Help ASAP
 

Not really sure where to put this but I need help quickly. I have formation all week and go to ranger school in 7 days so really need to get this figured out before I go. Heres whats going on. Was driving car. Began to get clunky. Would accelerate but just barely. Sounded starved but I have a 3/4 tank. Finally died while driving.

No Codes are were thrown.
Checked radiator levels and all seems normal.
No rainbow reflection in coolant so dont think i blew a gasket.
Oil seemed low but I'm not convinced that would kill the engine while driving.
Battery is fine as all electrical systems work.
No leaks or liquids on ground.
Car will turn over sometimes, will start then die sometimes, or mixture of the 2. (see video)

Im really stumped on this one. I really need to get this fixed so any help would be great. Thanks a lot guys/gals.

Sounds like a bad fuel pump. Check your fuel pressure.

Yah, sounds a lot like you're out of gas. The level float can get hung up, or fuel gage malfunction showing more than you have in the tank.

Not that this is it but do you live in an area where there was flooding? I just saw a YouTube video of an STI from Texas where they had flooding and the gas station's tank got water get in it and mix with the gas. When the STI owner filled his car with their gas, he had the same symptoms that you're describing. His car would sputter and turn over occasionally but then die and he had a full tank. Again, I'm not saying it's it but your video sounds similar to his video. The Houston area Chevron station never checked the quality of the gas after the flooding apparently.

I would put 3 or 4 more gallons of gas just in case. Also try another code reader to see if the first code reader is malfunctioning.

id try more new gas with a bottle of techron for good measure

It's definately not water logged. Running to get some gas and some octane booster now to try that. The Z doesn't have a simple way to check fuel pressure does it? I need the adapter right?

Ok update. Put an extra quart of oil in it, topped off coolant, and put 2 gallons with booster in it. She started up and drive around the block. No issues, however I didn't romp on her. The fuel gauge reads 3/4 full tank though. Actually went up a little in assuming from the 2 gal. It's wierd cause I filled up last week and there's no way it should be empty. Is there a way to reset or very fuel level/ gauge accuracy?

If your tank vent/fuel vapor canister is somehow plugged up, you could be pulling a vacuum in the tank as the fuel level drops. Doubtful but I guess plausible. Did you hear a rush of air as you opened the fuel cap?

negative. Cap was tight as well, and have never noticed any drops in rpm or any such thing as if i was loosin fuel somewhere. Everything seems tight.

Go top the tank off, and see how much gas it takes.

Just did that. The pump stopped at 15 bucks. Usually takes about 40 dollars, So 15 is about 1/4. Before the fill up the car was registering a 3/4 full tank on the fuel meter. So the fuel dot meter is spot on. Im at a loss here haha. I thought for sure it was misreading.

id do the Italian tune up , some fuel cleaner and drive the piss out of it:eekdance:

Engine warning light should come on with low fuel pressure, but I am not sure where it is measured. Check the fuel filter too.

filter is most likely a sock strainer connected to fuel pump pick-up

i've seen numerous manufacturers not set an engine code with low fuel pressure/no start....sometimes will throw a PO300 random misfire;because of it-but not always.
Never tried it on a Z; but other cars will run on brake cleaner,,,to eliminate an ignition failure.

No lights will come on with low fuel pressure. Been there, done that. :shakes head:

OP's fuel pump might be in the early stages of failure.

Help ASAP
 

Clean your MAF sensors and throttle bodies then do the idle relearn it helped my issue for the most part but definitely look into your fuel as well because a combo of the two will rain havoc haha codes don't show up and it's not a mech issue so yeah.

Phunk sells a fuel pressure gauge that goes in the engine bay :twocents:

http://www.the370z.com/drivetrain-en...gauge-kit.html

When I had my fuel pressure problem. I install one of phunk's gauges. :tup: I was the first one to do so. :D

There is no simple way to check fuel pressure on the Z. :( Other then installing the gauge.

Someone mentioned checking the fuel filter. Our car doesn't have an inline filter, so the only 'filter' is the one attached to the fuel pump in the tank. IMHO, if you are dropping the tank to look, might as well put a new pump and strainer in there. It seems silly to expend the time and effort to drop a gas tank just to inspect the strainer and not replace old parts.

My advice, can of seafoam in the tank, get some good gas (other than on post) and :driving:

Like Ghost said. There is no inline filter. The filter is on the bottom of the pump. It's one of those nylon filter bag screens. That's the best way I can describe it. You don't have to drop the tank to get to it. Just move the passenger seat all the way forward, or remove it. Pop the cover off the flat shelf where the manual hides at with a flat screwdriver. Remove the insulation. Under that is the fuel pump.

sounds like my old 65 sunbeam tiger, pump was RIGHT behind passenger seat:eekdance:

I recently had these exact symptoms. The mechanic said the fuel pump had fallen off its bracket and was laying on its side in the tanks. This is why the gauge read half tank even though it was out of gas. Mechanic said he had never seen it before in his career.

This is precisely what I was thinking but also didn't think it was possible without causing a leak. At any rate I'll just keep the car at 3/4 till ranger school Sunday. I'll definitely be looking further into this when I get back. Thanks a lot for all the help guys. Y'all really saved my bacon. As dumb as it is I never would have thought to put more gas in my car when it was 3/4 full haha. Appreciate you guys, thanks.

Ain't going to happen with a Z fuel pump. The pump sits down inside this white canister. Follow the black hose that makes a u-turn from the left side to the center. In the center is the fuel pump. Under it is the fuel pump screen. You can also see one of the level floats just to the right of the bottom of the canister.

I know this sounds whacky, but CHANGE THE BATTERY in the "intelligent key".

Had same symptoms........changed the key battery, instantly OK.

:tup:Nice! OP should try it. I would be funny to see if this resolves the issue :tup:

I actually tried that same day. No change.