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Engine begins to sputter and stalls at stops when at half tank of gas
Topic Started: May 15 2013, 08:56 PM (2,078 Views)
CarpeDM
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Hello. I am both new to the forum and am now the owner of a 1990 Geo Metro hatchback. I have recently discovered that my Geo has been stalling when I come to a stop or begins to sputter approaching a stall when driving at highway speed only when my fuel gauge reads approximately 1/2 tank or less. Topping off the tank seems to resolve the issue nicely until I approach the 1/2 tank mark again and I fear the vehicle will shut down. I can hear the fuel pump engaging when I turn the key to ACC and it does not sound unusual. I have also changed the fuel filter and have run Sea Foam (something I spotted in the forums) through with my last two fill ups. Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas on how I might isolate the problem? Any and all advice is most appreciated.

Most Respectfully submitted,

Stephen 'CarpeDM'
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allmountain40
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You my friend have a rusty tank courtesy of Ethanol. Had this issue in my GTi. Above half a tank, I was good to go, half tank or below, if I stepped on the gas she would die. It has to do with the way the tank is baffeled. The fuel pump and pick-up are surrounded by a sheet metal loop. There is a small hole at the rear driverside corner of this loop that lets fuel past the baffel. Naturally this small opening gets a little rusty and it seems that once you are below half a tank, there is not enough pressure from the weight of fuel in tank to push the gas into the fuel pump. Sounds kinda unbelievable, but That is what I found when I had the exact same problem. Tried to clean my tank out, but kept happenning. Put a new clean tank in and problem solved (yes I used the same pump).
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Aaron_37
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Have you pulled the fuel pump and taken a look yet at what's going on in there? Good call on the Seafoam and fuel filter... but getting it back to the route of the problem is a good call. Wondering what your strainer is looking like right now. The insides of the tank also...
Edited by Aaron_37, May 15 2013, 09:03 PM.
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CarpeDM
Fresh Fish
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Thank you for the very quick and insightful answers. Sounds like dropping the tank is definitely in order to get to the root of this issue. Thanks allmountain40 and Aaron_37 for your helpful guidance.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

Welcome to your new forum, CarpeDM! :coffee

Here's a DIY on changing a '95+ fuel pump by Manny that might help. http://geometroforum.com/topic/1513235/1/
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allmountain40
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Welcome aboard :thumb
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cwatkin


Test your fuel pressure up by the throttle body. If it is marginal, maybe there isn't enough weight or "head" above the pump to assist with fuel flow. The suggestions about the filter are also good ones. This is definitely a fuel related problem. Something in the fuel pickup area may also be damaged. I had a Ford like this and replaced the pump. Although the pump was quite old, it still worked and I the little rubber hose to the pickup had a hole and wouldn't work below a certain level. I have never been inside my gas tank so I am not sure how that part looks.

Conor
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rmcelwee
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I have the same problem when I hit around 350 miles (should be about 3.5 gals left in tank). It has been bugging me to the point that I am going to drop the tank and fix it after 100 more miles of driving (need to get the fuel tank low so there are less headaches). My guess is that there is 3.5 gallons of dirt sitting in the bottom of the tank but we will see. I'll post pics and such on my website when I am done.
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