check the pressur at the rail. Your symptoms are classic low fuel pressure (fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator failure).

[stangbuster]

YEs he is right, your fuel pump is most likely shot. How many miles on the fuel pump? I changed mine at 145,000 in my 93 s10 blazer.
This was only after my girlfriend started driving it. I noticed she was always running it on E, and I told her what was going to happen, but since girls are always right, she didnt listen. Then she broke down 50 miles from home, and when she called me I said "told ya". Then I had to pay for towing and repair. Needless to say I was not happy...

[jeffcoslacker]

Sometimes when you run them to the bottom, the pump pulls all the sediment off the bottom into the intake screen on the pump and restricts flow. You can replace the screen and it'll be fine sometimes, but you might as well put a pump in while you're in there...

[Daghara_terry]

change spark plugs and wires and check fuel filter

[richtazz]

Jeff, if there's sediment at the bottom of the tank, it will always draw it in, (as the pump always draws from the bottom), regardless of fuel level. Running the tank low all the time speeds the formation of sediment by exposing more of the tank surface to air and condensation creating rust, but doesn't have any effect on whether existing sediment is drawn in or not.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Jeff, if there's sediment at the bottom of the tank, it will always draw it in, (as the pump always draws from the bottom), regardless of fuel level. Running the tank low all the time speeds the formation of sediment by exposing more of the tank surface to air and condensation creating rust, but doesn't have any effect on whether existing sediment is drawn in or not.

I'll buy that...but regardless of the cause, I've pulled quite a few loaded up socks outta tanks that had just been run empty, and were now causing problems...I've even solved it temporarily without major surgery by blowing compressed air back through the fuel line, expanding the sock and blowing the crud off of it...

[stgninja]

Originally Posted by stangbuster

YEs he is right, your fuel pump is most likely shot. How many miles on the fuel pump? I changed mine at 145,000 in my 93 s10 blazer.
This was only after my girlfriend started driving it. I noticed she was always running it on E, and I told her what was going to happen, but since girls are always right, she didnt listen. Then she broke down 50 miles from home, and when she called me I said "told ya". Then I had to pay for towing and repair. Needless to say I was not happy...

Bet you had to pay in other ways for the "told ya"